I’ve recently got back to the UK after spending a year living in Toronto, Canada, for a postdoctoral research fellowship. This was my first full-time academic role after finishing my DPhil in 2020 – a Mellon Foundation-funded fellowship at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, a Catholic research centre dating Read more…
A major challenge for younger academics is the increasing prevalence of both fixed-term contracts and institutional mobility. A year ago I wrote about moving from a university to a business environment, and now I’m back in a university again, with another shift in my research area. So I thought it might be helpful to share the story of these transitions Read more…
In the next few weeks, I am hoping to submit my thesis. I’m not at the summit of my academic career (at least, I hope I’m not!) but I am approaching a significant waypoint that I’ve been working towards for three years. I don’t really know what I expected to Read more…
A few years ago on FiSch we began a series called ‘Why do a PhD?’ – trying to give some food for thought to readers who might be considering doctoral study. The blogging team has turned over somewhat since then, and new instalments are in order. Today is my turn – in Read more…
I am a confirmed lover of Christmas. I love fairy lights and frost on the ground, poinsettias and Christmas ornaments, baking and decorating the tree. I love all the frills. Even though none of these things are particularly ‘commercial’, I’ll admit that none of them are necessarily about celebrating Jesus, Read more…