Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
New publications
Davis, M. (in press) 'Long COVID and the biopolitics of pandemic timings and endings', in Lupton D., Ed. Long COVID and Society: International Perpsectives, Palgrave Macmillan.
Camporesi, S., Mulubale, S. and Davis, M. eds (2025) Crisis, Inequity and Legacy: Narrative Analyses of the COVID-19 Pandemic, NYC: Oxford University Press.
University Service
Medical sociology lead for the Monash Centre to Impact AMR
External Advisory Board member for the Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance Genomics Network (TARGetAMR)
Biography
Zimbabwe born and educated in Australia and England, Dr Mark Davis (PhD, London) is a medical sociologist. He is principal chief investigator for The sociology of health data for sexuality and gender diverse people (DP230100245), which uses qualitative and participatory methods to examine the increasing prominence of data medicine and its epistemic justice and data safety implications for LGBTQ+ people.
Mark is Chief Investigator for an ARC Discovery Project (DP250100827) led by Professor Deborah Lupton with Dr Kerryn Drysdale, at UNSW. The project, Public Understandings of Immunity Systems and Human-Microbial Relations, examines the social organisation of immune systems in light of new and remerging pandemics and infectious diseases. Mark will lead an analysis of public health communications for more inclusive and effective advice and support for general publics.
He is also associate investigator on COMet Constructing One Health Metrics for evaluating antimicrobial stewardship (MRFF), led by colleagues at the University of Melbourne. This project is designed to support ECRs to build track records and deepen their research skills. Mark provides expert advice for the project team on the social science of antimicrobial resistance.
Recently, Mark was principal chief investigator on ARC Discovery Projects investigating the social and economic dimensions of antimicrobial resistance prevention (DP200100002) and general public engagements with the prevention of antimicrobial resistance (DP170100937). These projects have produced extensive outputs, policy advice and media to advance knowledge and understanding of the social, cultural, media and economic factors that shape capacity to respond effectively to the growing antimicrobial resistance challenge.
With colleagues at the University of Sydney, Mark was also chief investigator on an ARC Linkage Project concerning hospital governance and antimicrobials (LP170100300). He was previously principal chief investigator for an ARC Discovery Project (DP110101081) on psychosocial and cultural responses to the 2009 influenza pandemic in Australia and the United Kingdom and was chief investigator on two HIV treatment and prevention research projects, funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. Mark also conducted research on digital sexual cultures and HIV prevention and the impact of HIV treatment technologies in the sexual lives of gay men with HIV, funded by the UK’s Medical Research Council. His research has also been supported by the UK’s National Health Service and the Terrence Higgins Trust.
Mark is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (elected 1989), the Public Health Association of Australia, the British Sociological Association, the International Sociological Association, and associate member of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Supervision interests
Mark supervises doctoral research in the fields of health and society, sexualities, and narrative methods in the social sciences. Topics have included, Facebook friendships, Sorry Day narratives, parenting children with severe emotional distress, cigarette advertising in Indonesia, mid-twentieth century public health film on TB and malaria, self-tracking tech, and refugee mental health support.
Monash teaching commitment
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Immunity as culture
- Superbugs
- Pandemics
- Science and Technology Studies
- Narrative bioethics
- Social public health
- HIV treatment and prevention
- Sociology of antibiotics
- One Health
- Coronavirus
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Public Understandings of Immunity Systems and Human-Microbial Relations
Lupton, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Davis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Drysdale, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/05/25 → 30/04/28
Project: Research
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The sociology of health data for sexuality and gender diverse people
Davis, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Newman, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Fitzgerald, L. J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
3/07/23 → 2/07/26
Project: Research
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The social burden of antimicrobial resistance in Australia: Long term survivors’ therapeutic quests
Whittaker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Davis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Barr, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Dunse, K. (Project Manager)
1/07/21 → 30/07/22
Project: Research
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Social Science Network In Antimicrobial Resistance
Davis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Whittaker, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Warren, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Schermuly, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Dunse, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/06/21 → 31/07/24
Project: Other
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Evidence for effective AMR communications and education
Davis, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/06/21 → 30/07/22
Project: Research
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Antibiotic economies: the economisation of antibiotic use in Australia and implications for the mitigation of antimicrobial resistance
Davis, M., Schermuly, A., Rajkhowa, A., Thursky, K., Warren, N. & Flowers, P., Feb 2025, In: Sociology of Health and Illness. 47, 2, 10 p., e70011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Data studies
Davis, M. D. M., 2025, Elgar Encyclopedia of Queer Studies. Cover, R. & Newman, C. E. (eds.). 1st ed. Cheltenham UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 83-85 3 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopaedia / Dictionary Entry › Other › peer-review
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Narrative Research: Research Methods
Andrews, M., Davis, M., Esin, C., Harrison, B., Hydén, L.-C., Hydén, M., Lounasmaa, A. & Squire, C., Mar 2025, 2nd ed. London UK: Bloomsbury Academic. 187 p. (Bloomsbury Research Methods)Research output: Book/Report › Book › Other › peer-review
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Antibiotic Stories: The Sociology of Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance: Final Project Report April 2024
Davis, M., Schermuly, A. C. & Rajkhowa, A., Apr 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 46 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Research
Open Access -
COVID-19 immunopolitics, pandemic governance and the communication of scientific knowledge
Davis, M., 2024, Communicating Covid-19: Media, trust, and public engagement. Lewis, M., Govender, E. & Holland, K. (eds.). 1st ed. Cham Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 463-479 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Dean’s Award for Excellence in Early Career Research
Davis, M. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Monash Research Accelerator Award, Office of the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
Davis, M. (Recipient), 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Promising Researcher Fellowship Award
Davis, M. (Recipient), 2006
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Roundtable 1- One Health communications and AMR: Policy, practice & politics
Davis, M. (Host), Schermuly, A. (Contributor), Whittaker, A. (Contributor) & Dunse, K. (Contributor)
1 Jul 2021Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
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COVID-19 media contexts and antimicrobial resistance communication
Davis, M. (Organiser)
2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Social impact of pandemics. Advice provided to Psychosocial Reference Group, Emergency Management, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (Event)
Davis, M. (Advisor)
26 Mar 2020Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Consultancy
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COVID-19: Roadmap to Recovery: A report to the nation
Davis, M. (Contributor)
2020Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Swiss National Science Foundation - Special call on Coronavirus
Davis, M. (Reviewer)
2020Activity: External Academic Engagement › Grant review responsibilities
Press/Media
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The social life of COVID-19 data, Sonar Global, https://www.sonar-global.eu/keyreadings/the-social-life-of-covid-19-data/
26/02/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Superbugs: The health threat that has failed to capture public attention, Monash Lens, 18 November 2020, https://www.monash.edu/discovery-institute/news-and-events/news/2020-articles/superbugs-the-health-threat-that-has-failed-to-capture-public-attention
Davis, M., Naderer, T. & Traven, A.
20/11/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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How can we mobilise general publics to impact COVID-19?
Davis, M., Warren, N. & Whittaker, A.
12/05/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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