Holly (she/her) is currently the Careers Adviser for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Birmingham (UK) and author of the PhD Careers blog ‘PostGradual.’ She completed her PhD in English Literature at the University of Birmingham in 2011. Since completing her PhD, she gained four years experience in postgraduate student recruitment before moving over to postgraduate careers support. To aid this move, between 2014-16 she went back to studying part-time for a professional career guidance qualification. Holly lives with a rare eye condition called AZOOR which causes visual field defects/loss, and outside of work she is a volunteer content writer for UK sight loss charity RNIB. Follow Holly on Twitter: @holby83 and check her Academic profile in: www.phd-careers.co.uk

They Said I Was ‘Too Old’ – My PhD Journey

Donna L. Halper’s PhD journey began after she lost her job in radio and wanted to reinvent herself as a full-time educator. However, being in her 50s and a woman applicant meant that she faced rejection from several universities, making her determined to prove them wrong.

Read More »

Building a Rainbow: Ideas and Coalition Building on the American Left, c. 1973-88

To some observers, the emergence of Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other parts of the American left can appear to have come from nothing. Yet by looking at the intellectual and political changes of the 1970s and 1980s, we can see that they in fact have clear historical origins. The idea of a ‘rainbow coalition’ in particular reveals how they owe much to concepts developed in this foundational period.

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