Postgraduate Research School
Welcome to the
Postgraduate Research School
We are proud to launch the Postgraduate Research School at York St John University. The launch of the new school reflects the collective efforts of academic and professional staff over the past couple of years as we have gradually enhanced and reshaped support for PGRs at York St John University. The Postgraduate Research School will offer comprehensive support and direction to postgraduate researchers (PGRs) from the start to the completion of their research degree.
Professor Andrew Hill Head of the Postgraduate Research School
PGR case studies
Postgraduate Research Students are what make up the backbone of our PGR School. We asked some of them to discuss their research. Here they are, in their own words.
Practice-led research
We're all different. Aren't we?
Ewan East
I'm writing this at 1 am.
It's not the first time during my practice-led PhD that I've wrestled with sleep, ideas arriving, attempts to persuade myself to wait till the morning to follow them up, but here I am.
I'm writing this on my train journey to campus. I'm not always here, but there's something about working on a train, travelling towards the university. I'm lucky to use the excuse of working on campus once a week as a reason to travel, but the reality is I want to feel connected to my university.
I'm writing this whilst my son takes a nap. The most wonderful day together, divided in half by a moment of rest for him, a moment of practice for me. I can set aside whole days to work on my research, but the creativity he inspires in me spills over into this day.
I’m adapting as I practise. My practice adapts as I research. I find myself writing, creating, researching, talking at the most random times. To me, that’s what practice-led research is about. There is no set timetable (unless you make one yourself), but instead you’re in this independent space, structuring your time and inspiration however best suits you. Your practice moves with you, ideas I had on day one of my PhD are long gone, and ideas I never would have considered are arriving.
York St John is one of the most creative spaces I have been in and inspiration falls from not just your own practice and research, but the community and collaboration surrounding you. And you are contributing to it. Imposter syndrome may happen, you may question if your practice matters, if you really are developing something worthy of your degree title or even the time you are dedicating to it. The answer is, and always will be, yes. There will be somebody out
Your research will make a difference, it will impact someone and it will most
Present at a conference. Put on a conference? Ask me at day one and I'd tell you I'm just focussing on the practice. Ask me where I am now and I've put on a conference, I'm exploring new ways to exhibit my work, I've performed, I'm developing my practice. It hasn't stopped, I thought there would be a moment, a reflection where I tick a box to say I've done it. My creativity and my development continue. I see a pathway to the end of my PhD, but I also see past that. I see the future research I want to explore but I also see the confidence I've taken from areas of my research that I want to repeat.
I also know I will look back. I will think of the times I was up at 1 am. The creative practice on the train. Stealing a moment in my days as a 'stay at home dad'. The collaboration, the support, the staff, the friends, the end result.
This is the way I work, but we're all different, aren't we?
Ewan East is a composer, improviser and teacher.
Ewan was currently in the second year of his PhD in Music Composition, looking at using streaming services to compose music and how this can increase engagement with contemporary music.
Ewan was a PGR Representative for the School of the Arts.
Higher Education Scholarships For Palestinians (HESPAL)
HESPAL aims to create the next generation of senior academics who can maintain international quality standards at Palestinian universities and develop renewed and sustainable links between Palestinian and UK universities.
HESPAL Scholarship and the Road to York St John University
Mohammad lmhemmed
In the summer of 2023, amidst the bustling streets of Istanbul where I was having training administered by the E-PAL Project (a Norwegian-Palestinian initiative to equip Palestine with e-learning), my path was lit up with the prospect of a new academic adventure. News arrived about the HESPAL scholarship to pursue my PhD at York St John University. The high point of my odyssey came when I received an email from the British Council office in Ramallah that read: York St John agrees to offer you a HESPAL scholarship. Are you happy to accept the offer? A moment unfolded that would alter the course of my path.
