Our PhD Alumni

Our PhD graduates work all over the world, pursuing careers in academia, governance, technology sector and other spheres. Many of them have become influential experts in their field. Learn about some of our wonderful alumni here.

“The PhD years equipped me with skills to explore different paths in my career later. I learned to approach complex problems through qualitative and quantitative methods. Statistical analyses and frameworks also contributed to my ways of working now. I'm still in touch with my supervisor and colleagues. The PhD was both an education as well an inspiring journey for me!”

"I was particularly grateful that the school supported me in establishing the School of English Postgraduate Reading Group. These monthly sessions were open to any postgraduate student in DCU and were a great way to meet other PhD researchers from across the Faculty of Humanities. 

I always felt supported by my supervisors, especially when the university campuses closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Their guidance meant that even on the tough days I knew I could keep going and produce an original piece of research of which I could be proud."

"I really enjoyed being part of a small but well-established school, which allowed me to benefit from a great relationship not only with my supervisor, but also with other lecturers and the Head of School. Graduate modules in teaching, learning and academic event organisation helped me to develop professionally. The postgraduate journal scheme funded research for my first publication, and the one-off travel grant contributed towards the cost of presenting at a conference in the United States for the first time. I gained fantastic teaching experience during my time at DCU, which I continue to draw on in my current role."

"I undertook this PhD following a career in the Irish health service, so paid employment was not my primary goal. I have, nonetheless, had an extremely fulfilling unpaid career as a writer and researcher since my graduation. I have published a book based on my thesis, written several peer-reviewed articles, given papers at conferences, mentored several students and I am an associate researcher in the School of History and Geography. All of this was enabled by the extensive support and encouragement I received from my supervisor and various other members of staff in the School.’ 

The School of History and Geography is a most welcoming and supportive environment for both young and more mature students and all staff take a keen interest in the progress of the PhD students."

“Even though I’ve only worked for two companies since graduating (Symantec and NortonLifeLock), I’ve been fortunate to work in a number of roles with very diverse responsibilities, ranging from conducting operational research in Localisation to contributing to the companies’ patent portfolios in the areas of Cybersecurity and Privacy. During that time, I was also given the opportunity to co-supervise talented PhD students, co-author numerous research papers, act as a program committee reviewer for multiple Natural Language Processing conferences, and contribute to standardization and open-source projects. I have also written a book on Localisation, and even served as a board member.”

His main highlights from conducting a PhD in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science were that he had an industrial and academic sponsor, giving him access to distinguished academics while gaining invaluable professional insights. He also sees the opportunity to interact with many students from adjacent fields as a highlight of his PhD research time at DCU.

Dawn is appreciative about his advice and feedback and notes this about her experience:  

"What I enjoyed a lot about my time as a PhD student in DCU was the interaction with students from other schools in the faculty beyond Communications, as well as the accessibility and friendliness of senior staff and colleagues who were always helpful and supportive. 

Since I finished in 2017, I have continued working in DCU building up my teaching and research experience, and have been able to expand some of my research interests into broader journalism, political communication and social media studies." 

"Admittedly, the programme at the School of Theology, Philosophy and Music, part of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, was very demanding. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the Faculty’s open atmosphere, which welcomes scholars from all over the world. My supervisors (Dr Admirand and Dr Anderson) were approachable and very helpful. Working under them in the Faculty was an opportunity to engage with multiple research topics. They encouraged me to explore new fields to get a broader perspective and publish articles in academic journals. 

The training and mentoring I received were crucial to my career. Indeed, it is a privilege to study at DCU in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. I would especially recommend theological studies at DCU to everyone, but especially to those who want to do their research in an environment of high theological quality and those who are open to the world and want to explore new ways of thinking."

I am one of the lucky few who has been through the BCL (Law and Society) undergrad and the PhD journey in DCU. One of the things I enjoyed most about my time as a PhD student was the open-door policy in the faculty. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and there was a very warm community spirit throughout the School of Law and Government.

I also appreciated the support I had access to while developing my skills as a researcher, especially from my supervisors. Their guidance and mentorship led me to where I am today as an academic working at the University of Newcastle, Australia. I'm incredibly proud to be a graduate of the School of Law and Government and couldn't recommend it highly enough to future students!