ESRC PhD Students

Thesis: The Impact of the USMCA on the Mexican Automotive Sector: A Global Production Network Perspective

Email: gcowman-sharpe1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC student gives me access to a wealth of methods training opportunities, the ability to hear from leading scholars on their research and the chance to meet and collaborate with other PhD researchers through the DTP pathways.

Thesis: Becoming-Common of the Public. The development of urban commons within the municipalist project in Spain

Email: amendezdeandesaldama1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The intellectual luxury and pleasure to be part of an exciting environment that supports, accompanies and challenges my research project.

Thesis: Beyond Corporate Social Responsibility: exploring worker-driven alternatives to address forced labour

Email: remi.edwards@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being part of an exciting, vibrant and interdisciplinary community of researchers doing important work to address urgent social issues.

Thesis: Cannabis and Commodity Fetishism: A Political Economy Critique of Californian Cannabis

Email: alloyd5@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is a brilliant opportunity to conduct the research I wish to undertake which I am very appreciative of and do not take lightly. It is also a chance to be part of a creative and interesting community with different perspectives, knowledges and methods, giving me the best training for the future as a researcher.

Thesis Title: The Gender dynamics of Unfree Labour: why are women disproportionately vulnerable to exploitation?

Email: charline.sempere@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel very lucky and grateful to be ESRC funded. I would not have been able to undertake such an exciting and important research project without the ESRC scholarship. It has also given me access to relevant training, additional resources and guidance which will improve my research techniques and the overall quality of my research. Finally as a ESRC student I am part of an amazing cohort of like-minded researchers.

Thesis: Exploring opportunities for political engagement and participation through online multiplayer roleplaying games.

Email: p19elb@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student allows me to pursue my PhD. Having the support of the ESRC for my project gives me confidence in my abilities and allows me the necessary space, time and stability to produce my best work. Without this funding and support, I could not have considered this step in my life. Furthermore, the opportunities to meet inspiring students also funded by the ESRC has given me much needed guidance, expertise and perspectives. I am so grateful to the ESRC for believing in me and my project and providing the support and opportunities to be my best.

Thesis: How do states shape, and how are they themselves shaped by, Global Production Networks?

Email: Jwhite9@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Having the opportunity to conduct my research through an ESRC studentship is something I am immensely grateful for and humbled by. The wide range of training and general support offered is immeasurably helpful, and to be part of such a creative, collaborative and passionate community of researchers is hugely exciting and energising for my own work.

Thesis: A Woman’s Work? The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Employment and Retirement of Women in the Third Age

Email: Lseeley1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I returned to education as a mature student. Without the traditional qualifications, I completed a Foundation Year. My only intention was that I would finish my undergraduate so my mum could see me graduate. Being a first generation student from a single parent family who grew up on free school meals, I never imagined I could really succeed at university. Being an ESRC funded student is a huge endorsement of what I have done and what it is possible for others to achieve through education. Most of all, I hope that it means that my research will be the best it possibly can and will have a tangible impact on the inequalities I seek to explore.

Thesis: Art and security in women’s collective action against gender-based violence in Quintana Roo and Oaxaca

Email: tallulah.lines@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has enabled me to carry out research I feel deeply passionate about that I believe can make a real difference to communities on the ground – to be supported in this endeavour by such an important institution has really boosted both my confidence and the practical skills I need to undertake this work.

Thesis: Informality and the Urban Elite: Urban Development Processes in London and Dar es Salaam.

Email: mm06rab@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means that I have an amazing opportunity to be part of a researching community and to have the space and resources to find out more about some really interesting things!

Thesis: Informing citizens? Effects of imprints on digital political advertising

Email: hcgordon1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As an interdisciplinary researcher, being supported by the ESRC means having plenty of opportunities to meet people working on a similar topic beyond my immediate department as well as access to exciting and unique learning opportunities. The ESRC collaboration award has also enabled my project to be in partnership with the Electoral Reform Society, a political campaign organisation.

Thesis: Representing the unrepresented: The parliamentary representation of refugees in the UK Parliament

Email: gc1082@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has given me the freedom and support to pursue a career researching parliament. The ESRC has provided me with the resources to learn and develop my knowledge on a subject I care deeply about and be surrounded by a group of inspiring researchers.

Thesis: The governance and politics of plastic waste management in Ghana

Email: e.abalo-2021@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student offers me the opportunity to work with, learn, share, and grow within an interdisciplinary team of students and academics committed to addressing wicked and grand problems such as my topic. Instrumentally, I get to research on the topic I love and work towards my career goals.

Thesis: Beyond NGO-isation: Critically Interrogating Women Empowerment and Capacity Building in Rural India

Email: arbhuta1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am passionate about gender justice and equality, which aligns with the commitment to equality and diversity research within the Civil Society, Development and Democracy Pathway. I am glad to be awarded a prestigious ESRC WRDTP scholarship and join the vibrant WRDTP research community. I also hope to contribute to the diversity of voices within the WRDTP by offering a perspective as an Indian woman student. As I tread along this exciting but challenging path progressing through my PhD, I hope to inspire other women from diverse and marginalised backgrounds to pursue their dreams and aspirations. I am grateful to the ESRC and the University of Sheffield for this award which will help me pursue a doctoral project exploring feminist capacity building in rural India. This will eventually enable me to contribute towards research in Gender and Development. I am also a member of the WRDTP Student Forum, representing the Civil Society, Development and Democracy Pathway across the seven WRDTP Universities. In addition to honing my leadership skills, this role is enriching my experience as a WRDTP scholar. I look forward to working on my thesis under the guidance of my supervisors, Prof. Dorothea Kleine and Dr. Sammia Poveda at the Department of Geography.

Thesis: Policy interpretation and enactment within the everyday practices of frontline education bureaucrats in India and its impact on the quality of service provision

Email: ptav@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is a tremendous opportunity to do meaningful research while being part of a network of amazing scholars that I can learn from.

Thesis: The Art of Political Hope

Email: emilie.flower@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student has made it possible for me to pursue my research on the art of political hope, and make an academic as well as a broader contribution within my field. The programme also provides excellent ongoing training and support, and grounds my research in a community of interdisciplinary researchers, which helps to keep the research focused and relevant.

Thesis: Theorising consumption in food sovereignty

Email: pt19mfrr@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded international student presents an opportunity to bring attention to other areas in the Global South like the Philippines that are not commonly studied in UK-based research.

Thesis: Diaspora National Identity

Email: rnurmuhammad1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC-funded PhD Student

Without ESRC funding, studying in the UK wouldn’t have been possible for me. And, being an ESRC-funded PhD student is more than receiving financial support, this opportunity has been providing me access to academic trainings, resources, and networks, collaboration and knowledge exchange that are shaping my academic journey and opening pathways for my future career.

