Dr Lowerson was awarded her PhD thesis on the models of fatherhood that inform the policies of the Child Support Agency in deciding who should take financial responsibility for the welfare of children whose mothers are receiving state benefit.

Written policy suggests that the genetic relationship between men and children is definitive of fatherhood, despite the caring roles that other men might have for children who are not genetically related to them.

Dr Lowerson's thesis explores and analyses the implications of this model both for policy and practice.