Lauren is a Senior Researcher at the CSDA. She is a trained development sociologist with a PhD from the Sociology Department at the University of Johannesburg. Her research interests are in the application and testing of social and development theories in practice with a focus on youth, children and people with disabilities and their agency in assessing human development outcomes. She is skilled in the use of both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. She is particularly interested in the use of research methods that take account of the voices of vulnerable groups. Lauren manages a range of research initiatives related to youth including the Siyakha Youth Assets project – which seeks to develop knowledge and interventions to support young people to transition to employment.