Carmen is an active researcher with a particular interest in family lives, marginalised voices (such as young fatherhood), migration, ethnicity and culture. 
 
Carmen is currently involved in a new study to explore screen time effects for babies and young children. This project is funded by 1001 Critical Days Foundation and includes academics from the University of Leeds, University of Nottingham and Aston University.

Carmen also leads the 'British Families in Lockdown'/BFiL study. BFiL interviewed 60 parents from diverse backgrounds during the first lockdown and data collection is ongoing. BFiL is linked to the 'New Uses of Screens in Post-Lockdown Britain'/NUSPB research study which was led by the University of Leeds (Carmen was the Co-Investigator).

Carmen's young fatherhood research includes several studies and this has spanned over fifteen years. Examples include:

1. 'Connected Young Fatherhood: Rural and Urban Experiences', which was a collaborative project with Daddilife, Leeds City Council and the County Councils Network. This study focused on young fathers' employment and professional support experiences during the pandemic. Funded by Research England.
2. ‘New Pathways for Young Fathers’, in partnership with Leeds City Council and DaddiLife, we investigated young fathers’ EET (employment, education, and training) and NEET (not in employment, education, and training) trajectories, formal support provision available and wider policy implications. Funded by Research England.
3. ‘Young Fathers: Higher Education Experiences’- investigated reasons for entering HE, barriers, and the HE journey itself. Funded by Leeds Acts.
4. ‘Following Young Fathers’- a qualitative longitudinal study on young fatherhood and service support needs at the University of Leeds. Funded by the Economic Social Research Council (ESRC).
5. Evaluation studies (e.g., ‘Dads at their Best’ service in Swindon). Commissioned by Swindon Borough Council.

 Carmen regularly engages with policy makers and policy debates (submitting oral and written evidence to various UK Parliament Select Committee inquiries, contributing to UK Parliament POSTnote reports, invited meetings and presentations), and receives regular media interest for her work (such as The Guardian and BBC).  

Carmen is involved in several external committees, is a peer reviewer for a range of academic journals, publishers and funders.

Carmen’s research attracts international, national and local attention, resulting in a wide network of academic, professional and policy connections. Carmen is involved in various international initiatives across the globe, working with academics and professionals in America, Germany, France, Ukraine, Canada, Australia, and India for example.

Carmen often engages with policy makers and policy debates. Her research is regularly accepted as written evidence for various UK Parliament Select Committee inquiries (leading to invites to provide oral evidence), and she contributes to UK Parliament POSTnote reports. Carmen has been invited to meet with MPs (such as Helen Hayes MP Shadow Minister for Education), to provide consultations (Head of the Child Maintenance Strategy Group, Department for Work and Pensions), and to present to APPGs/All Party Parliamentary Groups and Government Agencies.

Carmen teaches on a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate modules within the School of Education and Childhood (SEC) . As well as teaching, Carmen is the Deputy Chair of the University Ethics and Integrity Sub-Committee, Ethics Lead for the SEC, and Co-Lead for the REF UOA23 Education submission. 

Student supervision and teaching includes:

• PhD supervision
• Research Dissertation Supervision (Master’s Degree)
• Research Project/ Dissertation supervision (BA Level 6)
• MA module 'Family Interventions in Practice'

Before teaching at Leeds Trinity University, Carmen taught at the University of Leeds (Department of Sociology and Social Policy), supervised MA Dissertation students and was involved in PhD panels. Nominations include a Personal Tutor Awards at the University of Leeds.