The newly elected Fellows also include Professor Roberta Guerrina, a Professor in Politics from the University’s School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies.

To be selected to become a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, candidates must demonstrate excellence in research and applied professional use of social science, as well as making significant contributions in either industry, policy or higher education.

Professor Macdonald’s research at the University of Bristol focuses on developing robust evidence for interventions in social care policy and practice.

A registered social worker, Professor Macdonald has been a long-standing advocate of the importance of rigorous research in social care and specialises in the evaluation of complex social interventions.

She is the National Speciality Lead for Social Care within the NIHR Research Development Network and chairs the Prioritisation Committee for Social Care within the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme.

She was also recently appointed as a Senior Investigator by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Professor Macdonald said: “I am honoured to have been selected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and it is great to see the Academy recognising the value of research within social work and social care.”

The University of Bristol academics were among 64 announced to join the Academy in this cohort, spanning a range of research and practice areas including health inequalities, the gender wage gap, European cybersecurity governance, AI and big data analytics, and the anthropology of Britain.

Will Hutton, President of the Academy, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these 64 outstanding social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship, whose research and practice are helping to develop solutions to pressing societal issues.”

The Academy’s Fellowship comprises 1,600 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors.