Dr Aisha Hutchinson Postdoctoral research fellow School of Social Work Studies, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences University of Southampton Name Dr Aisha Hutchinson Age group 30-35 Research institution Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Southampton Research career length 2 years Link to ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship Location Southampton, England Salary 30-34k Brief summary of research International Social Work and Social Development School qualifications GCSEs: 9 A*- C grade A-level: Psychology (B) BTEC National Diploma in Social Care (Distinction) Qualifications post-school Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) at the University of Southampton MSc in Social Work at the University of Southampton MSc in Research Methods, University of Southampton PhD in Social Work exploring the coping strategies of young women in Mozambique during unintended pregnancy Career path Qualified Social Worker in a statutory social work team with older persons Voluntary work overseas in South Africa, Mozambique and Brazil, including working with street children, building children s playground and working with young women PhD and Master s in Research Methods at the University of Southampton (4.5 years) Part-time social worker in a community and hospital team whilst studying for my doctorate Senior practitioner in a statutory social work team (1-year) Research Fellowship at the Tilda Goldberg Centre for Social Work and Social Care (1-year) ESRC postdoctoral fellowship to disseminate my findings and build a strong research career (1-year) Principal investigator on research funded by ALR UK and Research Fellow on a child protection research project
Dr Aisha Hutchinson Postdoctoral research fellow School of Social Work Studies, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences University of Southampton Further visits to Mozambique working with young women, encouraged me to take a Master s degree in research methods and then a PhD in which the focus of my study was the coping strategies young women in Mozambique develop in response to unintended pregnancy. Since my vocational training overlaps with my research interests, I ve been able to combine parttime work with study, as well as periodically spending time working in Africa. My day-to-day job consists of a fair amount of data analysis, networking with other academics, visits to universities and research centres, and conference and seminar presentations. I submit articles for publication in academic journals and chapters in books. I also contribute to writing proposals for further research funding and assess post-doctoral study applications and undergraduate dissertations. Vulnerable groups are to be found in every society. In developing countries, where incomes are low and support limited, the role of social workers is often vital in reaching out to the most deprived people. Aisha Hutchinson applies her experience as a social worker, along with her academic skills to understand why some individuals and families cope better than others when facing difficult life experiences. My research looks at how international social work and social development professionals can better support the social and economic development of vulnerable groups such as young women and children in developing and low-income contexts. I started out as a social worker with older people, then went on a round-the-world trip for eight months, during which time I was able to apply some of my skills through voluntary work - first in South Africa and Mozambique, for a non-governmental organisation (NGO), and then working with street children in Brazil. The whole experience captivated me and helped me to shape my future career path. As you might expect, I frequently travel overseas, partly because of the international focus of my research, and partly because there exists a community of researchers throughout the world who are carrying out similar work. My most memorable experience was traveling around rural northern Mozambique with just a rucksack, interviewing young women. So far, I have attended international conferences in Chile, South Africa, Hong Kong, Croatia, Mexico, Switzerland and Northern Ireland. I want my research to have significant impact and relevance to social work practice, and to the social problems encountered in the world. Research is about pushing boundaries in a way that is rigorous, systematic and original. It should also help us to understand more about the world and present better ways in which we can live together. Aisha s research project, Social Work and Social Development for the promotion of social wellbeing: Bridging the research gap was funded under ESRC grant reference PTA-026-27-2544. This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Andrew Karvonen Research fellow Manchester Architecture Research Centre, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester Name Dr Andrew Karvonen Age group 40 Research institution Manchester Architecture Research Centre, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester Research career length 4 years Research Council funders: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Location Manchester, England Salary 35-39k Brief summary of research Sustainable cities and the built environment School qualifications High school diploma (USA) Qualifications post-school BSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin- Madison MSc in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington- Seattle PhD in Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas at Austin Career path Environmental Engineering Consultant Sustainable Building Consultant Research Fellow The value of research lies in its ability to provide different perspectives on the world
Dr Andrew Karvonen Research fellow Manchester Architecture Research Centre, School of Environment and Development, University of Manchester Making our cities more sustainable requires new thinking and new technologies. It also means understanding more about which new ways of living are most likely to be adopted and why. Andrew Karvonen is a social scientist and design practitioner whose research asks these questions, exploring the social, cultural and political aspects of urban sustainability. My research is inspired by a continual appreciation of cities, and a fascination of studying how they change over time. In particular, I look at the social, cultural and political aspects of urban sustainability. Sustainability is really about ensuring that our technologically advanced world is able to function in a way that uses materials and energy efficiently, producing as little waste as possible. Making our cities more sustainable requires action from governments, industry and the public. It involves adopting the latest efficient technologies and ensuring that companies, markets and consumers buy into it. My research attempts to understand what motivates the different players to participate and how they choose to act, in the development of sustainable buildings, neighbourhoods and cities. In my projects on sustainable cities, I carry out research and analyse data, publish and present my findings, manage budgets and coordinate meetings, communicate my work to members of the public and write research grants. I also teach undergraduates and postgraduates, and have various administrative and