Research student experiences

A strong research environment 

Kingston University is research driven and provides students with the skills and opportunities to advance their research agendas. At Kingston, I have mastered public speaking through numerous training sessions and conference presentations in many European, Latin American and Caribbean countries. As a consequence, I have access to a rich global network of academics and policymakers, which is critical for collaborative research and policy influence.

First-class facilities

Kingston University is first rate in terms of its library, diverse faculty and the overall resources it makes available to students. Perhaps the single most important feature is Kingston itself – a beautiful small town on the outskirts of London. 

The University is also great for sports enthusiasts. It is equipped with state-of-the-art gym facilities, and a well-resourced sports ground located at Tolworth. It is ideally situated near numerous coffee shops and pubs, where we discuss the issues of the day over coffee or a cold pint.

Excellent supervision

My principal supervisor is Professor Engelbert Stockhammer, a leading Post-Keynesian economist ranked among the top 5% of economists worldwide by REPEC. His research areas include macroeconomics, political economy, financialisation and economic policy in Europe. Professor Stockhammer is encouraging and provides for a fair space of 'intellectual play'. Our relationship has evolved beyond simply mentor-mentee – we are now co-authors.

Something for everyone

Kingston University offers many opportunities for graduate students - there is something for everyone! I've learned valuable research skills (such as qualitative analysis) alongside extracurricular skills through my training for the three-minute thesis competition. I’ve also worked on a pan-European project, and so many things that will help me in a variety of roles post-PhD.

A flourishing  environment

I did my undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and my MSc in Neuroscience. When looking for PhDs, I encountered this one. Kingston University has numerous world-wide connections in my research field (performance enhancing drug use in the gym-going population). The quality of research in this field from Kingston University is superb. My supervisor and I also work very well together, which is crucial when deciding what to do for a PhD.

My research concerns performance enhancing drug (PED) use in the gym-going population. I look at it from a harm reduction viewpoint. With this in mind, I have worked on the Safe You project, funded by the EU ERASMUS+ programme, which aims to educate young and new gym-goers about PEDs in a non-judgemental way. Being able to use theoretical knowledge in a practical manner through a big European project has been a real privilege as a PhD student.

Modern and well-maintained

There are a huge number of extracurricular opportunities available which will enhance any student's CV. I've been able to mentor a first-year graduate student, as well as gain a national higher education teaching qualification. There are numerous sports societies here, and a good amount of support for athletes - I was part of the Sports Performance Programme, which is fantastic for any athletes wishing to study at Kingston University.

For any budding athletes, the sports ground at Tolworth is a huge, well-maintained resource. There is a gym on site which has equipment for anyone. There are also many facilities for students to have a quiet coffee and do some work on their laptop or to hold meetings – the number of cafes with a large variety of food and drink to cater for anyone's taste and requirements is evidence of this. My personal favourite is the Picton Room.

Multidisciplinary support

I have four supervisors – Professor Andrea Petroczi (my primary supervisor), Professor Phil Terry, Professor Declan Naughton and Dr Owen Spendiff. They all have different disciplinary interests, which benefits me greatly as I consider myself very much a multidisciplinary researcher. My primary supervisor, Professor Petroczi, provides me with many opportunities which are not only academic, but extracurricular in nature too. 

The benefits of a joint faculty 

I have been able to develop the necessary transferable skills I need to pursue a career in research and academia. I've had the opportunity to attend research seminars relevant to my field as well as postgraduate taught classes which have been extremely helpful in building my academic profile. Collaborating with staff who possess extraordinary levels of expertise in their disciplines will greatly benefit my own PhD studies and future profession.

My mixed methods research explores therapeutic relationships, shared decision-making and attitudes towards medication amongst service users and clinicians in the NHS. The findings will hopefully help us learn more about NHS prescribing practices, decision-making, and therapeutic relationships between clinicians and service users. This research may be beneficial for service users in the future as it could help improve relationships with NHS clinicians and inform future treatment planning.

Opening opportunities for development

One of my favourite things about Kingston is it encourages academic and professional development. I've been awarded opportunities and bursaries to attend conferences in the UK and abroad, present my research and network with many experts in my field. The wide range of services for staff and students including library resources and facilities is also another great thing about studying here.

