Simon McGuire
My PhD research
CRAFTING THE ANDRAGOGY: a study of teaching and learning of Film and Broadcast editing in Irish Higher Education (2017-2020).
The growth of film and TV programs in Irish Higher Education has introduced students to the craft of editing. Although film editing, craftsmanship, and andragogy share potential links, more research was needed to explore their impact on teaching, learning, and professional identity. Findings emphasized the value of integrating real-world practices, which practitioner lecturers can effectively simulate. The study stresses the importance of providing time and opportunities for lecturers to transfer craft knowledge through an in-house production unit. This approach fosters gender, diversity, and inclusivity, enriching the overall learning experience for participants.
Career Plans
Post doctorate, my career plan is to expand the in-house production unit (IPU) at my institution TUS, focusing on innovative educational tools. I aim to expand the IPU to other campuses, creating a network of collaborative productions that enhance educational access. Concurrently, I will establish a peer-assisted learning (PAL) section specifically designed for neurodiverse students, leveraging the IPU’s tools and resources. This initiative will contribute to a broader understanding of neurodiversity in digital craft education. Expanding my original research, I hope to publish insights on the impact of specialised craft learning methods and PAL structures.
Dr Mavis Bengtsson
My PhD research
Exploring older people’s perspectives of future homecare in the United Kingdom and principles for its design: A participatory approach.
This project received funding from EU-InnovateDignity grant agreement No 813928. It focused on exploring older people’s perspectives on the type of future homecare they want, and we co-produced concepts and principles that should underpin homecare in the UK.
During COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, a team of 14 knowledgeable older people in the UK volunteered to work with me on this research virtually. In this research, older people were experts in homecare based on their lived experiences, and their knowledge contributed to co-producing innovative homecare concepts and principles that could enhance the well-being and dignity of older people.
I created a safe space where there was a power balance and older people were respected. Older people freely shared their perceptions/experiences on homecare because they knew they were valued, and their perceptions were also valued.
Findings showed how diverse and unique older people are, not a homogenous group. Their individuality and diversity require us to understand their perceptions of homecare they want. Findings will benefit practitioners in designing innovative and effective homecare strategies for older people.
Funded by European Union’s H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 programme under grant agreement No 813928
Career plans
My research led me to become a Research Manager for global health research (UK/Bangladesh) funded by NIHR.
Lucky Otame
My PhD research
In a context where funds are limited, Nigerian households face challenges in supporting essential activities and coping with shocks, exacerbated by limited internet access. This research, utilizing data from the World Bank, delves into the relationship between remittances and household welfare.
Findings reveal that the effectiveness of remittances depends on their size, with domestic remittances more impactful in post-shock consumption. Additionally, remittances positively influence internet usage, particularly in urban areas. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics of remittances and provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance the wellbeing of households.
Career plans
As a qualified accountant with a PhD in economics, my future career plans revolve around combining theoretical insights with practical financial acumen. I aspire to lead cutting-edge research that informs economic policy and enhances financial strategies. Nurturing the minds of future economists and accountants through dynamic teaching and mentorship as priority.
I also aim to publish influential academic works in reputable journals, contributing to the evolving economic discourse. By bridging academia and professional practice, I intend to be a catalyst for positive economic change, leaving an indelible imprint on both the academic realm and the world of finance.
Molly Bridger
My PhD research
National Nature Reserves are a form of nature conservation using protected areas to improve specific site features or wider biodiversity. This research investigated whether the landscape-scale management used within the Purbeck Heath National Nature Reserve will benefit overall biodiversity and fulfil legislation.
Bayesian Belief Networks were used to evaluate how different designated features will continue to perform under current management methods. Results showed that protected designated features within the Purbeck Heath National Nature Reserve would improve under the landscape-scale management with ecosystem services, biodiversity, protected target species, and protected target habitat likely to increase despite climate change likely to increase.
Career plans
After studying BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Master by Research with Bournemouth University, Molly is currently a PhD doctoral researcher at Loughborough University partnered with the Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA).
Molly’s current research focuses on river restoration practices by examining biomonitoring indices developed for the assessment of ecosystem health. Molly hopes to develop her skills as a researcher, expanding into early-career academia before exploring exciting opportunities in consultancy.
Matthew James Wylde
My PhD research
My PhD research sought to provide insights into the use of Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) for the assessment of training load, measurement of movement asymmetries and in return to training protocols within adolescent Badminton players.
The research highlighted the limitations of upper trunk-mounted IMUs, which were found to be poorly correlated to subjective measures of overall and lower limb-specific exertion. By contrast, tibia-mounted IMUs received positive responses from surveyed racket sport coaches for use during training and were found to provide a novel tool for differentiating between Badminton players with and without unilateral and bilateral lower limb injury history.
Career plans
I am currently Head of Performance Pathways Science at the National Youth Sports Institute in Singapore. In this role, I lead a trans-disciplinary team which plays a unique role in creating holistic, science-informed training environments to support our youth athletes.
The process of completing the PhD not only improved my abilities as a researcher but also led to a number of actionable findings which have since be translated into practice to better support our youth athlete population.
Arnold Marinissen
My PhD research
In my research project, the Digital Audio Workstation has been explored as a human computer interface for the composition of concert music, intended for live performance. The project has resulted in a portfolio of compositions and a contextual document.
For each of the portfolio compositions, a distinct DAW-based concept and compositional approach has been developed and employed by the researcher.
The contextual document investigates the implications of the DAW for the composition of concert music, and discusses the five portfolio compositions against the background of practices of selected composers; the history and development of the analogue studio, early computer and DAW composition; aspects of device interaction; and the topic of 'liveness'.
Career plans
New musical works, beyond the portfolio compositions, will build forth on the research findings. In particular the transfer of works from the 'composer's space' to the 'listener's space', as well as the application of the DAW in live concert settings, will be further explored.
The five portfolio compositions themselves will also have a life beyond the context of the research. They were commissioned, performed and recorded by active ensembles and musicians. They contribute to a continuum in the researcher's practice, enticing listeners into the conodrums, discoveries and pleasures of DAW composition.
Debora Almeida
My PhD research
My research covered aspects of infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (iCPR) skills, and investigated whether an individualised, competence-based approach to iCPR retraining could result in high skill retention at follow up. I determined the amount of re-exposure of skills needed to achieve iCPR competence, and established if the acquired competence would be retained over time. The participants used real-time feedback for reinforcement of skills during 2-6 minutes per month and achieved competence within 1-4 months.
The results indicate that, despite individuals requiring different amount of input and time to achieve competence, the retention of iCPR skills was as high as 96% 10 months later.
Career plans
I am a senior lecturer and Programme Lead for the BSc Operating Department Practice at BU. Now that I have finished my PhD, I will continue to explore ways to improve iCPR skill retention and want to apply my model of training to clinical areas. Additionally, I want to start supervising and mentoring PGR students, with focus on integrated format thesis, which was the structure of my thesis.
With the knowledge acquired during my PhD, I will investigate other topics that I have interest on and explore ways to develop my career as a researcher.
Omolola Fagbule
My PhD research
From a psychology lens, the PhD research explored the effectiveness of cyber security training and awareness campaigns in Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). This optic considers factors, that may have been eluded in a cyber security domain, for example, organisational culture, employee training needs, the design and delivery of training material, some of which may impact an employee’s perceptions and attitudes towards learning and transferring cyber security knowledge in the workplace.
The research is separated into two studies; the initial is a qualitative study, and this unravelled underlying training design challenges. As this is not widely explored in the literature, this prompted a second study, a mixed methodology. A survey and interview were conducted for awareness professionals, content developers and employees.
Career plans
I now have a job as a Cyber security awareness specialist. I would love to continue developing this knowledge, impacting Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and essentially make a difference to the cyber security awareness and training domain. I am also taking widely recognised professional certifications and courses in the Human Risk area.
I look forward to visiting Bournemouth University as a guest speaker and giving back to the amazing faculty and community that supported me during my PhD journey.
Ramin Boroujerdi
My PhD research
During my doctoral studies at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Technology at Bournemouth University, I concentrated on the synthesis and functionalisation of chemoselective nanomaterials for the detection of minute quantities of drugs and alcohol in a variety of biological and industrial samples.
My PhD research was funded by industry partners and not only advanced our comprehension of nanomaterial applications but also addressed critical issues in substance detection. I take pride in noting that my research led to the publication of seven papers in Q1 journals.
Career plans
My experiences at Bournemouth University played a pivotal role in shaping my career. While pursuing my PhD, I had the opportunity to work as a part-time lecturer, which bolstered my teaching skills and significantly enriched my curriculum vitae. With the university's trust and support, I successfully secured a lecturer position at BU. I am committed to continuing my research and teaching career, thereby making further contributions to the field of analytical chemistry and toxicology, while also serving as an inspiration to the next generation of scientists.
I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support and encouragement I received throughout my doctoral journey, particularly during challenging periods such as the COVID-19 lockdowns and technical obstacles. The steadfast support of the university and, particularly, my supervisor, Dr. Richard Paul, played an indispensable role in my achievements.
Edward Wright
My PhD research
My doctoral research investigated how creative multimodal productions facilitate adolescent search for meaning through the re-imagination of life experiences, shared in a classroom context, defined by the RE and MLE classrooms. Adopting a narrative-hermeneutical approach to learning, it found that this led to more effective pedagogies in the specified subjects.
Employing a multimodal ethnographic approach, it promoted multimodality in the process of students’ productions/artefacts. Meaning-making is facilitated through creative expression enabling vulnerability to become a source of strength, hope and resilience. Agency, compassion, and critical reflection, nurtured through the sharing of life experiences, create a pedagogy that develops a sense of community, encouraging meaning-making when facing pain, death and the beauty of life.
N.B: MLE is Media Literacy Education and RE is Religious Education
Career plans
I lecture at both the University of Malta and the local Institute of Education. I intend to embark on projects with schools and higher educational institutions, that aim at implementing narrative pedagogies in humanistic subjects like MLE, RE, PSCD, and others. Such pedagogies would be facilitated through creative media technologies that are easily accessible online, free, and student-friendly.
I will also invest time and energy in the professional development of teachers, heads of department, and educational officers of these subjects, so that they can use and implement such pedagogies, and train others in doing so. Would also like to implement such pedagogies with minorities and vulnerable groups in Malta and elsewhere. My ultimate dream is to lecture and do research abroad.
