Ms Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes

Graduate Researcher Liaison Officer

Graduate Research Training

Research & Innovation


About me
I am an enthusiastic and curious interdisciplinary researcher interested in ethical and social relations between humans and non-human animals in contemporary food systems. My research brings together perspectives from human-animals studies and food studies to explore how care, values, and everyday practices shape these relationships. I have international research experience across the UK, Germany, Australia, and India, and in 2025, I completed a jointly awarded PhD between the University of Adelaide and the University of Nottingham. 
 
Doctoral research
My thesis explores the underexplored topic of dogs as eaters using interviews and visual diaries with vegan, vegetarian, and, flexitarian dog owners in the UK and Australia who feed their dogs raw meat-based diets. The project examined themes of care, control, and food identities, showing common beliefs about dogs' need for meat, concerns about food system contamination, and their ethical framings of raw feeding. The findings contribute to scholarship in animal and food studies while also offering insights for veterinary professionals, animal welfare organisations, and pet food regulators.
 
Research experience
Alongside my PhD, I have contributed to projects on community engagement in genomics governance, artisanal food production, gender identities in farming, and community views around pest management. These roles have strengthened my expertise in qualitative, creative, and visual methods and deepened my interest in ethical consumption, care ethics, and novel food practices.
 
Leadership and engagement
In my current role as Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Liaison Officer at the University of Adelaide, I work to strengthen student belonging, wellbeing, and representation. My work involves supporting initiatives that improve the HDR student experience, reflecting my commitment to building inclusive academic environments and developing meaningful opportunities for collaboration and peer support across diverse student cohorts.
 

Date Position Institution name
2025 - ongoing HDR Liaison Officer University of Adelaide
2024 - ongoing Research assistant University of Adelaide

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
German Can read, write, speak and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
University of Adelaide and University of Nottingham Australia PhD

Year Citation
2021 Ciecierska-Holmes, N. (2021). In the Name of Cows’ Rights: Sacred Cow “Mothers” and
Ethnonationalism in India. Student Journal of Vegan Sociology, 1, 9.

Year Citation
2019 Ciecierska-Holmes, N., Jörgensen, K., Ollier, L. L., & Raghunandan, D. (2019). Environmental Policy in India. N. Ciecierska-Holmes, K. Jörgensen, L. L. Ollier, & D. Raghunandan (Eds.), Routledge.
DOI

Year Citation
2022 Ciecierska-Holmes, N. (2022). Identifying social and ethical aspects of feeding raw meat-based diets to dogs. In D. Bruce, & A. Bruce (Eds.), TRANSFORMING FOOD SYSTEMS: ETHICS, INNOVATION AND RESPONSIBILITY, EURSAFE 2022 (pp. 211-216). SCOTLAND, Edinburgh: WAGENINGEN ACAD PUBL.
DOI

Date Role Membership Country
2022 - ongoing Member Australasian Animal Studies Association Australia
2020 - ongoing Member Food Values Research Group, University of Adelaide Australia

Connect With Me

External Profiles

Other Links