ELYSIA GREENWAY AS EASY AS ABC...

Elysia herself admits that her path to studying a PhD was very unusual. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left school,” she confesses. “I thought, ‘what am I good at?’ and I was good at Art. From there, I went on to the A-Z course pages on UCAS and came across archaeology, which I would never have thought of before. I fell in love with the ideas of anthropology, archaeology and eventually osteology, this led me to my PhD Research at LJMU’s Face Lab after studying MSc Forensic Art and Facial Identification.”

When it came to choosing where to study for her PhD, Liverpool John Moores University offered Elysia some exciting facilities that allowed her to delve deeper into her passions. “The resources available here are excellent,” she says. “LJMU is home to Face Lab, which is a renowned institute for facial reconstruction. It is the best place to study in this field, using the great technology, and building on the practical skills I already had from studying at undergraduate and master’s level.”

Despite her passion and drive for research, just like many taking the postgraduate leap, Elysia still had concerns before starting her PhD. “I think the main concern a lot of PhD students have before their studies start is imposter syndrome,” she admits. “I was thinking things like ‘I’m not good enough,’ ‘how can I be here,’ ‘how can I contribute?’”

Now mid-way through her studies at LJMU, Elysia teaches a wide range of modules within the University. “I do a fair amount of teaching and demonstrating within both the School of Biological and Environmental Science, mostly around forensic anthropology and anatomy, and at the art school teaching academic skills to our foundation students,” she explains. “I am passionate about promoting equality, diversity, inclusivity, and respect (EDIR) within the university. Our society (RIDE) has won awards for hosting the best student events – fostering EDIR in the university and proving that undergraduates do not have all the fun! I am also a trustee for the John Moores Student Union, again with a keen eye on EDIR matters.”

But the opportunities Elysia has taken do not stop there. “In terms of employability, LJMU is wonderful,” she explains. “I have been able to get additional qualifications through the doctoral academy and the teaching and leadership academy. I have completed my Associate Fellowship for Advanced Higher Education, and there are opportunities to start a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, although it is important to balance professional development with your research agenda. There are just so many amazing experiences and routes to develop personally, professionally, and academically at LJMU. For example, I have just helped to co-develop and run the PGR Festival 2023 and have previously co-created EDIR Training with the Doctoral Academy – the way the university embraces students and responds to our voice is one of my favourite things about LJMU.”

So, what’s next for Elysia? “This year I am continuing at Face Lab, focusing on finishing my research and presenting my findings at as many conferences as I can!” Elysia shares. “I am keen to really amp up my academic professional skills. In the future, I would love to continue at Face Lab or in academia, as I genuinely love what I do. I followed my passion to be here today, and I would not change a thing!”