Lauren is a graduate from the BA History and MSc Historical Studies and current PhD History student at the University of Strathclyde
Tell us a little bit about your background before beginning your PhD..
Prior to the beginning of my research degree with the University of Strathclyde in the field of History, I had already obtained both my undergraduate Honours and postgraduate Masters degrees with Strathclyde. I enrolled with the university in 2013 directly from high school, and had originally planned to undertake a joint degree in History and Psychology, but within my first two years of study I realised that my passion was ultimately in the study of history, and decided to focus all my efforts upon the achievement of a first class degree in that respect. It wasn’t until my third year that I began to achieve first class grades on a more consistent basis but, with the expertise and genuine encouragement that I received from my academic lecturers and tutorial leaders, not only did I graduate with a first class Honours degree, but I also obtained both the Thomas Telford and Keith Morton Memorial Prizes for my accomplishments. After further encouragement from my friends at university and from my lecturers, I re-enrolled at Strathclyde to undertake my Masters degree in Historical Studies, during which I was able to develop and refine my skills in research. It was also during this year that I discovered my interest in the field of early modern history, specifically with a focus on Ireland, which informed the basis of my dissertation and my subsequent research during my PhD. After graduating with distinction from my Masters course, I was delighted to have been recommended by one of my lecturers for a scholarship with Strathclyde to undertake a research degree and, after my formal acceptance, the rest is history!
What drew you towards undertaking a research degree?
I think a big part of what drew me towards the path of a research degree at Strathclyde was my own desire to pursue further education and to find my own voice in the field of academic research. I was attracted to the idea of undertaking my own research, the challenge of planning and executing such a substantial project, and making an original and valuable contribution to the field of early modern Irish history. In those respects, I would say that I was predominantly driven by my passion for the subject matter.
Tell us about the format of the programme. What is a typical working week like?
One of the most satisfying elements of undertaking your own research is that your working weeks can often vary, depending upon your research journey, the stage of your investigation, or even your extracurricular training activities. For example, around the beginning of my degree, my weeks were largely based in and around the library at Strathclyde, as I worked to read as much of the historiography surrounding my research as possible in order to gain a solid foundation for my own work to progress. During my second year, however, I became employed as a teaching assistant at the university, and so I spent more time balancing my work between undergraduate students as an educator and that of delving into archival resources to further my own investigation.
Tell us a little bit about the research you are conducting...
My work is focused on Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Specifically, my investigation is based upon the 1641 Irish Rebellion, and has examined the continuation of Anglo-Irish conflict over the dominion and use of the physical landscape within that context by exploring the employment of English ideologies of ‘civility’, ‘civilisation’, and ‘barbarity.’
What is the research community at Strathclyde like?
Rich, supportive, and enthusiastic. I have found the community at Strathclyde to be second to none: between our students, faculty members, and administration teams, I have always been grateful for the time, attention, and advice I have received throughout my journey as a student at Strathclyde. I have been consoled after losing out on competitive funding opportunities, given valuable feedback and criticism in order to strengthen my work, and been wholeheartedly congratulated and celebrated for my achievements.
What are your future career goals?
Originally, I had envisioned for myself a career in academia, and so I knew that undertaking a research degree, honing my skills as an academic researcher, and beginning to establish myself as a legitimate authority would be necessary for that journey. However, I often struggled to ‘switch-off’ from my research, so to speak, and I began to realise that although I remained passionate about higher education and the value of university, I needed to consider a career path which allowed me to maintain a better work-life balance. Accordingly, I begun to take advantage of teaching opportunities and training courses in the interest of gaining transferable skills in leadership, project management, continuous improvement, and administration, all of which have helped me to become more closely suited to a role in administration and professional support services.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for this course?
The best piece of advice that I could give to someone applying for a research degree is to take your time with the decision. It is never too early to begin thinking about your career, or of the steps which may be necessary, or indeed unnecessary, in order to make your future a reality. That being said, if you are passionate about education and have a keen interest in a particular subject, then you will be surprised of the myriad of skills and qualities which come naturally throughout your journey as a research student. Although my plans for the future are no longer the same as when I started my PhD, I have learned so much about myself, my ambitions, and my own capabilities along the way, none of which should be undervalued.