Thesis:

Protests and Polls: A Nigerian Paradigm of Social Movements and Elections Interrelations

Email:

vcl510@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC is significant for my project and for me. It demonstrates recognition of my research’s potential contributions to pressing global challenges and acknowledges my ability to contribute to ongoing and future efforts in addressing those issues, while also contributing to knowledge gaps. Being an ESRC-funded PhD student also means I get to access a suite of training and resources that will equip me towards becoming a global resource. I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.

Thesis: Algorithmic Hauntings: Miscarriage and Grief in Online Social Media

Email: msr547@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The greatest gift that funding gives you is time; time in which to develop your ideas; to commit to and immerse yourself fully in your PhD studies. And as part of a recognised network of new and experienced researchers too. It’s something I’ve worked hard for, true, but also something for which I am incredibly thankful. A precious opportunity.

Thesis: Social media use by disabled transgender people

Email: ss18ch@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Having the opportunity to be an ESRC funded student has allowed me to undertake a PhD in an area very close to my heart. Being an ESRC funded student allows me to produce research by and for my communities in the hopes of providing a platform within which we can share our experiences and create change. The ESRC has allowed me to have an interdisciplinary approach to my work and also connect with fellow academics and colleagues to improve my research and the field.

Thesis: Secondary school performance measures in England – their effectiveness, effects and an exploration of alternative approaches

Email: Icwiddows1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am loving my time as a student – learning new things, meeting new people and tackling new challenges

Thesis: Spatialising Social Media Networks: The role of influencers as opinion leaders within local geographies

Email: gy17pls@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It provides me with the opportunity to understand, challenge, and create new ideas and knowledge in my chosen research field.

Thesis: Sex Work, Digital Rights and Freedoms: Creating Safer Online Working Environments Across Europe

Email: yaydinalp1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The ESRC allows me to pursue my interest in life by granting me the resources I need to conduct good quality research to contribute to the improvement of the human rights of sex workers and other marginalised communities.

Thesis: Measuring life quality from digital footprints for informed policy decision making

Email: ml20yw3@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding allows me to immerse myself in the research that I am passionate about. This support gives me access to valuable training and resources. It’s a great opportunity for me to grow as a researcher and make a difference with my work.

Thesis: Detecting the change of mental health status on social media

Email: zchen249@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC-funded PhD Student?

Being an ESRC-funded PhD student allows me to explore the intersection of NLP and mental health with the support I need. The funding provides access to training and networks that help me grow both technically and intellectually, while encouraging me to reflect on the social impact of my work within a supportive research community.

Thesis: Exploring Contemporary Notions of Masculinity and Ontological Security Through the Lens of Digital Networks 

Email: rdavid1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding gives me the time, freedom, and resources to focus on research I believe is of the utmost importance during these uncertain times.

Thesis: The Marginalisation of White Working Class Girls in UK Widening Participation Policy

Email: b9028033@my.shu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The support of the ESRC means I am able to step away from full-time employment for a while in order to focus on what I believe to be an important research topic, and to engage with it in a way that wouldn’t have been possible without this dedicated time.

Thesis: Tiny Interactions in Gallery spaces: Babies, art and matter

Email: ruth.boycott-garnett@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It would be impossible to deliver some practice-led, collaborative research without the support I have received from ESRC. Being funded by the ESRC makes this research possible.

Thesis: School Readiness: Early years practitioners’ and parents’ perspectives on what constitutes a ‘good level of development’ in England

Email: jehbreese1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is great to be part of a vibrant and growing community of social science researchers and to understand the importance of cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.

Thesis: How can the neuro-bio-sensory agency of young children with selective mutism be expressed through immersive, improvisational dance?

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

In the current economic, political and social climate where the future is unknown and the past is continually reinterpreted to privilege the few, the chance to study through ESRC to a level that will help make a difference in this climate for our future generations is a tremendous privilege and an important opportunity.

Thesis: Disability, sibling relationships and everyday life: exploring mundane realities as counter-storytelling

Email: tjryan1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student allows me to focus on my research full time as part of a community of students interested in similar areas. The time afforded to PhD students to sit with their topic allows for really interesting developments in thought alongside personal growth through the wide range of trainings available.

Thesis: My Friends, My Voices and Me: A Mixed-methods Investigation Exploring Commonalities and Differences of Sensory Hallucinations and Imaginary Companions with Children and Young People

Email: 19001761@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding has given me the unique opportunity to immerse myself in the academic perspective of my disciplinary field. It has allowed me to take part in a network of excellent researchers and without the funding, it would have been impossible for me to pursue this path.

Thesis: Improving teacher awareness and understanding of paediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Email: ejcolbert1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As an ESRC funded student, I feel it is a privilege to be part of such a creative, collaborative and explorative community while focusing on a research area that I feel so passionately about. This fascinating network of academic researchers has not only inspired elements of my research project, but has also allowed for rich and varied connections with others from an interdisciplinary perspective. Being a part of this cohort is truly inspiring and provides a constant motivator to better my understanding of my field and wider research standards.

Thesis: Addressing racial injustice through History education: Black educators’ perspectives on decolonising and diversifying

Email: 17003687@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am grateful and fortunate to have been awarded a Stuart Hall Foundation/ WRDTP studentship. The funding I receive makes it possible for me to pursue my research project on a full-time basis and to be a part of a research community.

Thesis: Curriculum development as a form of teacher professional learning

Email: Eleanor.Hotham@student.shu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As an ESRC funded student, I have the opportunity to expand my research skills as part of an active community of interdisciplinary researchers. It has allowed me to step outside the classroom and research an area of great personal interest, with the aim of developing valuable understanding in the field.

Thesis: In what ways do the school building and environment affect engagement with learning in three case study schools?

Email: akma500@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Receiving ESRC funding has meant that I can pursue my own research without sacrificing my family life and responsibilities. The network of fellow scholars and institutions available to me through the WRDTP and ESRC is also invaluable and will help throughout my PhD to provide support and broaden my understanding of my research area, as well as my understanding of my own skills and career goals.

Thesis: Gestures as a stepping stone into rapid second language acquisition

Email: E.Minton-Branfoot-2016@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding has allowed me to carry out my research within a community of like minded academics. The support network created by the ESRC helps to provide the skills and training I need to complete my research to the best standard possible.

Thesis: #AreWeInternational? Female Indian students’ Integration in UK Universities and Within the Local Community

Email: edsr@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is a privilege to be funded by the ESRC, as I can carry out meaningful and impactful research which provides opportunities to work beyond my discipline and within many knowledgeable communities.

Thesis: The Adultification of Black Girls in State Care: care leavers’, social workers’ and teachers’ perspectives.

Email: edsi@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is an honour and a privilege to be an ESRC funded student. It is one of the most competitive PhD awards and reflects the importance of this topic in the eyes of the ESRC. The funding enables me to develop the range of multifaceted skills that this sensitive and nuanced topic requires in order for my PhD thesis to do it justice.