My journey through academic education in the UK began in 2012 when I started my Master of Education at Exeter University, a life-changing experience that was made possible after being awarded a Said Foundation Scholarship. Returning to Palestine, I wholeheartedly embraced an academic career at Palestine Polytechnic University, a renowned institution in my homeland where I have worked for years as a lecturer and head of the Linguistics department. I served the Palestinian academia for around a decade, and if I knew then what I know now, I would not wait so long to head down a new walk of life. One realisation has always remained palpable: what shape my emancipation takes has not yet revealed itself, but deep in my heart, there has always been a bond akin to an umbilical cord that one day would draw me back to my alma mater.
As I reflect on this time, I have started to realise the significance of the journey that brought me here. The foundations laid by the British Council along with other partners for the Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) in 2010 have been firm. It has so far empowered around 220 Palestinian scholars to pursue postgraduate studies and helped nurture a new generation of academics dedicated to upholding global standards in the universities of Gaza and the West Bank.
Enter York St John University – a beacon of academic excellence and innovation. In 2022, I reached out to Professor Christopher J Hall, a luminary in the field of applied linguistics and now my esteemed supervisor. With discernment, he delved into my research proposal, seeing within it a potential. It was his belief in my abilities and his unwavering support that paved the way for me to become a York St John PGR.
As I begin my journey as a York St John PGR in the School of Education, Language, and Psychology, my supervisory team (Professor Chris Hall and Dr Clare Cunningham) and I together embark on a journey of discovery, exploring the depths of the epistemological and practical ontologies that underpin language teacher education, probing it far and wide.
In our quest, we attempt to create a framework that can guide the integration of technology-enhanced learning environments within the process of educating second language teachers. The support and mentorship I have received from my supervisory team is a testament to the ethos of my University, where students are not merely educated but inspired to reach new heights of intellectual inquiry. For me, the attainment of the YSJ experience would not have been possible were it not for the HESPAL scholarship.
The support and mentorship I have received from my supervisory team is a testament to the ethos of my University, where students are not merely educated but inspired to reach new heights of intellectual inquiry.
The partnership between HESPAL and York St John found its roots in the journey of past Palestinian students, who joined the University and treaded its beautiful halls before us. Among them are Enas Alatari (recently appointed as the Minister of Labour in Palestine), Samer Ghaboun and Ridha Wadhfa. Currently, there are three PGRs enrolled on courses: Nahed Ahmad, a prospective PGR graduate in the School of Business, and Bassem Abudagga, another School of Business PGR who picked up the baton from Nahed, entrusting it to me. Now, I eagerly await the opportunity to pass on the legacy to the next Palestinian student, continuing the cycle of knowledge and support within our academic community at York St John University.
Healing and Transformation through Movement: Exploring Practice-Based Research with the Military Community Through Dance
By Román Baca
I am more than just a dancer and a PhD Candidate within York St John’s Institute of Social Justice — I am part of a dynamic research platform that explores the intersection of movement, trauma, and healing within the military community. In 2007, I co-founded Exit12 Dance Company, leaning on my experiences as both a US Marine and professional ballet dancer. My research delves into the ways creative expression, specifically through dance, can help members of the military community articulate their complex physical and emotional experiences. My approach fosters healing and offers rich insights into the transformative power of the arts.
Central to my creative research is an 8 week workshop at the heart of Exit12’s mission. This programme engages military community members in structured creative movement, giving them an alternative medium for self-expression. For those who have struggled to communicate their experiences verbally, this non-verbal outlet has proven to be profoundly therapeutic. In 2023, funded by a US Creative Forces Community Engagement grant, I was able to conduct my first case study and expand the impact of this work.
In 2023, the case study culminated in a public performance at the Intrepid Museum in New York City, where participants shared their journeys of healing through dance. This performance became a vital case in how movement can reconnect
the military community with their bodies and with others, offering fresh insights into the therapeutic potential of art.
Through the lens of my research, veterans including a US Navy participant discovered a new language of healing. They described dancing as “an embrace I’ve never had before,” and our work together revealed how creative movement fosters a sense of belonging and community. This aspect of my research focuses on the idea that collective creative expression can be as transformative as the personal healing journey itself.
