Kate (She/Her) is an Assistant Professor of African American and sports history at Gustavus Adolphus College. Her research focuses on the intersection of Black student activism and the Black athlete at the University of Miami in the 1980s. Feel free to reach out to her on Twitter @profkateaguilar.

Your Academic Journey

Applications and Funding

Career and Networking

Thesis and Dissertation

The Trials of the “Trailing Spouse”

Relocating for a PhD and academic career is often not only required of the candidate but their partners and/or children, too. How do we acknowledge and amplify the experiences of “the trailing spouse and families” while also creating systemic change that would make academic career moves more feasible and fulfilling for all involved?

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‘Spectral Schedules’ in Postdoctoral Applications: The Case for Transparency and Consistency in Academic Hiring  

This article highlights the issue of unclear and unpredictable application processes for postdoctoral opportunities in the UK and beyond. Drawing on philosophical concepts like hauntology, it calls for universities to honour (or refrain from setting!) their ‘outcome announcement’ dates, as this would alleviate disappointment and foster greater fairness and transparency in postdoctoral applications.

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 Why Being a Distinctly Average PhD Student is Extraordinarily Fine

PhD survivor Hannah Broadbent shares her personal account of persevering through her PhD, detailing her struggle with imposter syndrome and mental health. Upon self-reflection, she shifted from academia to an industry job that best matched her preferences. Her story emphasises the importance of personal satisfaction over conforming to the perfect PhD student stereotype.

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