Thesis: Sign of the Times: Mapping adolescents’ experiences of intervention strategies and cultures of othering in the management of behaviour in mainstream secondary schools

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The ESRC scholarship allows me the opportunity to dedicate myself full-time to, what I feel, is an important area of education research. It also enables me to engage with other doctoral researchers, and develop my knowledge and skills through a variety of research training opportunities.

Thesis: Experiencing Conflict On and Offline: A Peer-led Approach to Conflict Resolution Across Digital and Physical Spaces

Email: JTLenton1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student gives me the freedom to undertake meaningful research in an important (and interesting) area of study, while being a part of a growing interdisciplinary network of social science researchers, and having access to world-class support, development and training.

Thesis: Exploring Translanguaging through Posthumanism: English as an Additional Language (EAL) Children’s Transition from Home to Nursery

Email: claudia.f.ferreira@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student had given me the opportunity to continue to develop my research interests in thinking about young bilingual children’s movements and practices in/and/across place to learn more about materiality of language. The support of the ESRC allows me to add to an important and timely debate by highlighting the creative potential and competence of young EAL children, in increasingly diverse classrooms.

Thesis: How does speaking confidence effect students’ ability to participate in higher education, employment, and civic life, with particular reference to working class students.

Email: ed12b3h@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC comes with many benefits. What I have found most invaluable so far is the access to a peer network of interdisciplinary researchers which provides collaborative opportunities, alongside the opportunities for world class training.

Thesis: Exploring the potential of critical global citizenship education in the local community food bank

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has given me an opportunity to follow a research career in a field that I am really passionate about. The training offered is great and I feel so well supported on my journey.

Thesis: An exploration of trans young people’s experiences in youth work settings

Email: max.j.kirk@student.shu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student gives me the time and freedom to study a project of my own, that I am passionate about and invested in. It provides me with the flexibility to manage my workload in a way that suits me, and it connects me with a community of other doctoral students to connect with and learn from

Thesis: Developing Confident and Capable Future Digital Citizens: A Socio-material Analysis of the role of smartphones in “Bring Your Own Device programs” in Wales and Catalonia

Email: margarida.borras-batalla@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being a ESRC funded student means not only that I can conduct and lead my own research project for the first time but also that I can get involved with a vibrant research community. In addition, this opportunity has allowed me to step away from full-time employment and focus on a research project that I hope can be useful for future generations. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity.

Thesis: An investigation into disabled students’ and institutions’ narratives of inclusion in UK universities: how are there such opposing discourses?

Email: ss20gp@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I’m a mature student and have come later to postgraduate study, so I’m delighted to have been funded to pursue my research at this point in my career. I’m also disabled and am a study skills tutor in the HE, so have experience of seeing how disability often remains overlooked in our institutions. I am excited too to be part of such a prestigious community and have the opportunity to knowledge share with my peers.

Thesis: What is happening during early parent-child interaction for deaf children?

Email: rapwareham-obrien1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being able to complete an ESRC-funded PhD gives me the assurance that I have all the necessary support, both financial and academic to complete by PhD to the best of my abilities. I feel very lucky to have been given this opportunity.

Thesis: Reimaging Education for Sustainable Development: A study of youth knowledge construction & political subjectivity through climate strikes.

Email: shuang.y.ng@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The ESRC funding has provided me with opportunities, communities, and networks to help develop my research ideas and debates further. Being part of such a vast network, I have had the opportunity to interact and share in discussions from other brilliant researchers of vastly different backgrounds towards approaching a more transdisciplinary mode of understanding the world around me. Being an ESRC funded student also allows me to work in research aimed at contributing to the social good and hopefully transformative means for engaging with life and the world in the future.

Thesis: Peer counselling approaches in sexuality education for, by, and with people with learning difficulties in Germany

Email: ss20jek@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student provides me with the unique opportunity to further pursue my specific individual research interest in a highly skilled academic environment within a supportive community of like-minded peers equipping me with the necessary training and skills in social research. This allows me to carry out my research project in an interdisciplinary and transnational way improving its academic quality to an extent which otherwise would have not been possible.

Thesis: The Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Cognition

Email: T.Peney-2020@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The opportunity to be an ESRC funded student is truly meaningful to me. It not only grants me access to vital resources for my research, but also empowers me to pursue my own area of interest with passion and curiosity. The training and support provided by the ESRC is invaluable, as it not only helps me develop my skills, but also creates networking opportunities. This opens the possibility for interdisciplinary collaborations and discussion, further enhancing my growth as a researcher.

Thesis: Improving Support for Children’s Fundamental Movement Skill Development in the Early Years

Email: ed18j4d@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Having the freedom and flexibility to conduct research that I am passionate about is a privilege that I am immensely grateful for. I am honoured to be surrounded by like-minded intellects who share the same enthusiasm for research.

Thesis: Including Disability in Social and Cultural Anthropology: From disciplinary absence to an enabling environments

Email: ssrhlg@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is a privilege to be able to be given the financial support to focus my efforts on completing this project. Without this funding, I would not be able to give this much needed project the time and academic thinking it deserves. Disability is often an overlooked and under appreciated aspect of our EuroAmerican societies. Therefore, this funding gives me the opportunity to show the generative value in attending to disabled people’s lived experiences and aspirations, to create more positive changes in academia and our wider societal spaces. To bring the power into disabled people’s and make disability the driving force of inquiry.

Thesis: LGB with the T: Working collaboratively with LGBTQ+ teachers to develop solutions for the teaching of gender identity

Email: 11040612@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has enabled me to conduct research that I am deeply passionate about. It also provides me with an opportunity to network with fellow social researchers. I am really excited to be part of such a creative and vibrant space.

Thesis: An exploration of LGBTQ+ young people’s experience of foster care in England

Email: Han.m.greenslade@hallam.shu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel very lucky. Its great to feel part of a community of students that are thinking and exploring important ideas and, in so many cases, challenging the status quo. As a mature student arriving from 15 years of youth work and with 2 kids at home, its a huge life change, but one I’m loving!

Thesis: Beyond ‘support’: Exploring the use of participatory action research to propose strategies to reduce inequalities in the outcomes and experiences of working-class students in Higher Education. 

Email: lily.skourides@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I’m extremely grateful and humbled to receive funding from the ESRC that allows me to dedicate my time to issues I’m passionate about. It’s also amazing to engage with and learn from a community of like-minded researchers with various expertise and interests. Overall, being a ESRC-funded PhD Student allows me to explore and evolve my understanding and practice of research in new and exciting ways!

Thesis: Protecting against misogyny: Developing an intervention to reduce the influence of the ‘manosphere’ on adolescents.

Email: erl541@york.ac.uk 

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel very fortunate to be an ESRC funded PhD student. The ability to engage in research programmes, meet like-minded people and take part in workshops will really help me to develop my skills as a researcher. I’m grateful that I am able to complete the research I care so much about, and I hope to make a real impact with support from the ESRC.

