Hannah Ryan (She/ Her) is a doctoral researcher in Sociology and Policy at the School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University. Her research explores the visual portrayal of refugees and asylum seekers in British newspapers, drawing on an intersectional framework which examines the impact of gender, race, religion and age on visual representation. Follow her on Twitter: @HannahRyan22

Your Academic Journey

Applications and Funding

Career and Networking

Thesis and Dissertation

Lessons I Have Learnt From My PhD

Hannah Ryan shares her valuable experiences and lessons learnt throughout her PhD journey. She emphasizes the importance of engaging in other activities besides research, combating loneliness, maintaining good relationships with supervisors, consistent writing and using rejections as learning experiences.

Read More »

Neurodivergence, Mental Health and the PhD: A Compilation of Advice and Support

Are you navigating a PhD with neurodivergence and mental health challenges, or want to find out how you can support those who do? In this article, our Editor-in-Chief reflects on five impactful stories from PhDers who’ve been there. Discover their strategies for success and prioritising wellbeing in an often-unaccommodating world. Click the subheadings to enjoy the full articles for yourself!

Read More »

Navigating Reflexivity: A Guided Example to Move Beyond Reflection

Need guidance writing the reflexivity section of your thesis (or indeed writing reflexively throughout the thesis)? This article defines reflexivity as going beyond reflection to consider the influence of our positionality on our work. It covers three main types of reflexivity – personal reflexivity, methodological reflexivity and philosophical reflexivity – and includes some working examples to illustrate the thought processes and questions that facilitate transparency and rigor in research.

Read More »
Your contribution to our PhD Stories helps us disseminate valuable support to researchers worldwide.
Update cookies preferences