Murray Leith has lectured at universities in Scotland and the United States, and has been based at UWS since 2007. He has published widely around issues of Scottish and UK politics, especially around nationalism, national identity, belonging, migration and diaspora and other contemporary social matters in Scotland, the UK, Europe, and the US. He has also authored/co-authored several social insight and action reports for third sector and governmental organisations. He is currently working on considerations of the Scottish Diaspora in Europe and the US, as well as working with psychology and education colleagues on social innovation productivity and engagement.

His most recent projects include a consideration of contemporary Scotland, on which he published with Manchester University Press, and discussions around the wider Scottish Diaspora, including the Returned Diaspora and Scots living in England. Other Projects he has led on over the last few years include a variety of topcis: As Joint Project Co-ordinator he led a consortium of five international partners on an Erasmus + funded project involving European and National Identity; a UK Ministry of Defence funded project entitled 'Unforgotten Forces' was amulti year consideration of Scottish wide welfare services delivery for aged veterans in Scotland and the final report was published in 2021; and he also led on commissioned consideration of how Scotland could consider and engage with its worldwide diaspora, and this was published by the Scottish Government in October 2022. 

Nationalism, National Identity, Scottish & British Politics, the contemporary Scottish Diaspora, US Politics and Society,  Social Care and Third Sector Support Organisations and Engagement (especially Veterans), Social Innovation, Educational E-Gaming and Experiential Education.

Scottish Diaspora, Scottish Nationalism & National Identity, Veteran Support & Engagement, Third Sector Engagement and Activity in UK and beyond

Scottish/UK Government, US governmental bodies, third sector organisations in the UK, Europe and the US.

Scottish politics, culture and society,

Identity and Belonging in Contemporary UK and Europe,

Armed Forces Veterans support and engagement

Social Innovation, Public Engagement in Policy/Manufacturing/Private Sector and general public engagement,

United States of America politics, society, policy.