Thesis: The role of executive function in the development of language and literacy skills: A Malaysian study of children with language weaknesses

Email: joe.lew@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student gives me the time, space and support to carry out meaningful research that can help more children, particularly those with language and literacy difficulties. The funding allows me to fully focus on this important work while developing as a researcher. Being part of this community has also connected me with a supportive network of scholars and offered valuable opportunities for collaboration, training and growth. I’m truly grateful to the ESRC for making this opportunity possible.

Thesis: Cognitive Strategies to facilitate learning in students with Specific Learning Difficulties

Email: l.rockett-2020@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC means a great deal to me. It’s more than just financial support—it’s the freedom to pursue research that I genuinely care about. Having a full scholarship means I don’t have to compromise on what I want to research; I can explore ideas that feel important and relevant, both personally and socially. It also gives me a sense of confidence—knowing that a respected research council believes in my potential and the value of my research. Knowing that my work is supported by an organisation that values impactful, rigorous research motivates me to push myself. It’s also exciting to be connected to others across disciplines, all tackling complex social issues in different ways. The support from the ESRC gives me the freedom to follow the questions I’m most passionate about, and being part of that network makes the research feel bigger than just my own project.

Thesis: “She’s autistic…but I don’t see any of that”. Exploring teachers’ understandings of autism in female adolescents

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to step out of teaching for a while and spend time researching a topic so important to me; this would not have been possible without ESRC funding.

Thesis: In what ways can ‘sustainability’ be incorporated into the secondary geography Key Stage 3 curriculum in England?

Email: cln534@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student is an amazing opportunity to become part of a diverse and interdisciplinary research community. I feel privileged to have access to the guidance, training and support provided by the ESRC scholarship, as these have helped me to develop as a researcher. I aim to use what I have learnt to design research that is of value to the teachers that I wish to support.

Thesis: Investigating the Role of Existential Awareness in Adolescent Mental Health During Global Crises

Email: skr546@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC means being able to focus on my studies without the distraction of financial worries. It also means receiving support and training to grow as a researcher. What I value the most, however, is the opportunity to be part of a network of people who are passionate about addressing today’s most pressing societal challenges through their research.

Thesis: The importance of the form of testimonial narratives in efforts to prevent public sexual harassment of women in the UK.

Email: hlredman1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It feels like an enormous privilege to be an ESRC-funded PhD student – not only in terms of the financial stability this brings, but also the support & training offered by the doctoral partnership. I feel supported to conduct the best research I can, to do justice to the stories offered by my participants.

Thesis: Reading – Right From Wrong – Investigating the role a Community Rehabilitation Company plays in supporting individuals who experience literacy difficulties.

Email: vbarritt1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is a real privilege to have received ESRC funding to research an area I am so passionate about. It also provides access to high quality training events and opportunities to collaborate with other academics.

Thesis: How the human brain learns to recognise faces.

Email: lydia.searle@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student means I can take up my offer a PhD place at the University of York which has been my dream for years. This funding allows me to progress in my academic career and give me an edge as I apply for post-doc positions afterwards.

Thesis: A Qualitative Investigation into the Impact of Domestic Abuse on Women’s Desistance Journeys

Email: nalchristian1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I would like to thank the ESRC for allowing me the opportunity to conduct research into this previously overlooked aspect of criminal justice. I am very passionate about developing discussion in the field of women’s desistance and making a positive impact that advances knowledge. I am excited to progress in both my personal life and academic career over the next 3 years whilst also having access to the world-class training and support the WRDTP provides.

Thesis: Vulnerable adults in police custody:A comparative study into defining, identifying, and safeguarding vulnerable adults in police custody suites in Poland and England.

Email: mmikolajewska1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student gives me a unique opportunity to try and make a meaningful and positive change through research.

Thesis: Foreign National Offenders in the UK as deportable subjects: Constructions and trajectories

Email: gylc@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Having worked on refugee/migration issues in the third sector for the past ten years, it feels a privilege to have the opportunity to bring learning from my professional experience back into academia, exploring the intersections between the criminal justice and immigration systems in the UK. I look forward to benefiting from the training and expertise within the WRDTP network.

Thesis: UK Mass Atrocity Prevention

Email: ss19gcm@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC has provided access to invaluable networks and opportunities, in addition to collaborative working with highly relevant and active organisations in the field.

Thesis: A Social Constructionist Approach to Paedophilia, Child Sexual Abuse and Relevant Preventative Policy-Making: A Comparison between the UK and Germany

Email: msklavou1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student represents a unique and amazing opportunity for me to do research in an area that I am passionate about, whilst also getting to meet and exchange ideas with new people.

Thesis: Tamerlane’s trip to Shanghai: analysis of Sino-Uzbek relations from 1991 to 2016

Email: fmaracchione1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded means gaining access to shared interdisciplinary knowledge and accessing a multilayered view on your research. In addition, the methodological preparation given by the 1+3 programme is unique.

Thesis: Adversity, Trauma and Resilience in Childhood Experiences

Email: ss22skc@leeds.ac.uk 

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The ESRC funding has provided me with the opportunity to engage in impactful research that I am truly passionate about, through an interdisciplinary approach. It also allows me to be part of a wider research community, with access to invaluable training opportunities that will continuously develop my skills as a researcher.

Thesis: Is race/ethnicity associated with heftier sentences? Examining disparities in the sentencing of child offenders

Email: lwanv@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Without ESRC funding I wouldn’t have been able to undertake this research. ESRC funding has furthermore given me the opportunity to attend conferences as well as further develop my research skills.

Thesis: British IR in the Neoliberal University: how the Neoliberalisation of higher-education, alongside the rise in academic social media use, shapes the discipline of International Relations in the United Kingdom

Email: pt18cdeg@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student has meant a lot for me, as it has given me the opportunity to pursue my research interests at a PhD level, and an acknowledgement that my particular approach towards my research has the potential to really contribute towards a wider scholarly endeavor. The support I have received in terms of training has also been invaluable.

Thesis: Protecting or Problematising? Exploring the management of vulnerable groups in neighbourhood policing

Email: lw19rrf@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is a position that I’m very fortunate and grateful to experience. It comes with support, both in a community and financial sense, as well as providing so many opportunities in terms of training, education and collaboration.

Thesis: From #nucleargirlposse to ‘disarm the patriarchy’: analysing the effects of gendering nuclear weapons policy.

Email: ss21lb@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Having support from the ESRC motivates me to see my project in terms of the bigger picture, in pursuit of a contribution with meaningful scholarly and policy relevance. The opportunity has been invaluable in allowing me to pursue policy and research engagement linked to my PhD research. The research support training grant means that it is possible to attend conferences and trainings alongside study. I’ve learnt so much from the interdisciplinary focus of the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, and have met so many excellent PGR researchers along the way.

