John is a sociologist at the School of Social Sciences at Monash, and science and technology studies (STS) scholar. He works at the intersection of medical sociology and STS examining the social and ethical dimensions of technology and innovation.
His research focuses on how social values and expectations shape innovation processes, but also the social and ethical effects of new medical technologies – particularly in neurology and regenerative medicine. His work has explored critical issues in healthcare including the relationship between medical practices, identity and sociality; cultural and institutional barriers to technology implementation; and distributive justice in biomedical innovation.
Much of John’s work has focused on two championed areas of biomedicine ¬– the development and implementation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other neurotechnologies, and the emerging field of regenerative medicine.
Working within interdisciplinary teams, John’s research aims to draw on social science methodologies to facilitate responsible research and innovation and identify strategies to support effective care.
John is a founding member of The Neurosocieties Group at Monash University – an interdisciplinary collective of social scientists and neuroscientists interested in the cultural, ethical and regulatory dimensions of all things ‘neuro’.