Similarly, an army veteran participant provided critical input on how creative movement affects psychological and emotional processing. Initially apprehensive about dance, they soon found that movement allowed them to process emotions beyond the limitations of language, leading to a profound psychological release.
The experiences of these participants continue to enrich my understanding of the healing process and the impact of this work. Exit12’s workshops offer a unique environment for members of the military community to explore identity, reimagine their narratives, and heal through community and movement — insights that are central to my ongoing research into the relationship between
This programme engages military community members in structured creative movement, giving them an alternative medium for self-expression.
Perspectives of Nature
Focused on showcasing different perspectives of nature through art, Perspectives of Nature centered around the collaborative work, Journey. This includes 9 musical interpretations of nature writers’ ‘10 minute perspectives’, created by composer Ewan East, creative writing group Naturewrights, and artist Alice Baxter.
Alongside Journey, the event featured musical performances, panels, guest speakers and opportunities for up-and-coming creatives to present their nature-related work.
Reflections on Perspectives of Nature
Emma McKenzie
Last February I and a group of nature writers (from the Naturewrights collective) produced some written observations of the natural world for composer Ewan East. Ewan was looking for inspiration to compose a collection of music that drew on the natural world and took the listener on a journey of their own creation, travelling through the music to different areas of the country to experience observations of nature.
Ewan took our words and translated them into a musical score called Journey. He then asked artist Alice Baxter to take the music and words and translate them into art.
The end result was a beautiful and 3D collection of music, words and art that recreated the awe of interactions with the natural world. We showcased this at the Perspectives of Nature event, which was beautifully curated by Simon Ellwood.
Journey showcased encounters that in our busy modern lives we so often fail to notice. The music touched my soul, a visceral moment of awe and spirit brought to life.
I engage with nature as an act of non-violence and stillness, a spiritual experience which can be as simple as a nod to the trees that line the river on the cycle path to work, or the moment of noticing two blue tits hopping from branch to branch in the honeysuckle that is growing from a pot in my city back yard. I spend time writing and creating art out in nature, a meditation on my place in the world and my connection to the landscape.
My Perspective
Ewan East
The moment I arrive in the Creative Centre and see the empty space, waiting to be filled with our art, music and creative writing, the nerves take over. Months of planning, pulling together our collaborative work, guest speakers, calls for contributions, catering and actual attendees of the conference, all of it was happening today!
The morning flies by, everything is set up and all of the presenters are arriving. A rehearsal of my saxophone compositions, Seasons, provides the last minute chaos of the technology not working.
Couple that with the slide clicker also giving up, even with Amy Langton’s attempts to revive it, everything feels like it is going wrong.
Then it starts. Everyone moves from the foyer, into the auditorium and I walk on stage.
Just like that, I’m introducing our PGR curated conference. The search for an opportunity to present our collaborative work and highlight the ways nature can be represented in art led us to this moment.
The following hours bring together so many amazing people. Naturewrights members, who’s creative writing formed the inspiration for my compositions,
meet for the first time in person and were sharing their work on stage. Creatives from York St John University and from York join in sharing their practice in the recital room. People take in the music, art and writing in the foyer.
A process that began early in 2023, is now finished by 6.00pm on 1 December. My perspective in all of this is, if an opportunity isn’t there, create that opportunity yourself. The number of PGRs continues to grow and the possibility of someone with a shared interest is out there.
Share your practice, share your research, allow people to see your perspective.
PGR Alumni
Our Alumni are an important part of our history and growth. They represent a diverse mixture of learning and experience, and the pathways beyond the PGR Experience at YSJ. As part of the launch of the PGR School, it’s important to look back at the PGRs that have shaped our growing community.
We hear from some of our first Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), Robyn Timothy, and Helgi Clayton McClure, who now work here at York St John as Lecturers. We also hear from previous PhD students who have continued their careers elsewhere, Michael Grugan, Marianne Etherson and Luke Olsson, who are working around the country in universities in Newcastle, Glasgow and Essex.
