Dr Abs Ashley
PHD, BA (hons), MA
Expertise
I am an interdisciplinary researcher in the literary health humanities. My work forges new connections between contemporary literature in English, critical neurodiversity studies and queer studies.
Current positions
Lecturer
Department of English
Contact
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Biography
Research interests
My research works with late-twentieth and twenty-first century literatures in English, and contributes to the emergent and exciting field of critical neurodiversity studies. Present research projects explore neurodivergence as queer articulations and dissidence in literary forms, with a particular interest in asociality and non-normative affect. I am also currently writing a monograph, developed out of my doctoral research, on neurodivergence, gender deviance and generic elasticity in contemporary literature.
My current and forthcoming publications are avaliable in Autism, TSQ, Neurodivergent Connection amongst other places.
More broadly, I am interested in critical medical humanities and disability justice scholarship, (neuro)queer theory, mad studies, affect theory, transfeminism and posthumanism.
I am a member of the leadership team for the Neurodivergent Humanities Network. This research network, currently funded by Wellcome, holds important events in critical neurodiversity studies and runs a safe and supportive mentorship scheme for neurodivergent researchers across all career stages.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Neurodivergent Humanities Research Network
Role
Co-Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of EnglishDates
05/03/2023 to 31/08/2025
Publications
Selected publications
12/03/2024The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively
Autism
Neuroqueer (a)socialities
Critical Neurodiversity Studies
Neurotrans affects
Transgender Studies Quarterly
Neurodiversity
Key Concepts in the Medical Humanities
Recent publications
01/01/2025Neurodiversity
Key Concepts in the Medical Humanities
Neuroqueer (a)socialities
Critical Neurodiversity Studies
Neurotrans affects
Transgender Studies Quarterly
The neurodiversity concept was developed collectively
Autism
The Cass Review’s final report
Neurodiverse Connection
Thesis
Neuroqueering Gender/Genre
Supervisors
Award date
23/01/2024
Teaching
Teaching in the School of Humanities
I have taught, or currently teach, on the following units and courses. I have supervised students in the Department of English, dual-honours students, as well as medical students taking the Intercalated Medical Humanities programme:
MA Animal Planet
MA Literature 1940-70
Y3 Celebrity Culture: Icons, Industry and Aesthetics (as Unit Director)
Y3 Dissertation Workshops
Y2 Shakespeare
Y1 Reading Identities
Y1 Critical Issues
I have also taught on the part-time English Literature and Community Engagement programme and short courses (listed below), as well as contributing to the University's widening participation initatives with local schools.
Literature and the Politics of Gender (ELCE)
Poetry (ELCE)
American Literature (ELCE)
Understanding Critical Theory and Thought (as Unit Director)
Reading English Literature (Short Course)
Mastering English Literature (Short Course)
Crime Fiction (Short Course)
Teaching in other schools
Y1 The Science of Happiness (Psychology)
Y1/2/3 Sustainable Development (Human Geography)