Laura (she/her) is a Lecturer in Criminology and PhD researcher at Birmingham City University. Her research focuses upon desistance from serious offending and the importance of the community in this process. Her teaching interests include: Policing, vulnerabilities, ethics and qualitative research methods. Laura’s PhD is entitled ‘Informal support arrangements for those released from custody, who have been convicted of sexual offences against children’ and explores the contribution made by informal supporters (friends, family members and partners) to the desistance for those with convictions for sexually offending against children. Twitter: @LauraCrimRiley

Your Academic Journey

Applications and Funding

Career and Networking

Thesis and Dissertation

Stops And Starts: The Growing Pains Of The PhD

Get insights from a PhD candidate’s reflective diary on the process of starting, struggling with, and ultimately completing a doctoral research project. Discover the trials and tribulations of getting ethical approval, recruiting participants, and navigating the pandemic while working towards a degree.

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Spare Me the Lecture: A Short Guide On How to Excel In Your First Teaching Role

If you are reading this, it is assumed that you are about to embark on an exciting new journey in teaching at university level. Congratulations! You are about to enter a highly rewarding area of academia where each day is different and full of opportunity to inspire those around you. This blogpost goes through five key considerations to help you prepare for success before entering the classroom.

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