committee responsibilities related to teaching, research, and public service. I review the work of others in journal articles and funding proposals, and carry out private research as a consultant. I earned Bachelor s and Master s degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering but was never satisfied with the training I received, or with my subsequent work as a practicing engineer. However, I was inspired to study urban development through my work as a sustainable building consultant and realised that I had questions that could only be answered by completing a PhD. This turned out to be a life-defining experience as I was able to explore many avenues before settling on sustainable urban development as my chosen research area. The process of conducting research is very fulfilling. It requires critical thinking and creativity to connect ideas with actions. Facing the challenges that research presents is a long but very satisfying process. I particularly enjoy interacting with other researchers, discussing and debating ideas. Communicating research results to a wide variety of audiences is perhaps the biggest challenge for all researchers, but when successful, provides an opportunity for sharing your passion with others. In the end, research provides opportunities to improve all our futures. Andrew s project, Pathways to zero carbon housing in the UK : science, commerce and community, was funded under ESRC grant reference RES-597-25-0003 This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Chris Boyce Postdoctoral research fellow School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester Name Research institution Research career length Link to ESRC Location Brief summary of research Dr Chris Boyce School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester 6 years Post Doctoral Fellowship Manchester, England How life events influence an individual s health and happiness School qualifications 10 GCSEs in various subjects A-levels: Mathematics, Economics and Physics Qualifications post-school BSc in Economics, University of Surrey MSc in Economics University of Warwick PhD in Psychology University of Warwick Career path Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Warwick Research Fellow at the Paris School of Economics, École Normale Supérieure, France Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester When I consider what influenced me to become a researcher, three words spring to mind; passion, passion, passion. My parents, teachers and careers advisers had little influence over my choices, and it was really only when I started thinking for myself and listening to my own dreams, that I realised how much I wanted to follow this particular path. My ambitions are quite minimal I want to be happy in what I do and if it keeps making me happy then I ll keep doing it.
Dr Chris Boyce Postdoctoral research fellow School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester with a BSc in Economics and towards the end of my degree I had started thinking about doing research in economics. I then moved to the University of Warwick to complete an economics Master s degree but during my time as a Masters student I became interested in psychology and subjective wellbeing research. In 2009, I completed a PhD in Psychology, and since then I have held positions as a Research Fellow first at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Warwick and then at the Paris School of Economics. My research is interesting. People want to talk to me about it...i like talking about it too. Everyone wishes to be happy and contented in their lives, but happiness is a difficult thing to define, let alone measure. Having both an academic background in economics and psychology, Chris Boyce is keen to discover what are the factors that contribute to a sense of personal wellbeing, and how changes in circumstances like promotion at work, income increases or unemployment, affect how happy we are. It never crossed my mind when I was at school to do research. Initially I began a Mechanical Engineering course at university, but I left the course soon after I started and I thought that university probably wasn t going to be for me. But I spent a lot of time doing non-academic related things for a few years and I learnt a good deal about myself, including what was important.. I eventually decided to go back to university but this time to study something I really enjoyed, rather than simply opting for a course with good career prospects, as I had done previously. I had enjoyed economics at school and continued to do so when I went back to university to study the subject. I graduated from the University of Surrey Subjective wellbeing refers to how a person considers their own personal wellbeing this may include whether a person feels satisfied with their life or how happy they are in the moment. My work attempts to push the boundaries of subjective wellbeing research, by drawing on a range of academic disciplines, including economics and psychology, among others. I feel that it is extremely important for societies to find out how to help their citizens become more satisfied and happier with their lives. This is a principle that forms the basis of my research and it is not always the case that improvements to objective measures of wellbeing also result in greater satisfaction or happiness. We all think we know what makes us happy, but the world is extremely complex and finding contentment is not as straightforward to achieve as we sometimes think. This is where research can help - by trying to understand some of the important things in life within this complexity and then apply research findings to help improve lives. I have certainly taken into account some of what I have discovered and adapted aspects of my own life to improve my own health and happiness. I publish my research findings in leading academic journals, and share my ideas by attending conferences, engaging with members of the public, including talking to young people, and speaking to the media. Alongside my research, I do a small amount of teaching at the University of Manchester. This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Christina Marie Scharff Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries School of Arts and Humanities, King s College London Name Dr Christina Marie Scharff Age group 31 Research institution School of Arts and Humanities, King s College London Research career length 7 years Link to ESRC Funded PhD and postdoctoral fellowship. Current ESRC grant holder Location London, England Salary 30-34k Brief summary of research Gender and sexuality; cultural work; engagements with feminism amongst young women and in the media School qualifications German Abitur, Altkönig Schule Kronberg, Germany Qualifications post-school BSc in Politics and Sociology at University of York MSc in Culture and Society at London School of Economics (LSE) PhD in Gender Studies at LSE Career path One year teaching fellowship in the Department of Sociology at LSE Permanent lectureship in Culture, Media and Creative Industries at King s College London Postdoctoral Fellowship at Goldsmiths College My future ambition is to produce good research that inspires my students and fellow academics, but that also reaches out to an interested, non-academic audience. And of course, my ambition is also to become a professor eventually.