Q&A
As part of the launch of the PGR School, we asked Michael Grugan, Marianne Etherson and Luke Olsson about their experiences of being a PGR at York St John and what they think about York St John launching a PGR School.
Spotlight Q&A
Q: Please tell us about the highlights of your course.
Marianne Etherson
YSJ is a welcoming, friendly and inclusive community that celebrates and embraces people from diverse backgrounds. As a PGR I was supported both professionally and personally and was lucky to gain experience and work alongside world-leading researchers in my field. The launch of the PGR school is an exciting opportunity to harness the potential of PGRs and provide them with the necessary skills for a successful research career and beyond.
A: In the period between 2015 and 2022 I completed both my Master’s by Research and PhD at York St John University. For me, it was an easy choice to return to YSJ after completing my undergraduate degree in 2014. I was really interested in the research that was being conducted in the Motivation, Performance, and Wellbeing (MPaW) research group and was given the opportunity to work closely with members of this group throughout my postgraduate study. Highlights for me during this period include travelling to an international conference to present my research, publishing work from both my MSc and PhD programme of research and, forming important collaborations for future research activity.
Q: What are you most proud of from your time at York St John?
My time as a postgraduate research student at York St John University was excellent. My supervisors provided the necessary support and autonomy throughout, which allowed me to be academically curious and remain motivated, even through the trickier times. I believe that the experience has allowed me to transition well into the role I am now.
Luke Olsson
A: During my postgraduate study I was able to engage in a wide variety of professional practice and gain important experience. I left the University with essential teaching experience and qualifications, high quality research training and experience, and important exposure to various job roles and responsibilities relevant to an academic career. I am pleased that I was provided with these opportunities and proud of the experiences and qualifications gained during this important developmental period.
Q: What was your journey to York St John University, why did you choose us?
A: I joined York St John University in 2011 straight after completing my A Levels. I completed an undergraduate degree and in my final year decided to do my dissertation project on a topic in the field of sport psychology. This was my first real exposure to the research process and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was this decision to pick a research topic in this area that really opened the door for me to return to YSJ one year after graduation and continue my research training in a similar area.
Michael Grugan
Diving in
Dr Helgi Clayton McClure
For anyone new to – or soon to join – the postgraduate community at YSJ: Welcome! Of course I am going to say this, but this is a very special institution and it is an excellent time to join us. From the two recently founded research institutes – the Institute for Social Justice and Institute for Health and Care Improvement – to the inception of a dedicated Postgraduate School, you are beginning your PGR journey at a time of tangible growth in research activity.
I began my PhD in cognitive psychology at YSJ in September 2018, on a Graduate Teaching Assistant (now Academic Associate) contract comprising regular undergraduate teaching hours in addition to my studies. This is a challenging role, in which you are simultaneously a student and a member of academic staff. However, it furnished a wealth of relevant experience for when I decided I wanted to stay in academia; and a sense of balance while completing my PhD which I think was incredibly helpful. Undertaking a PhD (or other researchbased degree) places unique pressures on you to develop original ideas and define yourself in relation to them – which can easily become all-consuming and unhealthy. There is also the potential imbalance that your supervisor(s), although senior and highly knowledgeable, are likely to be spending a much smaller fraction of their working week on the project than you are. Having another reason to be on campus, with much more clearly defined proximal goals (such as successfully leading an afternoon of seminars) is a great antidote to feeling swamped and overwhelmed by the research itself.
After a spell as a Research Associate at the University of Hull, I was lucky enough to return to YSJ as a lecturer in summer 2023. While there had been some turnover of staff and a marked increase in student numbers, YSJ Psychology was at heart the same welcoming, collaborative department
Not everyone who undertakes a research degree will want to become a full-time academic. It took me a couple of years of PhD study, teaching, marking work and involvement with wider departmental functions (e.g., committees) to decide this was where I wanted to stay. There are myriad paths outside academia which, whether or not it is emphasised up-front, would benefit from the thoroughness, criticality, flexibility and work ethic instilled by completing a research degree. And of course, depending on discipline, you are more than likely to acquire or develop specialist knowledge and technical skills that make you highly employable in certain fields (for example, if your PhD project involves coding/ computer programming or if you are studying topics closely connected with public policy). But for now, I would emphasise the value in just diving in – start your research journey in a spirit of exploration, generating ideas and being open to a wide range of opportunities without pressuring yourself to strive for outcomes external to the research you are engaged in. The PhD experience is a valuable end in itself.
