Shows
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Immunology, with Dr Madina WaneIn the final episode of Black Future Dr, I got the chance to speak with (now Dr!) Madina Wane, who defended her PhD in Immunology at Imperial College London in January. We start the episode by discussing how she came to do a PhD, and her experiences of working and studying at a research-heavy institution. Madina then shares her experiences of finishing a PhD during a global pandemic, including an explanation of the viva process, the logistics of the meeting, and her top tips for how to best prepare. We discuss the positives and negatives of working in a...2021-07-1923 min
Black Future DrDoing a Clinical Psychology Doctorate, with Leah FrancisEpisode trigger warnings: Discussion of slavery re-enactments.In this episode I have the chance to speak with fellow Black Women’s Forum UK committee member Leah Francis, who is studying for a professional doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Essex. We begin with an explanation of what the doctorate in Clinical Psychology is, and how it differs from a PhD in Psychology. We then discuss how Leah became interested in the subject, her motivations for pursuing this career, and her non-traditional journey from undergraduate to the DClinPsy (including jobs as a sabbatical officer, a te...2021-07-1223 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Nursing, with Lorna HollowoodThis week, I got the chance to chat with Lorna Hollowood, who is a part-time PhD student and lecturer in Nursing at the University of Birmingham. We start the episode by discussing Lorna’s non-linear journey towards academia; as a teenager she had minimal access to further or higher education, and decided to pursue a career in nursing before returning to academia – in this way, she considers herself as an “accidental academic”. We discuss her PhD, which combines her personal and professional interests, and is exploring the needs of the Windrush generation living in care homes. Lorna then considers the ups...2021-07-0522 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Oncology, with Sigourney BellIn this episode, I chat with fellow ACRC member and Forbes 30 under 30 honouree Sigourney Bell, who is currently studying for a PhD in Oncology at the University of Cambridge. Sigourney explains the research she’s currently doing in her lab, which involves improving our understanding of a rare form of paediatric brain tumour, called supratentorial ependymoma. She then shares her experience of being a first generation academic, and her five-year journey from graduating at undergraduate to starting her PhD. Sigourney candidly reflects on the positives and negatives of having that break in study, and shares how she manages to ma...2021-06-2825 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Sociology, with Dave Mankhokwe NamusanyaIn this episode I chat with Dave Mankhokwe Namusanya, who is currently conducting fieldwork in Mawali for his PhD in Sociology at Abertay University. Dave shares with me his unique perspective as a PhD student conducting research in his home country, and discusses some of the benefits and challenges of doing research with an insider perspective. In particular, we consider how he negotiates access to communities, and how he manages (sometimes competing) expectations between the university, the community, and policy makers. Dave also shares his personal journey towards starting a PhD, and provides a clear overview of the application...2021-06-2122 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Population Health Sciences, with Lois KingNote: Apologies for the audio quality of this episode for both sides of the interview; it’s just the beauty of recording a podcast virtually during a pandemic!This week, I got the chance to speak with Lois King who is currently studying for a PhD in Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, specifically looking at global health governance and childhood pneumonia in Bangladesh. We start the episode with Lois explaining to me what global health governance is, and what drew her to this topic and field of research. This was particularly interesting as Lo...2021-06-1422 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Earth Sciences, with Louisa BrothersonIn this episode, I chat with fellow ACRC member Louisa Brotherson, who is studying for a PhD in Earth Sciences at the University of Liverpool. During our conversation, Louisa explains her research area, which is focused on better understanding earthquakes, and shares her experiences of working in a (dry) lab. We discuss the co-curricular activities Louisa has been involved with during her time at university, which has involved visits to Italy, Germany and Sweden. We also talk about her recent internship with The Royal Society, and how the skills you develop during your PhD can be transferred outside of...2021-06-0722 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Education, with Emmanuel JohnsonThis week I had the chance to speak with Emmanuel Johnson, who is currently studying for a PhD in Education at Coventry University. During this episode, we focus a lot on Emmanuel’s experience of being a Nigerian student in the UK, and how he distinguishes between his identity as an African man and as a black man. We discuss feelings of otherness, the need to perform, and the adaptations international students feel like they may have to make in order to fit with Western standards. We also discuss Emmanuel’s research, which is ethnographic, and the format of his...2021-05-3122 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Gender Studies, with Alanah MortlockIn this episode I interview Alanah Mortlock, who is a fellow member of the African-Caribbean Research Collective and is studying for a PhD in Gender Studies at the London School of Economics. We discuss transracialism, which is the main focus of her PhD, as well as touching on the concepts of blackfishing, racial ambiguity, and passing. We consider her journey from undergraduate to PhD postgrad, how she navigated the application process at a university she was already part of, and the importance of utilising the contacts you generate throughout your academic career. We also discuss how to keep motivated...2021-05-2422 min
Black Future DrDoing the Doctorate of Medicine, with Adewale KukoyiIn this episode I have a chat with Adewale Kukoyi, who is a second-year student studying to be a Doctor of Medicine. I had no clue about how someone would pursue a career in medicine, so Adewale unpacks the process for me, explaining his journey from secondary school to university. We talk about how he’s found the process, how he overcame obstacles early on, and the importance of self-belief and perseverance when pursuing such a competitive field. We also speak about Adewale’s involvement with mentorship and widening participation, and how he’s used his experience as a black...2021-05-1721 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Law, with Rees JohnsonEpisode trigger warnings: Mental health, mentions of substance abuse and domestic violence.In this episode, I have a chat with Rees Johnson who is studying for a PhD in Law at the University of Manchester. We touch on Foucault, have a bit of a discussion about the subject of assisted dying, but mainly we focus on supervision, which is a key component of all PhD projects. We speak about some of the challenges Rees has faced in supervision, how he overcame them, and how his experiences have changed him and his plans for the future.2021-05-1022 min
Black Future DrDoing a PhD in Psychology, with Lateesha OsbourneWelcome to the very first episode of Black Future Dr! In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing a great friend and mentor, Lateesha Osbourne. Lateesha is currently finishing a PhD in Psychology at the University of Bath, which is focused on exploring the experiences and identities of black undergraduates at the university. In this episode we discuss her research, but mostly we focus on Lateesha’s non-traditional journey to a PhD, how she navigated the application process, and what she has learnt along the way. If you’re looking for some sound advice or words of wisdom, look...2021-05-0323 min
Black Future DrBlack Future Dr Promo TrailerBlack Future Dr is a brand new podcast dedicated to showcasing the experiences of black and black mixed doctoral students in the UK (including those pursuing PhDs, as well as professional and medical doctorates).This is a promo trailer with some snippets from interviews you can expect to hear from our guests (featuring Lateesha Osbourne, Alanah Mortlock, Louisa Brotherson, Adewale Kukoyi, and Rees Johnson).The first full episode will be released on Monday 3rd May 2021, and will be released weekly going forwards.Until then, you can keep up to date...2021-04-0101 min
Researching Sexual Health - conversations with researchers and experts with Dr Jane Meyrick, Health Psychologist.University based survivors of sexual abuse/violence and disclosure with Nina Higson-SweeneyNina Higson-Sweeney chats to us about interview based research with a range of survivors of sexual harassment and abuse at University with a focus on improving disclosure and reporting.
2021-02-2749 min