Professor Mary Chambers, Professor of Mental Health Nursing and Director for the Centre for Public Engagement, and Dr. Iris Gault, Associate Professor of Mental Health Nursing, form my excellent supervisory team. They have supported me throughout my research, including getting me through the lengthy ethics procedures and the terrifying MPhil - PhD transfer process. They stimulate me intellectually and push me so that I strive to do my best to ensure not only the success of the university but also my own.

The skills and confidence for the future

During my research degree, I have developed many skills directly from my research, including problem-solving, data analysis and the design in implementation of experimental work. Crucially, my research degree has given me valuable experience in developing skills like presenting, teaching (through running undergraduate laboratories) and supervising interns and project students. These opportunities have increased my confidence as a researcher and are invaluable for my future career as an academic.

Solving the solar energy problem

My research seeks to solve the solar energy problem by developing and applying new hybrid materials to solar cell technology. These materials – theoretically and in principle – should allow us to convert light into electricity cheaply and efficiently. This conversion of light energy into electrical energy is extremely important, as we look to move away from fossil fuels and towards more sustainable, green energy resources.

Support and supervision

Kingston University offers plenty of support for students, with wellbeing as a priority. This has allowed me to fit in and feel welcomed by all members of staff. This, coupled with the fact that Kingston University's facilities provide the opportunity for high-quality research to be conducted, has helped me really enjoy my time studying at Kingston.

My supervisors Dr Richard Singer, Prof. Peter Foot and Dr Roman Kresinski, have been extremely helpful. They have guided me in the right direction and helped me grow and develop as a researcher. They have been supportive of my teaching roles and my work with the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Reaching research excellence 

I have gained invaluable opportunities and skills at Kingston University. Not only have I nurtured my research skills in relation to my broad and interdisciplinary academic interests, but I have built confidence and communication skills. The combination of skills, conference funding and training opportunities, for me, are key stepping-stones into an academic career.

My research looks into video game music fandom, and my PhD project analyses chiptune (early electronic video game music) subculture and its continued practice of musical composition. Specifically, my research explores the place of nostalgia in contemporary chiptune subculture through an interdisciplinary framework of musicology, fan studies and critical theory. I hope to provide an analytical framework and model for video game music and similar nostalgia-orientated subcultures.

Deep expertise and knowledge

Kingston's academic staff are highly respected, and it has been a pleasure to work with many of them during my studies. I consider the academic staff to be the best part about this University. Professor Isabella van Elferen has overseen my academic projects since the final year of my undergraduate degree. Isabella's guidance in research and academic writing is utterly invaluable and I am indebted to her for the never-failing support she has provided over the years. I am truly grateful to be able to continue to work with her through my PhD. 

I have also met with Dr Will Brooker since beginning my PhD. He is my secondary supervisor and his knowledge on audience studies is a great resource for my research.

Building transferable skills 

Throughout my degree I have cultivated numerous transferable skills. These include critical thinking, problem-solving, self-management, as well as the ability to design, implement, analyse and effectively report research studies. I have had the opportunity to present my research at two significant international psychology conferences – organised by the American Psychological Association and the British Psychological Society – both of which I was able to attend by being awarded with a bursary from Kingston University. 

Bold opportunities

I have also had the opportunity to run an exhibit at the Science Museum in London, in which we utilised the Tobii Glasses Eye Tracker and analysed participants' eye movements whilst they completed visuo-spatial tasks. Overall, Kingston has provided me with a wide array of skills that will undoubtedly benefit me throughout my career.

A focus on innovation

The focus of my research is psychological resilience, which can be understood as a dynamic, contextualised process that involves the ability to adapt to hardship and successfully overcome adversity. My thesis uses a mixed-methods design which explores resilience and identifies how lesbian, gay and bisexual people continue to thrive despite adversity. The goal is to produce findings that can be used to design an intervention to promote resilience. 

The main aim of my research is to place greater focus on the strengths found within marginalised groups and to help steer the dialogue away from its current problem-focused paradigm. This in turn will help advocate for the equality of LGBTQ people as well as specifically highlight and promote the resilience that can be found within the lesbian population.

First class support

I am a member of the Social Psychology Research Group at Kingston University which explores current social and political issues. We meet on a regular basis to discuss potential research projects, receive constructive feedback about our work, as well as conceptually explore up-to-date topics in terms of identity, intergroup relations and ideology.