Dr Christina Marie Scharff Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries School of Arts and Humanities, King s College London Research is about broadening your horizons, even if this involves asking uncomfortable questions. Christina Marie Scharff chose to study for an undergraduate degree in a UK university, and is now carrying out research into engagements with feminism, and young women s experiences of working in the cultural industries, in two capital cities Berlin and London. I grew up in Germany but came to the UK for my Bachelor s degree in Politics and Sociology at York. Having developed an interest in politics in my teens, I chose to study in the UK because of its excellent research culture and teaching. I thoroughly enjoyed my studies and felt passionate about them, as well as feeling privileged to engage in issues I was interested in. During the last seven years, I have conducted research on engagements with feminism amongst young women, feminist academics and in the media. Recently, I have expanded my area of expertise to research gender issues in the cultural industries. Work in the cultural industries, such as classical music and art, is frequently described as work that you can t help doing. However, research has shown that such work is often precarious, involves low pay and is marked by gender, and other intersecting, inequalities. My current project aims to add to our understanding of cultural work by conducting in-depth interviews with young, female classical musicians in Berlin and London. I also teach on several courses and supervise a number of PhD students, as well as sharing the role of admissions tutor to our postgraduate programmes, dealing with the 850 applications we currently get. Teaching consists of developing the syllabus, constructing a reading list of books and articles that students should be aware of for each module, lecturing, running seminars and marking work. Apart from my teaching and administrative responsibilities, I do my research which involves publishing, writing grant applications and going to conferences, both in the UK and overseas. A key factor in determining my career choice was meeting the person who was to become my PhD supervisor during my Master s degree. She was both rigorous and encouraging, and a very good role model. I did my PhD in a very supportive environment with strong intellectual and social ties to my colleagues. I value the friendships I ve formed with colleagues and am sure that these experiences informed my career choice as well. More generally, I feel that the social side of doing academic work is very important. Although it is true that I spend a lot of time working on my own, the moments I feel passionate about my research tend to be social situations, such as going to a lecture and being inspired by it. I would also say that researchers rely on each other in order to produce good work. I regularly provide feedback on my colleagues work, and draw on their opinions when it comes to reading journal articles or grant applications that I plan to submit. For me, research is about a willingness to embark on an intellectual journey without knowing where it will take you. The process takes a long time and is a good antidote to the speed at which we live our lives. Research requires hard work, application, careful thinking, but its benefits include generating new ideas - innovations that help society in general. Christina s research project, Young women and feminism: Disseminating findings from an international study on young women s attitudes towards feminism, was funded under ESRC grant reference PTA-026-27-2725 This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Donhatai Harris Career Development Fellow Department of Economics, University of Oxford Name Dr Donhatai Harris Age group 30-35 Research institution Department of Economics, University of Oxford Research career length 2 years Link to ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship Location Oxford, England Salary 30-34k Brief summary of research Behavioural and experimental neuroeconomics School qualifications A-levels equivalent (Thailand): Mathematics, Economics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry Qualifications post-school BA Economics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok MSc in Economics History, London School of Economics; and MPhil (Research), University of Cambridge PhD in The Nature and Causes of Favouritism: Evidence from New Economic Experiments and Primary Attitudinal Survey, University of Cambridge Career path Assistant Merchandiser/Business planner for Harvey Nichols Centre of Housing and Planning Research, University of Cambridge Centre of Financial Analysis and Policy, the Judge Business School Joint Interdisciplinary Post-Doctoral Fellowship funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Medical Research Council My research into understanding groups influence on individual behaviour can be applied to so many different contexts, which I find rewarding and fascinating at the same time