So – whatever the aims, focus and methodologies of your research – you are in an excellent place to begin pursuing it here at York St John. This September is particularly salient for me because I will be taking on the role of PhD supervisor for the first time, alongside my own former supervisor and collaborator Dr Scott Cole. While I will undoubtedly be busy, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about postgraduate study at YSJ or other topics in this article (e.g., post-PhD careers).
Helgi is a Lecturer in Psychology, with research interests revolving around future thinking – the human capacity to simulate first-person future events – and its links with memory, motivation and emotion. His most recent publications are available open access in Cognition (https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105863) and Emotion (https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001371).
You will get there
Dr Danielle Paddock
Research Associate | Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology (CeBSAP), Sheffield Hallam University
Hello! My name is Danielle Paddock, and I completed my PhD in Psychology at York St John University in May 2023. I actually studied my undergraduate and Masters at YSJ too so it was bittersweet when I graduated and said goodbye to YSJ after 8 years. My PhD adopted a mixed methods approach to understanding adolescents’ appearance interactions on highly visual social media. I was really passionate about this topic, so I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to do a PhD in this area, especially with such an amazing supervision team. It was during my master’s at YSJ where I fell in love with research, and it was the support and encouragement from the Psychology team that helped me believe I could pursue a PhD. And no matter how hard it was, I am so grateful I followed this path.
York St John University is an amazing place to study. The campus is picturesque, the staff are really friendly, and the postgraduate community is super supportive. As well as my PhD, I was also an academic associate where I was required to teach seminars and workshops on the BSc Psychology programme. Although this was daunting at first, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. Teaching helped me develop my confidence and presentation skills, and it put me in a great position for applying for jobs. My one piece of advice would be: do the teaching, gain the experience but always prioritise your PhD by being organised and strict with your time. As well as teaching and my PhD research, I also worked as a research assistant on
other projects which really helped me develop my academic skills further (as well as being enjoyable and looking good on the CV). I helped deliver schoolbased body image interventions which resulted in journal publications, and I also worked on a project with York City Council to co-develop a social media safety charter with young people across different settings (i.e., schools, youth groups etc.). These were fantastic opportunities and aligned well with my PhD topic too. I would always recommend getting involved in other research projects where possible. They provide you with excellent research experience (that you can also apply to your own PhD project) as you get to be involved in project management, data collection, data analysis and the write-up.
When you are nearing the end of your PhD, it can feel like it is a never-ending process. I remember feeling so stressed and like I was never going to reach graduation, but trust me, you will get there. It’s important to look after yourself, mentally and physically, throughout all of the PhD but especially towards the end. Take time out for yourself and switch off from the PhD. I was one month away from submitting and I took a 10-day break in Greece – it was the best decision I made. I came back feeling relaxed with a fresh head and eyes to read through my thesis one last time and make any final amendments before pressing that submission button. A PhD is hard! It can feel lonely at times. For me, surrounding myself with other tasks (like teaching/other research), having regular breaks from the PhD to see friends and family and exercising all kept me sane(ish) towards the end.
My top tip: leave your acknowledgements section right till the very end. Finishing off the thesis writing by acknowledging all the people (and animals) who have supported you throughout the PhD process is so cathartic and, for me, was a perfect task to do right before submitting.
York St John provided me with so many opportunities that have all been crucial in helping me get to where I am right now. I will forever be grateful to YSJ for the best 8 years.
Remind yourself of what you are doing it for!
