Ciara Fitzpatrick is an Early Career Researcher and lecturer at Ulster University School of Law and the Transitional Justice Institute. Her primary area of interest is social security law and social justice. Her current research focuses on using Universal Credit claimant's lived experience to influence policy change, through work with the UC:Us group and researchers Mark Simpson (Ulster) and Ruth Patrick (York). Ciara is also focusing on the historic and contemporary treatment in the law of people who are in destitution. She has a particular interest in how women are treated within the social security system; more specifically the  administrative justice implications. A developing area of interest is the emergence of 'digital welfare states' and what this means for achievement of socio-economic rights.

Alongside academic endevours, Ciara is also a committed social justice advocate and campaigner. She is currently an academic adviser to the Cliff Edge Coalition, which is pushing for a strengthened social security system in Northern Ireland. She is also currently working with the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group to push for better financial support for those who are on a low-income and who are required to self-isolate due to Covid-19 restrictions. She is also a volunteer in her local community, providing hardship support to those in immediate need. She is a frequent commentator on issues of poverty and social security on the local media.