Kate Woodthorpe

I am a sociologist who specialises in end-of-life research. Over the last 20 years I have led funded research and published widely on funeral costs and practice, families, cemetery usage and professional development for staff in the deathcare industry. I am currently PI on the ESRC project 'Living at Home' (2025-2028) and Co-I on the ESRC project 'Death Administration' (2025-2028).

I am Co-Director of the world-leading research centre, the Centre for Death and Society, and I am currently the only UK academic on the editorial boards of the three major death studies journals: Death Studies, Omega and Mortality. I am also previous Editor-in-Chief of Mortality.

I have a strong commitment to research impact. My work on funeral poverty led to roles as Special Advisor to the Work and Pensions Select Committee Inquiry into Bereavement Benefits, and advised the Competition and Markets Authority as part of their investigation into the funeral industry. Most recently I have led research submitted to the Law Commission.  My research is work featured in the media, including BBC Radio 4, BBC Breakfast, and features in The Guardian and The Telegraph. I have undertaken consultancy work with Royal London, Axa SunLife and Volunteer Cornwall.

I have supervised six PhD students to completion and twice received the Supervisor of the Year award.

You can hear me talk about my work on the Death Studies podcast.

Find me on Linkedin here.

Research interests

• Death and dying
• Grief and bereavement
• Funerals