What our postgraduate research students say

Harpreet Bains Completed: 31 December 2005 Thesis title: Individual and family expectations among first and second generation Sikh women in the UK: aspirations, constraints and patriarchal practices Scope of Research: Mental 'well-being' and inter-generational relationships of Sikh grandmothers, mothers and daughters. "Sheffield University is a great place to study Sociology. The Department of Sociological Studies offers a friendly and supportive atmosphere combined with excellent scholarship. As a PhD student in the department you are encouraged to discuss your research ideas with staff and other postgraduate students. Postgraduate conferences, research clusters and departmental seminars provide postgraduate students with further opportunity to discuss their research. The department also provides guidance to its students on job interviews and attending conferences. Supervision within the department is outstanding. Supervisors invest time meeting students to discuss one’s PhD and also give advice on how to publish work and how to apply for funding. Writing a PhD can be described as somewhat ‘solitary’, however supervisors and staff at the Department of Sociological Studies successfully create a positive atmosphere for postgraduates students to socialize and engage in sociological thought. Studying for my PhD at the Department of Sociological Studies is one of the best decisions I have made."	Morgan Meyer Completed: 30 September 2006 Thesis title: Partially Connected to Science: the Luxembourg Museum of Natural History and its Scientific Collaborators Scope of Research: Science, Culture and politics: the National Museum of Natural History - A museum in a STS perspective "I enjoyed my stay at the University of Sheffield. The Department of Sociological Studies – which was my academic home for 6 years - is a friendly and open place and its members of staff are very helpful. They have not only given me useful advice, they have also provided a stimulating environment to develop my research and teaching skills. I have gained my PhD in 2006 and continued to work as a postdoctoral research associate after that. Besides my research projects, I have also been involved in teaching activities: first as a graduate teaching assistant and more recently as module convenor for 2 master courses. Spending 6 years at the Department of Sociological Studies has certainly helped to make my CV attractive for the academic market - having gained valuable teaching and research experience, having published 4 peer-reviewed journal articles, and, more generally, having enjoyed academic life. It is with sadness that I leave our department and Sheffield, but with joy that I look forward to my next job: another postdoc at a prestigious research institution in Paris."
Julie Ellis Completed: 30 September 2010 Thesis title: Family Practices during Life-threating Illness: Exploring the Everyday Awarded ESRC studentship +3 in October 2006 MA in Sociological Research with distinction December 2006 BA Sociology completed July 2005. Awarded John Westergaard Prize in Sociological Studies June 2005 "Since completing my thesis in September 2010, I have been working as an action researcher in the public sector. The project I am working on is very different to my previous work – both in terms of the research environment and the content of what I’m researching. However, my time in the department of Sociological Studies has helped me immensely in terms of being able to adjust and to understand what is required in my new role. The invaluable transferable skills I developed whilst completing my research degree have given me the confidence to negotiate this new research challenge and to work in an effective way. What is really important to me though is the feeling that I can still contact individuals in the department to ask for support and guidance as I move forward in my career. The feeling of being nurtured and cared about has not ended as I’ve moved away from the department and I continue to keep in touch and feel supported by the community which exists there."	In Bo Song Completed: 30 September 2010 Thesis title: The Political Economy of Civil Service Pension Reforms in Korea "Hello, I am Tony, a third year postgraduate research student at the Department of Sociological Studies at Sheffield. I had worked in the public sector in South Korea for 10 years before I applied to do a PhD programme. At first it was not easy to study again in a foreign country. However I am now very comfortable and able to enjoy my life here in Sheffield. Although there are many excellent outstanding libraries at the University of Sheffield, including the state-of-the-art Information Commons, I always work in the postgraduate research room in my Department in the Elmfield building. The reason is, first of all, that this place might have one of the best views around the University! This room, where each student has a good desk space with shelving and internet access, also gives a chance to share useful information and have lots of fun with my mates who are from home and abroad. I can also easily ask any about problems or get help from the staff close to this room. Then they are quickly sorted out by very polite and hard working staff in this department. That is another advantage to working here. I wish to finish my PhD in a few months because I have to go back to my job in Korea. But, I will remember that my study in Sociological Studies at Elmfield as the happiest experience in my life."
Masoud Rajabi Completed: 30 September 2008 Thesis title: Ethnographical study on informal education among children of ethnic minorities "My PhD research at Sociological Studies provided me with an excellent opportunity to meet up many local and international students from different parts of the world, some of whom have become my best friends. Becoming relatively fluent in spoken English can be a challenging experience, especially in the first year of study, however, both academic and support staff in the department have always been helpful to me. Such a support is very precious and helps to overcome the challenging experiences of life in a different culture. Perhaps some people may think that as a PhD student, one would have a very formal relation with his/her supervisor. My experience in Sociological Studies, however, was quite different. I found my supervisor to be always very supportive and caring, not only in regard to my academic progress, but also about many other issues that I was involved with besides my PhD study. Her commitment to her supervisory tasks and her passion and understanding about the challenges that any research project involves was astonishing. In fact, I feel that during the years, she became a role model for me. I believe that my PhD experience has certainly developed my skills and abilities as a social researcher. During my study, I have been offered the chance to be involved in some teaching and research work in the department. This enhanced my self-belief and I am now confident that I am able to start my career as an independent researcher."	Natalie Hammond Completed: 30 September 2010 Thesis title: Hidden lives: the voices of male clients of female sex workers in the UK "The Department of Sociological Studies provides a great open plan, friendly workspace for PhD students to work in. This provides an opportunity for frustrations to be vented, support offered and experiences shared with colleagues and peers. Each student is offered a large desk and lockable storage which allows you to create a (dis)organised and productive working space for yourself and really allows you to achieve a good balance between work and home. On top of this the university itself has a vibrant and thriving culture which postgrads are actively encouraged to take part in. Members of the department are also available to offer support. Both of my supervisors are always available for support, encouragement and advice and have a great ability to see progress when you are convinced that you’re not getting anywhere! This fills you with optimism and renewed motivation if you hit a stumbling block as well as helping to make the PhD a much more enjoyable, smooth and rewarding process. As I am half way through my final year now, I am starting to think about jobs! The degree so far has allowed me to gain experience and knowledge of many skills both technical and general. I now have numerous research skills across the whole process from initial proposal development to ethical considerations and data collecting, to writing up findings and disseminating research both nationally and internationally. On top of the technical skills there are other transferable skills that are picked up along the way such as: project management, team working, problem solving, organisation, perseverance and networking. These skills, opportunities and experiences which are developed and cultivated with assistance from supervisors, the department and the university provide a solid base for career development and will allow me to progress to full time employment within the research community."