"Queen Mary is a champion for equality and diversity, you will not regret joining Queen Mary and you will never second guess your decision. You will be respected and receive equal opportunities to develop yourself."
Why did you choose to study your course at Queen Mary?
I started my PhD at the University of Bradford, however, my supervisor, Professor Nelarine Cornelius, moved to Queen Mary in 2016. She was the one who convinced me to move with her, outlining how my move to Queen Mary would be more beneficial for me. I also did my own research and with Queen Mary being a member of the Russell Group, I was convinced that the transfer was the better choice and more prestigious for me as a graduate.
What aspects of your degree did you find most enjoyable and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?
I enjoyed the research centeredness of Queen Mary and the support provided for PhD students in the School of Business and Management (SBM). I enjoyed the support provided by my supervisor and the PhD support officers. From the get-go, I was never lost because there were adequate channels or people to address my concerns. I found the PhD symposiums (mini-conferences) very useful as it afforded me the opportunity to meet and discuss with other PhD students in a friendly environment.
How did Queen Mary support you during your studies?
I enjoyed a lot of support at Queen Mary. I was supported with funding to attend conferences and workshops during my study. Particularly, the support I cherish most till now was being employed as a Teaching Assistant (Associate Tutor) within SBM. This gave me adequate opportunity/experience teaching different modules from Levels 4 to Levels 7 and helped me to develop my academic career. I was supported to study for and obtain a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. This allowed me to become an Associate Fellow of the HEAcademy, all paid for by Queen Mary. By the time I defended my thesis I had enough experience teaching Accounting and Finance related modules at Queen Mary. This improved my CV and got me my first full time lecturing job at the University of Brighton immediately. I am now a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester. Thank you, Queen Mary.
Can you describe your career path to date and touch on your current role?
My desire when I started my PhD journey was to remain in academia and Queen Mary helped me to achieve this as I was employed as a Teaching Assistant from 2017 to 2019 in SBM. I defended my thesis in a viva voce in late May 2019 and went for an interview at the University of Brighton the following day and I was offered my first full time job as a Lecturer in Accounting just a few days after that. At Brighton, I further developed myself, leading on several modules from Levels 4 to 7 and as a Personal Academic Tutor. I also obtained my Fellowship of the HEAcademy in 2020. I moved to Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) in October 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance to progress my career. Here at DMU, I am involved in leading and teaching modules such as Evaluations in Management Accounting, Forensic Accounting and International Developments in Accounting at Levels 6 and 7. I am also a personal Academic Tutor.
Looking back, how did your time and study at Queen Mary help with your career and development?
Being able to study for the postgraduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education, becoming an Associate Fellow of the HEAcademy and teaching for two years as a Teaching Assistant improved my knowledge and experience of life as an academic in the UK. I believe that these improved my CV and prepared me for my current academic career.
What were the challenges and highlights of studying for your PhD?
One of the main challenges was living in Bradford and studying/teaching in London. However, I received adequate support from my department. I commuted a lot, but this was due to my teaching responsibilities. Also, my teaching was structured in a way that afforded me adequate time to progress my research. I also became a dad during my last year of study; Queen Mary provided support by giving me 59 days off to enable me to care for my family.
What are some of your fondest memories from your time at Queen Mary?
Meeting fellow PhD students in the PhD rooms was fun as we had time to socialise. Also, the yearly PhD dinner organised by the department was another good opportunity to meet more PhD students. Nevertheless, the key highlight was receiving my wages as a Teaching Assistant every month. This income supported my living expenses whilst studying for my PhD.
What would your advice be to students interested in studying the course you did at Queen Mary?
Queen Mary is a champion for equality and diversity, you will not regret joining Queen Mary and you will never second guess your decision. You will be respected and receive equal opportunities to develop yourself. Queen Mary did it for me, Queen Mary will do it for you too.