Alice Little
My supervisor Charlotte Haines-Lyon suggested that having some coaching with a personal development coach might support me to increase my confidence about my academic role and abilities. She thought it might be worthwhile as I approached the mid-point in my PhD and, as a part-time PGR, was questioning my value amongst other full time PGRs and established academics. Having coaching was never something I had considered when I started on my PhD journey, but it is now something I would recommend to anyone who might have lost their way a little, is finding things overwhelming or just generally needs a bit of direction with life or academic work.
One of the surprising things when I first started working with my coach was the fact that she wanted to start the coaching work from exactly where I was, at that moment in time. We started with identifying my values; I shared what I thought they were, and my coach picked up on some she heard through our discussion. She asked what was currently feeling ‘heavy’ for me and what I recognised as holding me back. This surprised me because I had a long list of things I felt like I needed to work on and improve in order to become a better academic, yet my coach wanted me to check in on how far I had come and where I was right now. This approach enabled me to recognise my strengths, exactly how far I had come and what I have achieved over the last three years.
Managing a part time PhD, with a job, a family and currently home educating our son means that sometimes I can feel like I am not very good at any of those responsibilities. My coach helped
There is space for you and your research
Dr Robyn Timothy
Robyn is one of the first GTAs who joined us in 2018 and is now employed at York St John University as a Lecturer in Sociology.
In 2018 I started a PhD and GTA programme within the Social Sciences department at YSJ. Fast forward a few years and I am now a Lecturer in the same department and have been since submitting my PhD in August 2022. I am perhaps not the best person to write something about the joys of doing a PhD or to give you a list of tips as to how to PhD successfully, as for the most part I felt indifferent towards my research and my emerging identity as a researcher. Of course I cared deeply about the topic, about the feminism that I was thinking with, and about the talented, creative, fun women who were generous enough to participate in my project. But the actual doing of the PhD was mainly a lot of hard work.
Whilst I am so happy that my PhD is finished, I did learn some useful things along the way:
Watching reality TV is good for your PhD
The Real Housewives got me through writing my thesis. Seriously. Love Island memes are good for your soul, and MAFS will make you so outraged at a cheating scandal that you will forget your draft deadline worries. Sometimes inspiration strikes when you least expect it, and for me reality TV genuinely helped me think through some feminist theory that actually strengthened my research. Beyond that though, we all need a break from PhDing, so make time for all of the silly little things that you enjoy.
There is space for you and your research Imposter syndrome is real and lots of us experience it. I’m a working class woman from the North East and I didn’t know anyone with a postgraduate degree before I got one myself, so feeling worthy of being in this space was/is a challenge. But by doing things like presenting your research, organising conferences, or writing blog posts and book reviews you start to gain some confidence in taking up space and finding your place within the wider research community.
Connect with your community
Some of the best bits of my experience were time spent with my PhD friends. Going for coffees and dinners, celebrating personal milestones, and playing badminton are the most memorable aspects of being a PhD student for me. The quieter moments are just as important; the shared tears, laughter, and snacks help immensely, and even just being in a shared office can shift your perspective. Hearing about research your friends are doing is inspiring, and talking about anything other than your research is often just what you need.
Now in my lecturing role, I am thankful for these lessons and I draw on my PhD experience in many aspects of my work. Practically, I use the theoretical and methodological insights of my research in my teaching across multiple Sociology modules. Aside from the struggles of doing a PhD, the research itself was so interesting and intellectually challenging and I enjoyed working with theory very much. The themes that were central to my PhD research remain important to my current research interests too, I recently revisited aspects of my theoretical framework to write a paper about the Barbie movie for example.
But beyond that, my experience as a PhD student was valuable in that it gave me the confidence to know that I am capable of doing research on this scale, that my research is important, and that my academic voice has value. The imposter syndrome unsurprisingly didn’t vanish on the day I passed my viva, I hear that it is a work in progress, and that’s ok. Friends, colleagues, and mentors continue to be a wonderful source of support and I am constantly learning from them. After having time to reflect on my PhD experience, I’m glad I did it. It was in many ways a privilege and despite my pessimism, some of it was actually quite fun.