My lead supervisor is Professor Adrian Coyle who is a well-known researcher in qualitative psychology. His research interests parallel to my own include identity and sexuality. My second supervisor is Professor Phil Terry who specialises in the psychology of alcohol and drug use/perceptions with the use of quantitative methods. 

My supervisors have a tremendous amount of experience and endless publications amongst them. Their support and constant motivation propels me forward while making my experience as a PhD student challenging, yet immensely enjoyable.

Professional and personal success

Kingston has a lot to offer for research students with good links to other universities as well as to industry. This was ideal for me, and has helped me progress my PhD research in ways that I did not previously foresee. I have not only learnt what it takes to be a PhD researcher in terms of work, but also many other transferable skills that I have no doubt will help me in my career as well as my own personal satisfaction in life.

High potential research

I am researching a new kind of reinforcement bar, which could be used as an alternative to steel. There are a few FRPs (fibre reinforced polymers) – glass (GFRP), basalt (BFRP) and carbon (CFRP), and I specialise in BFRP. I study it in relation to its potential to be able to withstand tension, as well as its structural characteristics and chemical behaviour. BFRP is twice as strong as steel and six times lighter, as well as having little or no corrosion effects. 

Leading voices

My director of studies (Dr Ted Donchev) is a leading researcher in the field of structural polymers and my other supervisor, Professor Mukesh Limbachiya, is a leading voice in sustainability in the construction industry. Their combined efforts have allowed me to progress as a researcher and write in journals as well as conference papers. The University has allowed me to attend those conferences in order to continually help me progress as a researcher in structural engineering.

Embracing new opportunities

After obtaining my MSc in Aerospace Engineering with distinction, I applied for a PhD studentship offered by Kingston University. The project, supervised by Dr Yufeng Yao and Dr Sing Lo, involves numerical flow analysis of supersonic inlets (e.g. SCRAMJET).

Our efforts to advance the current level of research in this field are tailored to improve numerical predictions, focusing on turbulence modelling effects, unsteadiness mechanisms and fluctuating loadings (dynamics and thermal) on the walls. Also, inherent flow structure and topologies are considered in detail.

International collaborations

This PhD also gives me the opportunity to teach computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a GTA (graduate teaching assistant) to students on BSc and MSc courses. I am also a PhD student representative of Roehampton Vale engineering campus.

I’ve had effective, weekly supervision throughout my studies. My director of studies is always keen to support me constructively by sharing his outstanding experience and technical background. We have even started international collaboration with world-leading research scientists from Russia and China. The contribution of these top researchers has further enhanced the quality of our research and raised the international visibility of our group as well as Kingston University.

A stimulating research environment 

I came to Kingston University to pursue a masters degree in Illustration and Animation because the teaching philosophy of the University was complementary to my personal ethos as an artist. After doing so, I decided to undertake a PhD in the same discipline, for the same reasons.

The research environment of the Design Research Centre and the Visual and Material Culture Research Centre is positive and invigorating. The staff possess a phenomenal level of knowledge and expertise in their respective disciplines and they strive to create an intellectually and creatively stimulating environment for research students.

Exemplary support

I have received exemplary support and supervision. My supervisory team has provided me with crucial guidance, advice, suggestions and direction. My research is thorough, strong and original because of this. As a practice-based researcher, my project has required me to learn programming code. My supervisory team helped me get the necessary tutorial support to accomplish this. Through Kingston University, I have also received training towards my future ambitions as a teacher in higher education and valuable research student training sessions.

I have made liberal use of the Learning Resource Centres at both Knights Park and Penrhyn Road during the course of my research. I have consistently found their content beneficial and comprehensive. I have also undertaken digital media modules in order to learn the programming skills my research required. I found the computer labs at Penrhyn Road exceptional.

The perfect location

The location of Kingston University is perfect. While I deliberately reside less than half-an-hour away from the Knights Park and Penrhyn Road campuses, my research has often required me to venture into London for conferences and exhibitions. Kingston's location has made this very straightforward.

As an international student, I feel valued and supported at Kingston University. The International Student Advisory Centre, in particular, has consistently guided and supported my visa applications, as well as answering any questions I may have. My experience as a research student has been thoroughly positive in every way.