Thesis: Living in the Grey Zones: the wives of Foreign and Commonwealth army personnel in North Yorkshire

Email: haf520@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has given me the freedom to really embrace my PhD; it has given me the time and space to consider what I want the project to look like and how I want to achieve this.

Thesis: Connecting gendered human and environmental injustice in global garment value chains: Intersecting forms of feminised exploitation in production for the fashion industry

Email: susannah.williams@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC whilst I complete my PhD means that I am able to spend more of my time outside of work doing voluntary and activist work which is important to me and my research. I also love meeting really interesting researchers through the ESRC training and networking events.

Thesis: An exploration of the experiences of children in care of child criminal exploitation (CCE).

Email: djmdarley1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded PhD student means I get the opportunity to do what I love! I get to carry out research with some amazing young people and hopefully shake things up in the Academy along the way!

Thesis: Constructing a Non-Eurocentric International Relations: Humanitarian Intervention Re-imagined

Email: bjvince1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Thanks to the ESRC I’m able to pursue a PhD in something I’m immensely passionate about, access relevant support and training to better my research, and pursue a career in academia. Being ESRC funded has also exposed me to other brilliant early career researchers within the interdisciplinary community doing extraordinary things.

Thesis: Governing Forced Migration in Colombia’s Peace Transition: Integrating Urban Resettlement and Housing in the Llano Verde Housing State in Cali, Colombia (2012-2023).

Email: smvargasrojas1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel honoured and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the ESRC Scholarship. The financial assistance has enabled me to focus only on my studies and pursue my academic and personal goals. I have had access to fantastic training opportunities for my personal and academic development that will allow me to contribute to knowledge creation in order to support the formulation of grassroots-informed policy on effective reparations and durable solutions for urban IDPs.

Thesis: In light of the ‘Prison Crisis’, what are the explanations of, and solutions to, violence within prison? A qualitative study of prisoners’ and prison officers’ perceptions of the current prison environment within England and Wales using a GST theoretical framework.

Email: thomas.wells@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am thrilled to be part of a community of students that share with me this chance to pursue our academic interests. It means the world to me that I get the opportunity to improve as a scholar, as well as uncover new forms of knowledge in the next 3 years.

Thesis: Mapping the cognitive and emotional mechanism through which popular culture produces and resists White Supremacism

Email: csimon1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student means a number of things to me. First and foremost it means I have the time and the space to think through and explore contemporary political issues; focusing in on how I might be able to help tackle them. It also means that my interdisciplinary approach to studying politics is valued by someone other than me. In many ways it means being a part of a community who is invested in finding new solutions to difficult problems.

Thesis: Sleeping with the Enemy: The Lived Experiences of Vietnamese Mothers of Amerasian Children

Email: lqv501@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is chance to do research in a supportive, rigorous academic cohort.

Thesis: Looking into the Long-term Reintegration of Survivors with Lived Experience of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

Email: f.conka-2023@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded PhD student means having the platform to contribute to meaningful social change through research. As someone from a working-class and ethnic minority background, this opportunity represents more than financial support; it’s a recognition of my potential to contribute meaningfully to society. My research focuses on modern slavery, reintegration, and the politics of freedom, aiming to expose critical gaps in policy and practice. This topic matters to me deeply, not just as an academic, but as someone who has witnessed the long-term effects of marginalisation and disempowerment. With ESRC support, I’m able to bring lived experience into conversation with academic theory, advocating for more inclusive, just, and human-centred approaches. It’s a privilege to carry out research that not only informs, but also has the potential to transform.

Thesis: Exploring the lived experiences of racially minoritized children in youth justice system Subject to out of court disposals

Email: anuarita.m.mphwina@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded PhD student is both a privilege and a responsibility. It allows me to pursue research I am deeply passionate about while amplifying the voices and lived experiences of marginalized children. This funding not only provides vital support but also affirms the importance of challenging systemic inequalities and promoting just, inclusive practices.

It is a unique opportunity to contribute to knowledge that can drive meaningful change, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world impact, particularly for those whose voices are too often unheard. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a research community that values diversity, collaboration, and the transformative potential of evidence-based approaches.

Thesis: Probation and partnership-working: experiences of desistance from crime in activity hubs

Email: lw19hks@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded student means I have support, both financially and in the community. This has provided unique opportunities to attend conferences, training sessions and meet various other researchers from different Universities.

Thesis: The effectiveness and social implications of economic incentives for carnivore conservation: a case study in Ruaha, Tanzania.

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

To have opportunities for additional training and funding, such as the difficult language training which I have been fortunate to receive.

Thesis: Reclaiming the Intermediary City

Email: aaxinte1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Coming from a long and intense period of being actively engaged as an architect in projects on the ground, this scholarship represents an amazing opportunity allowing for the academic research side of my work to ‘catch up’ with the spatial practice for more rigorously evidenced and relevant future projects.

Thesis: Imaginaries of Flood, Attachment and Testimony: The Futures of Majuli

Email: gypde@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Without ESRC funding, I would not have been able to research at a globally renowned institution, guided by leading researchers within an excellent community of scholars. It has given an identity to my project and enriched its interdisciplinary nature.

Thesis: An analysis of local authorities and property developers’ relations shaping spatial change in Cape Town and Johannesburg

Email: ioldsen-thorstraten1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Time to learn with and from others, explore, think critically, discuss and reflect.

Thesis: Identity, belonging and spatial sensitivities in temporary urban spaces

Email: amy.holmes@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has enabled me to continue to work in a globally recognised research department. It’s given me so many opportunities beyond expanding my own knowledge, and I hope to put those to good use not only through my PhD, but through working with undergraduates and more recently, the broader research community. My aim for my research is to understand how we can rethink and reinvigorate the city, and make space for those who otherwise don’t feel connected to their urban environment.

Thesis: Climate change and everyday precarities of informal workers in Indian cities

Email: rraj1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being funded by the ESRC acknowledges the importance of my research topic and gives me the opportunity to learn research skills as part of the 1+3 program and the freedom to work on the topic I am passionate about. It also provides me with access to a wide range of training, resources, mentorship, and peer support to help me grow as a researcher.

Thesis: Flood exposure and social vulnerability: how can a joint assessment provide insights for flood risk governance in Pakistan

Email: ss22arh@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

A great honour, privilege, and responsibility. The ESRC has opened opportunities to pursue a wide range of training, research a topic I am passionate about, develop myself as a researcher, and connect with fellow researchers across disciplines. Being part of an interdisciplinary network of researchers and engaging in discussions through WRDTP pathways has allowed for interdisciplinary connections and provided me with the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate with other inspiring researchers engaged on the PhD journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this prestigious community of researchers. 

Thesis: Using Design for All Principles as a Behavioural Approach to Decarbonise UK Transport whilst Supporting Accessibility and Equity

Email: mn17s3s@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I love being an ESRC student as it gives me the opportunity to further inclusivity and sustainability for all.