Dr Donhatai Harris Career Development Fellow Department of Economics, University of Oxford Since the Second World War, scientists and social scientists have attempted to understand why our actions when in large groups differ from how we might otherwise behave. Donhatai Harris uses brainscanning techniques to help understand how our brains operate when making such decisions, and what are the factors that influence how likely it is that an individual will conform to a group. I am a firm believer that if you want to do something, you should go ahead and do it. After studying for a Master s degree at the London School of Economics, I had a stint in the fashion industry, working for Harvey Nichols as an assistant merchandiser and business planner, before going into academia. I m glad I did this since if I hadn t, I would still be wondering what a career in fashion would be like. My first research posts were at the University of Cambridge in the Centre of Housing and Planning Research and at the Judge Business School, which is where I did my PhD. I then applied for a two-year joint postdoctoral fellowship, staying in Cambridge to complete the first year, before being offered my current post of Career Development Fellow at Oxford. I like economics but also enjoy studying people s behaviour, so I am fortunate that my research is very interdisciplinary. I work with economists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and am fascinated by how much these subjects overlap. Belonging to a group like a gang or a club, has been shown to influence behaviour, but we don t really know much about how this happens. My research combines experimental economics with a scanning technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fmri), to discover what takes place in the brain when we make certain decisions. fmri shows which parts of the brain are active when carrying out specific tasks. We re looking at things such as the size of group, gender, race, nationality and political belief to explore whether different types of individuals are more or less likely to conform, and under what sort of circumstances. Hopefully, this knowledge will help inform people who make political decisions to create groups that function in a more pro-social way. In addition to my research work, I spend six hours per week teaching undergraduate students in small tutorials and larger classes, and am involved in making decisions about teaching and examinations. Like all academics, I attend conferences and submit papers and articles to academic journals. Last year I spent three months at the University of Zurich, learning about neuroscience and seeing research being done in an fmri scanner. It was great getting to learn completely new and different things and attending seminars given by neuroscientists. I believe that one of the great experiences in academic life is learning to work with other people. It is not easy when everyone has great ideas and is passionate about what they believe in. But research collaboration is a really creative process and it is fun. One of my research collaborators said to me Don t get bogged down by all the academic papers, look around you and see what you can learn - I think this is some of the best advice I ve been given. There is so much to learn in the world, which is why I love working in research. This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Joanna Brooks Research Fellow Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Human and Health Sciences, Name Dr Joanna Brooks Age group 33 Research institution Centre for Applied Psychological Research, University of Huddersfield Research career length 11 years Link to ESRC Funded PhD Location Huddersfield, England Salary 22-29k Brief summary of research Health Psychology School qualifications A-levels: History, Theatre Studies, English Literature, French, General Studies Qualifications post-school BA Psychology, University of Manchester PhD in Significant others and chronic fatigue syndrome Career path Research Assistant, University of Manchester Research Associate, Macmillan Research Unit, University of Manchester Research Fellow, University of Huddersfield It is important to value knowledge for its own sake and to appreciate how the research process allows us to understand other people and their situations. Current research will make a difference to people s lives in the future.
