Our Previous Scholarship Winners – Where Are They Now

How is your PhD going?

My PhD is going well! My supervisors, Dr Craig Paterson, Dr Jamie Grace and Dario Ferrazzi, are pleased with my progress and have helped me put a plan in place for the next few years so I can get the most out of my studies. Their advice has been invaluable over the last few months. They’ve been keen to take the time to discuss additional avenues I could pursue alongside my PhD to aid my professional development.

I’ve been teaching on the undergraduate Criminal Justice and postgraduate Social Research Methods modules, which I thoroughly enjoy. This has let me share my own experiences and tips concerning students' studies as a tutor and alumnus. Presently, I’m working on documentation for data collection and arranging to attend both the British Society of Criminology and European Society of Criminology annual conferences.

What have you used the scholarship money for this past year?

I have used part of the scholarship money to pay for conference registration, travel costs and key texts required for my PhD. I plan to use more of the scholarship money in my second year as I’d like to attend the American Society of Criminology conference. I will also have travel costs to consider for my research project.

Finally, I have had several additional unexpected opportunities arise regarding practitioner conferences that I will be attending. These opportunities would not have been possible without the financial support provided by FindAPhD which I'm incredibly grateful.

What are your plans for the next few years of your degree?

The next milestone I am working towards is submitting my Confirmation of PhD Report and my draft thesis chapters.

Going into my second year, I will be collecting data on policing practices associated with civil preventive orders and notices. In addition, I will be working towards gaining Advance Higher Education Associate Fellowship status through my teaching experience within the department.

Finally, I plan to continue diversifying my experience with side projects and additional opportunities that actively link and support my PhD. As previously mentioned, I would like to be able to present and attend the American Society of Criminology conference to gain feedback on initial findings and network with potential national and international collaborators.

Would you recommend prospective students to apply for the FindAPhD scholarship competition?

I strongly recommend that prospective postgraduate students apply for the FindAPhD scholarship competition. It is enriching, and the financial support opens doors to numerous opportunities.

FindAPhD has actively encouraged my involvement with the platform which has been incredibly beneficial in promoting my research, the university and myself as an individual. It builds your confidence in your abilities. You become incredibly proud to represent your department and university, providing a way of paying back everyone for their support and encouragement over the years.

To anyone considering applying, my advice would be to please not hesitate. Be proud and confident of your achievements and yourself as an individual.

If Zoe’s amazing story has inspired you to take the leap, you can apply for a sholarship on our website. Make sure to also sign up to our newsletter using the link below where we’ll announce any updates, our winners and when the competition opens again next year!