Thesis: Decision-making of Polish homeless migrant workers around settlement, re-settlement or return in the post- Brexit era Britain.

Email: mppiliszewska1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel privileged and lucky to be awarded with a scholarship. The funding provides me with necessary resources to investigate the topic which I am passionate about and the opportunity to impact European policy and practice around homelessness among Central Eastern European citizens in Britain and other EU countries.

Thesis: Survival through design: An examination of tiny housing as a unique and emerging sector within self-build projects

Email: aew579@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

A privileged opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to my discipline, and access to high quality conferences and peer networks.

Thesis: Social media and community disaster resilience: a process-based study of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

Email: aegricketts1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The funding gives me the support and freedom to explore my PhD topic, whilst maintaining a healthy work/life balance. 

Thesis: Democratic Politics for Community Economies

Email: erchubbard1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded students means that I’m part of a pathway with like-minded people, so that we can support each other and collaborate.

Thesis: Incorporating social, economic and cultural values in landscape-scale conservation modelling and planning

Email: ss21lgss@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I see it as a great opportunity to research issues that I found deeply interesting and relevant, and feel like I have the right support to do so.

Thesis: A home for life? Understanding housing aspirations of older homeowners

Email: hlbrown2@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am delighted to be in receipt of ESRC funding as this enables me to undertake my research project, be part of a wider network of Doctoral students and ensures I can access the best quality training.

Thesis: Public arts for inclusive placemaking: perceptions, evaluations and actions

Email: pc16kl@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I’m grateful to have the opportunity to engage with talented researchers of diverse disciplines, which will support the interdisciplinary nature of my collaborative PhD research.

Thesis: Everyday Negotiations of Space and Place: Experiences of Resettlement and Dispersal in a Northern, Post-Industrial Town

Email: igzmacrae1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has enabled me to further develop my thinking around the ways in which migration, race and conviviality play out in peripheral, northern geographies, and explore a topic which I’m so interested in and passionate about. It is a privilege to be part of such an interdisciplinary network, and to engage in enriching discussions and conversations through the training courses and workshops organised by the WRDTP pathways. Being a part of the WRDTP community has helped me to develop my skills as a researcher, and encouraged me to engage with wider social and academic debates which have expanded my thinking in the field.

Thesis: Power Analysis and Narrative Change. Role of Grassroots Initiatives in Governing Urban Sustainability Transitions

Email: eemr@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means having the academic freedom to carry out research, and the access to training and development opportunities.

Thesis: A comparative political economy of Just Transition: trade unions, NGOs and pathways to climate justice

Email: csaltmarsh1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

To be an ESRC funded student is to enjoy both the resources and intellectual community necessary to conduct innovative research in support of efforts to understand and tackle the biggest and most urgent social challenges we face today.

Thesis: Urban Redevelopment for whom: Developing practice based knowledge for inclusive market redevelopment schemes

Email: ss23db@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is indeed a prestigious and honourable opportunity. I have got the privilege of receiving funding and support to pursue my academic and research goals in the field of social sciences. The network of scholars and researchers I have become a part of as an ESRC student is invaluable. I am exposed to newer research clusters and have the chance to collaborate with experts in my area of interest. Moreover, it has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, both academically and personally. I got the chance to study and work in different environments, which has been a transformative experience. The kind of research we do here can have a global impact, and gives me an opportunity to become a part of the network of researchers dedicated to advancing knowledge and addressing important societal challenges.

Thesis: Forced Migration and the Production of Everyday Spaces in Arrival Neighbourhoods

Email: zpang5@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I worked for five years before coming back to university for my PhD study. ESRC funding allows me to embark on this adventure without a financial burden. It is a luxury to focus on my research topic without worrying about other complications in life. At the same time, the network of scholars provides an immense opportunity to make connections and increase the impact of my own work.

Thesis: The Gendered Perspectives of Climate Change Impact and the Resilience of Slum Dwellers in Accra

Email: D.A.PUPLAMPU-2021@HULL.AC.UK

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means that my career goals and aspirations are within reach.

Thesis: Disrupting flood risk management narratives: Youth-centred research into education, action and resilience in flood-affected places 

Email: jennifer.lavender@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student? 

Being an ESRC-funded student gives me access to a wide range of resource, colleagues and opportunities that open up my PhD experience. Being funded means I can undertake my research without the stress of added financial pressures whilst undertaking research that I think is so important given the current climate crisis.

Thesis: Sanitary Rationalities, Infrastructural Practices and the Construct(ion) of Sanitary Subjects in Mumbai’s Informal Settlements

Email: kajagtap1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

To me, being an ESRC-funded PhD student means having the opportunity to contribute to a wider community of scholars committed to rigorous, socially engaged research. It provides me with the support, encouragement, and structure necessary to pursue field-based, historically grounded research on sanitation governance and citizenship in Mumbai’s informal settlements, while affirming the value of independent, critical and interdisciplinary scholarship. I’m grateful for the time, autonomy, and institutional support this funding provides, which makes it possible to carry out research in close dialogue with communities, institutions, and academic peers.

Thesis: Socio-ecological research to understand the impacts of alternative protein sources in the UK and Europe

Email: xtcv8072@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am grateful to be funded by ESRC White Rose Partnership. While I feel a responsibility to take advantage of the training and opportunities available to me, ultimately it is empowering and a privilege to be supported to do research that I care about and that will hopefully lead to a meaningful career.

Thesis: The impacts of the planning system on the Gypsy and Traveller community

Email: crantzmcdonald1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Receiving funding has allowed me to take the daunting step of leaving full-time employment to undertake a PhD. It provides me with the opportunity to be part of a vibrant research community with access to fantastic training resources and guidance.

Thesis: Ethnobotanical knowledge and sustainable food system in Africa

Email: s.u.nachibi-2021@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

An opportunity to advance my research skills to contribute to solving food issues in Africa.

Thesis: The Transnational Urbanisation of the North Sea: Socio-Economic and Governance Challenges resulting from a Complex of Uses and Users

Email: d.A.page-2018@hull.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Everything. As an ESRC-funded student I am a part of an eminently diverse network of early-career researchers, who are working on distinctly heterogeneous projects, spanning manifold disciplinary insights and specialisations.

Thesis: Investigation of performance of FPOs in India 

Email: ssroddam1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am so thankful for the funding of ESRC as it has changed my career and help me to grow in the field of Economics, which is my dream.

Thesis: The experience of innovation implementation in organisations

Email: ss17lcm@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

When I was awarded the ESRC scholarship I felt extremely proud that such an institution saw the value of the work I was proposing, so much so they were prepared to fund it for three years. This conveyed a sense of social responsibility, which helped drive my PhD forward in difficult times. The ESRC creates a number of forums, in which it is possible to establish connections with other students from different disciplines and institutions. It also connects you a large network of training opportunities and dissemination events, ensuring you are part of bigger conversations about impact.

