Having taken my UG degree at Birmingham between 2016 and 2019, I was familiar with the campus, department, and academics I would be joining during my PhD. I felt supported and encouraged by my mentors who had spent a great deal of time and effort helping me develop my specific research interests and thesis ideas. Birmingham supports such a diverse range of specialisms so I knew I would continue to find a home for my research here.
What are the best things about your course?
The research culture in the Department of History is one of my favourite things. There is such a wide range of topics being studied at PG level and beyond that whatever you are interested in, or if you have any questions about a topic, you’re able to find someone to engage with. All the academics I have worked with over my time here have
been extremely supportive, including showing excitement about my work and being willing to offer mentorship and advice. I felt this as an UG student too; the academics here have a great amount of respect for researchers at every stage. My supervisors were a huge part of why I wanted to stay at Birmingham as well; I could not have found better people to work with.
What is life like as a researcher at the University of Birmingham?
I’ve found it to be so varied and exciting. I’ve made friends with researchers across the University from my own department to those doing scientific research. I’ve been able to pursue interdisciplinary projects including organising conferences and attending workshops. Being at a campus-based University close to a big city has so many advantages in terms of social life and activities. The facilities for researching are great too, from the Library to the desk spaces available in buildings such as Westmere, the Graduate School base for CAL.
What support have you received outside of your PhD?
My supervisors have been a huge source of support for me throughout my PG degrees both in terms of my academic interests and personal issues. The wider staff of the Department of History—from academics to professional services—have always been there if I’ve needed. They’re all so valuable to you as a PGR. I’ve also found the CAL Graduate School and the administrators for my funding to be very knowledgeable and willing to help whenever I’ve needed.
What is your research about and what do you find most interesting about it?
My research is about the production and circulation of sexual knowledges in published advice books from the inter-war period to the 1960s in Britain and Ireland. It’s a history of the development of sexual culture with a focus on publishing processes, modes of access, and people’s engagement with sexual advice. What I find most interesting about it is that a lot of the source material I’ve been using has come as a complete surprise to me. I started the project with a focus on letter-writing, and whilst I still use letters a lot, I’ve ended up looking at material as varied as pulp fiction magazines and advertisements to photographs of Selfridge’s book department and W.H. Smith’s floor plans. I’ve been able to engage with such a variety of material and sub-topics that it’s kept the process exciting, even when it’s difficult.
Outside of your research, what experience have you gained and how will it help you in the future?
I’ve been able to teach UG modules which has been brilliant for improving my confidence and giving me a solid foundation in teaching skills if I want to pursue an academic career. I’ve organised several conferences, which has given me experience creating and managing online and in-person events and having presented papers at a range of seminars and conferences, my public speaking skills have developed as well. I’ve began working on journal publications allowing me to engage with academic publishing. I’m also part of a research network that is working with several museums around the country, giving me experience with public engagement and presenting my research to non-academic audiences.
Find out more about our PhD History programme over on our course pages.