Dr Joanna Brooks Research Fellow Centre for Applied Psychological Research, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield Medical conditions that affect people over a long period of time are referred to as chronic. People differ in the ways they cope when living with these conditions. As a psychologist, Joanna Brooks researches how the presence of significant others can affect how a person with a chronic condition experiences the illness, and the extent to which they are able to lead a fulfilling life. The Centre where I work, aims to promote and develop the use of psychological ideas in real world settings. As psychologists, our focus is on the way people behave and the nature of their experience, recognising that this is always shaped by the social worlds they inhabit. We have a very practical approach to research design, believing that the methods used should match problems being addressed. My personal research interests centre on chronic illness conditions, including cancer and an illness called chronic fatigue syndrome (sometimes referred to as ME). I am particularly interested in exploring the role of significant others (such as partners and family members) on the condition. This current research follows a path of my previous research jobs which included looking at what happens to cancer survivors when they returned to work after treatment, how significant others affected perceptions of illness and work participation in patients with persistent back pain, and the evaluation of a palliative care service - where terminally ill people have their pain and discomfort managed. My current duties include undertaking research, lecturing, supervising postgraduate students, bidding for external funding, and management and organisation of research centre activities, such as seminars, workshops and conferences. I submit articles to academic journals and give presentations at conferences. I am lucky to work at an institution that is genuinely committed to promoting excellence in research, and to supporting and developing those who wish to develop academic research careers. I am additionally fortunate to be supported by both an excellent line manager and great colleagues. For women, the time when their research career is taking off often coincides with when they might wish to start a family. I can t say that this isn t a challenge, but my experience shows how, with the right support, it is possible to be both a mother and researcher. My first pregnancy occurred less than a month into my PhD, and was entirely unplanned and unexpected. I assumed that there was no way I would be able to continue with my studies, but my wonderful PhD supervisor was incredibly supportive and encouraging, so I was able to continue. Both my supervisor and research funders also supported me through my second pregnancy, which sadly ended in stillbirth, and then through a subsequent successful birth. There are a number of reasons why I chose to take this particular career path. I had a great experience as an undergraduate, including studying a subject I really loved. The idea for my PhD studies developed from an undergraduate lecture, in which we heard the personal experience of a family member of someone with a chronic illness. Families are important in other ways too. I am the first person in my family to go on to postgraduate study - a choice that was admired and valued by them. Other sources of support and inspiration include my PhD supervisor, who was my role model and mentor, my current line manager, and my husband, who also works in research, and thus fully understands the demands and expectations of the job. I now happily combine a full time research position with managing a busy home life with three daughters and three stepchildren. In my experience, a research career has allowed me to achieve a fulfilling work-life balance whilst undertaking stimulating and enjoyable work that has, I believe, the potential to make a genuine impact in real world settings for other people and their families. This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.
Dr Lidia Panico Research Associate Gender Institute, London School of Economics and Political Sciences Name Dr Lidia Panico Age group 29 Research institution Gender Institute, London School of Economics and Political Sciences Research career length 2 years Link to ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship Location London, England Salary < 22k Brief summary of research Family structures and child wellbeing School qualifications International Baccalaureate Qualifications post-school BSc in Population Studies, London School of Economics MSc in Demography and Health PhD at University College London, in the relationship between family structure and child health using longitudinal techniques Career path Worked for a non-governmental organisation for a year, between undergraduate degree and my Master s Two years as a researcher following MSc ESRC/MRC Studentship ESRC Post-Doctoral Fellow, Gender Institute, London School of Economics I feel very lucky that I have been able to do what I do
Dr Lidia Panico Research Associate Gender Institute, London School of Economics and Political Sciences Politicians and parents often have strong views on the best way to bring up children. Providing evidence on effective family structure is a real challenge for researchers, like Lidia Panico. The long timescales and the complex number of factors that may be involved in influencing a child s wellbeing, mean that this type of research draws on both the researcher s expertise, and on powerful statistics to make sense of vast sets of data. Family structure, income and emotional support are known to affect a child s wellbeing and how they develop. Since each of these varies from family-to-family, my research looks at the effect on a child s health of having two parents or one, and whether the parents are married or not. I examine the information from longitudinal studies - which means using data collected over a long time period - to test whether the type of family and changes in its structure, have an effect on aspects of health, such as asthma, obesity and physical injuries. I first became interested in this work through having a passion for my subject, and encouragement from great teachers, both in secondary school and at university. I really enjoyed my first degree in population studies, so decided to stay in research, though I did take a year out between my undergraduate and Master s degrees to try working in the real world. Then I went back to university, but chose not start my doctorate for a further two years. During this time I worked as a researcher, which gave me time to develop my ideas and come up with my own research proposal for a PhD. It was also a good time to meet other researchers and form networks which I still find very valuable. Being a researcher is an incredibly fulfilling job, and also provides me with flexibility In my current role as a Research Associate, most of my time is spent researching and analysing data, and writing up academic papers and presentations. I use powerful statistical computer packages to make sense of large data sets. I have frequent meetings with other researchers to discuss results. Presenting my work at international conferences forms an important part of my work, and I normally attend three or four every year. This year I will be travelling to the United States for a one-month visit, as well as shorter trips to Stockholm, Milan and Paris. Since my research is of interest to politicians, I have presented my findings to policymakers, including the people who develop new policies, and others whose job it is to make the policies work. Being a researcher is an incredibly fulfilling job, and also provides me with flexibility - I have a little girl. In the future I would hope to remain a researcher, possibly with a permanent post as a lecturer or working in a research department for a nongovernmental organisation. This resource was produced by Research Councils UK s Careers in Research programme. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/careersinresearch for more information.