Thesis: Exploring perspectives on the future of work in a climate crisis among UK trade unions and union members

Email: ee20gm@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel incredibly lucky to be funded by the ESRC. It’s such a privilege to be a part of a community of researchers researching and creating knowledge and impact at the forefront of such important issues.

Thesis: Brief Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa

Email: pop08hcd@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am very proud to be a White Rose Doctorate Training Partnership student. It is an honour and a real boost to my confidence as an early career researcher to have my work supported by the ESRC.

Thesis: From Demons to Diagnosis? A genealogy of the diagnostic category of epilepsy.

Email: pt11st@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As an ESRC funded student I have been given so much support and opportunities to help me to achieve my potential and flourish in my PhD and beyond. I am so grateful to be an ESRC student and I am looking forward to be able to make the most of all of the academic training, networking and career opportunities they offer to us.

Thesis: Interrogating the nature of foodscapes and alternative food economies through beyond-profit food sites

Email: ochesworth1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding has allowed me to pursue research interests which I originated from both working as a chef and as part of various social eating and food charities since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through the funded doctoral training pathway, I have been able to utilise a wide range of resources and training materials to develop my skills as a social researcher and academic. Moreover, the network has helped build my relationship with a wider community of fascinating researchers across England at the early career stage and beyond.

Thesis: An exploration of the relationships between gastric interoceptive sensibility, body image, and food choice

Email: lucy.stafford@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student means being supported. Not only is my PhD being supported by the ESRC, but also my career. My ESRC funding means I can undertake a Masters degree and a PhD to progress my research and data analysis skills and research niche, but also participate in workshops addressing my professional development.

Thesis: Evaluating the impact of social transfers on income poverty and material deprivation in European countries

Email: danai.konstantinidou@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has provided me with the opportunity to undertake the challenge of doing a PhD, while also providing training opportunities and allowing me to be a part of an interdisciplinary community of researchers.

Thesis: Biodiversity and Health. How does biological diversity and an understanding of it, affect the salutogenic benefits of urban green space?

Email: sfarris1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

For me, it is a great opportunity to grow up as a researcher, an excellent way to develop interdisciplinary skills and a chance to make a difference in improving society.

Thesis: Giving voice to children and young people in family-centered work: Co-producing an evaluation framework for the Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities Programme

Email: cgarner1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student gives me the freedom and support to carry out interesting co-production research with children and young people. I also work with the Race Equality Foundation as a partner organisation for my PhD, which gives me direct access to the Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities programme. I have benefited from the training available with WRDTP; the emphasis on group discussions and knowledge sharing facilitates collaborative learning and good networking opportunities. Being part of the Well-being, Health and Communities (WHC) pathway has given me a broader understanding of topics related to my field and the advantages of interdisciplinary working.

Thesis: Does living in an eco-community make you happier?

Email: d.pilichou@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means being supported academically and financially to pursue the research I am most passionate about. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

Thesis: Experiences and Perceptions of Independent Advocacy under the Care Act 2014: An Explorative Study

Email: robert.alcock3@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am a 1+3 funded student who is currently studying the MA Social Research at Manchester Metropolitan University. I am due to commence my PhD in September 2020. I am a registered social worker who has previously practised in a local authority role for a number of years. Being a White Rose student will enable me to undertake research into an area of adult social care that I am interested in and passionate about, and my research will hopefully yield outputs that will have positive impacts for both academic and professional communities of interest.

Thesis: Queering Manchester’s Devolution in the Third Sector: Health as (a Social) Movement

Email: chelsea.murphy@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded PhD researcher offers a meaningful opportunity to be part of the next generation of social scientists who are seeking to address the UK’s complex social and economic issues. The collaborative environment and PhD funding support offered by the ESRC is a great route towards using academic research to influence policy and practice.

Thesis: Appreciative Inquiry: Supporting Manchester’s Chronically Ill Older Adults In The Community

Email: 13116894@stu.mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As a first generation student, a PhD was something I never thought to be within my grasp. However, the ESRC have given me the opportunity to do something that I never would have been able to do otherwise. Having worked in health and social care for many years I knew there was much still to be done – particularly with older adults. This funded allows me to be able to more for the community than I would be able to do purely in my professional role.

Thesis: Men working in the adult social care sector in England: Motivations, experiences and change

Email: errmonkcom1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I am so grateful and excited to have received ESRC funding, allowing me to begin a project I am really passionate about at a fantastic university. I am also really pleased to be part of an extended research network, allowing me to learn from and connect with other early career researchers.

Thesis: Intimate Encounters: An intersectional approach examining the social, emotional health and wellbeing experiences of physically disabled women during intimacy with non-disabled men

Email: baenion1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student has opened a number of welcomed opportunities to develop myself both personally and professionally, for which I am very appreciative. It has provided access to a wider network which enables me to gain a wealth of knowledge beyond my own interdisciplinary PhD and the fact that the ESRC sees the value in my work is both encouraging and empowering.

Thesis: Public Healthcare Provisions and Children’s Health Outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa

Email: cvm509@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel very honoured and lucky to be funded by the ESRC. Being an ESRC scholar gives me unlimited access to relevant resourceful materials and interdisciplinary experience necessary to deliver a quality research project on my chosen theme. In addition, I have the wealth of privileges and opportunities to network with fellow young researchers alongside various pathway leaders who are highly motivated towards creatively driving global development.

Thesis: Exploring young people’s experiences of chronic pain and its psychosocial impact

Email: umbkcs@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As an ESRC funded student, I am part of a cohort which shares, learns from and celebrates each other’s varied disciplines and experiences. It has been invaluable to integrate new and exciting approaches into my topic area, and I am looking forward to the next 4 years.

Thesis: Centring LGBTQ+ women’s lived experiences of endometriosis: A critical mixed method analysis.

Email: ll15ef@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

To me being an ESRC funded student means being part of a group of researchers that value an interdisciplinary approach to social research. I have the chance to broaden my horizons through gaining access to training opportunities. This funding has also allowed me to research something that I think is immensely important and that I am passionate about.

Thesis: Tackling the challenges of transitioning to parenthood in forced migrant women

Email: mmakaure@bradford.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means I have access to a wealth of training and supervisors to guide me in my studies. It allows me to be part of a like minded community where ideas can be exchanged and growth can be achieved.

Thesis: Co-designing mental health services: An evaluation of the experiences of Black and Asian Communities in Bradford and its impact on their care

Email: a.e.uddin@bradford.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It is a real honour to be an ESRC funded student, to be supported to conduct my studies and research is a real privilege. Having access to the expertise, experience and skills of my colleagues and researchers is what I am really cherishing and looking forward to the journey ahead of me. I hope that as a collective and through the research outcomes, we are able to make the difference that is desperately needed.

Thesis: Exploring Asylum Seekers’ and Stakeholders’ Perceptions of the Impact of Living in Asylum Accommodation in the UK on Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing

Email: kukandu@bradford.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It has always been a challenge to cushion the financial burden of my academic pursuits. ESRC funding has significantly enhanced my capacity to successfully carry out my research studies alongside other commitments.

Thesis: How can the wellbeing of families involved in child protection court hearings be improved?

Email: S.Dennis@mmu.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

The ESRC funding enables me to undertake vital research in the family court and to complete this on a part-time basis alongside my job as a lecturer. The family court is an environment that families commonly find alienating and confusing. As a social worker with over 16 years’ professional experience, I have had many families tell me that they have not understood life-changing court hearings and my research aims to tackle this issue.

I will be undertaking an ethnography in 3 different court environments, including the more therapeutic environment of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court, with the aim of making recommendations for practice improvement. I am particularly interested in how the more therapeutic approach of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court could be more widely used in ‘mainstream’ court hearings.

Thesis: Watch and Worry? How are the support needs of people living with newly diagnosed chronic haematological malignancies being addressed?

Email: k.montague-hellen@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

After working with patients with chronic blood cancers for a decade as a Research Nurse, it’s very rewarding to have been given the opportunity to further explore how we, as a system, can support these patients at the very start of their cancer journey. Without the ESRC funding, this research and the dedicated time to conduct it, would not have been possible.

Thesis: Exploring the influence of ethnic background, culture and faith on perceptions towards advance care planning conversations with British Muslim communities

Email: umnri@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

To me being an ESRC funded student has been a fantastic opportunity to immerse myself into learning more about the social sciences discipline for my first year. This is also helping me to start to think about my PhD project differently and hopefully further develop it in the upcoming three years. I come from an applied health sciences background with several working experiences to draw on and being an ESRC funded student is providing me with an abundance of learning and re-learning experiences. I am excited about focusing on developing more advanced collaborative research skills that ensure the inclusion of voices of communities in research and delivery of care.

Thesis: “My coma”: collaborative autoethnography as a tool for re-contextualising coma experiences outside of the hospital

Email: rhiggins2@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

As a first-generation university student, I’ve worked full-time whilst also studying full-time throughout my previous degrees. ESRC funding gives me the time that I need to focus on my research and engage fully with my topic without too many outside distractions!

My research is focussed on a form of ethnography that is really under-utilised and exists across disciplines, predominantly the social sciences and humanities. To be a recipient of funding that allows me to engage with creative and inventive methods that place the lived experience and reflection of participants as key to the research process gives me hope that space is opening up for new approaches within social research.

Thesis: Identifying and evaluating pilot interventions to improve perinatal mental health systems and outcomes for women from racially minoritised backgrounds

Email: umroa@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is an amazing opportunity as this network will help me to stay connected with other students as well as widen my research network. I also believe that being an ESRC student will provide me with the unique opportunity of being constantly exposed to up-to-date training across my PhD programme. Additionally, being an ESRC student will open doors for contributing to research that makes a difference, in granting me the opportunity to shed light in the subject area of inequalities in perinatal mental health. I am grateful to be a part of the ESRC network, as being an ESRC student will provide me with a solid foundation in my career path.

Thesis: Predicting success in assistance dog training for blind and deaf individuals: Is early sensitivity to human verbal and gestural communicative cues predictive of success in assistance dog training?

Email: ella.williamson@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I’m very excited and humbled to be an ESRC funded student. I’m currently completing my MA in Social Research on the 1+3 studentship which has already enhanced my knowledge and skills as a researcher. The support and opportunities available from the ESRC are fantastic. I’m looking forward to starting my PhD in September 2024 which will hopefully have a significant positive impact for the blind and deaf community.

Thesis: Experiences of greenspace for asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds

Email: el10nas@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

I feel incredibly privileged and appreciative, having spent a lot of time working in care and support work, to be funded now to re-enter academia. I am deeply aware of what an extraordinary position I am now in, and I hope to use this new position and opportunities to highlight the voices of marginalised people.

Thesis: Individual Differences in Loss Aversion and the Effects on Well-Being: A Multi-Methods Approach

Email: ATRowe1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being a part of a diverse interdisciplinary community of researchers that are driven towards understanding complex social issues from a more holistic perspective than can typically be found in their respective fields.

Thesis: Archaeology as Therapeutic Practice.
Using Artefacts to connect with Identity: a Pathway to Wellbeing

Email: e.e.booth@bradford.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC funded student is already opening so many doors for me. It has given me the opportunity to pursue learning and training opportunities throughout the network, and make meaningful academic and professional connections.

Full-time fully-funded study has also enabled me to further develop my partnership with Kids in Museums, and support the work of this incredible charity that does so much to support young people and families in the heritage sector.

I hope that through my project and research I am able to make a real difference, and that the toolkit I co-develop with young people, and for young people, has a positive and lasting impact on youth wellbeing.

Thesis: Health economic evaluation of non-communicable diseases programs applied in emergency in humanitarian context.

Email: xsdw1002@leeds.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being a ESRC funded student is something I’m truly proud of. It is not only supports my academic career but also, reflects recognition and value of my research.

Thesis: Fertility, motherhood, family and transgender people in South Africa.

Email: tqv519@york.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

It means I have been granted a once in a life-time opportunity to not only pursue my life-long personal dream of acquiring a PhD, but to also make a meaningful contribution in society through my research. As a proponent of human rights, my voice matters now more than ever, to advocate for the excluded and marginalized groups in society, and to contribute towards a positive impact. As an ESRC-funded postgraduate researcher, I have an opportunity to undertake research that has a potential to change people’s lives, to network and collaborate with other like-minded scholars whose mission is to influence policy across the world, and contribute towards the realisation of a more just, equitable and inclusive society.

Thesis: From Marginality to Ontological Grounding: Faith, Mental Health, and Digital Practices Among Black Christian Women

Email: oosobukola1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

Being an ESRC-funded PhD student means being trusted to carry out research that matters — research that is academically excellent, socially impactful, and deeply needed. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to honour the lived realities of Black Christian women and to develop new ways of understanding faith, mental health, and technology. This funding is not just support; it is a responsibility to lead with integrity, to innovate with courage, and to contribute meaningfully to building a more just and inclusive society.

Thesis: Depression and Anxiety Trajectory Profiling as a Way to Improve Psychological Intervention Effectiveness for the Student Population

Email: akamardina1@sheffield.ac.uk

What does it mean to you to be an ESRC funded student?

ESRC funding allows me to be a part of the research community and enjoy my research journey by working with my brilliant supervisors, exchanging experiences with other PGR students, and exploring all the learning opportunities WRDTP generously provides. I appreciate that training is offered for various areas, including ones not directly related to my research topic. That enhances my research profile beyond my research questions and the methods I plan to apply, and gives me a much broader perspective.