Tom studied MRes Linguistics (2022)
Why did you study Linguistics at Queen Mary? Did you have a particular career path in mind?
As an MRes student with a 1+3 PhD studentship, I chose Queen Mary for both my Master’s and my PhD because it is home to some of the best sociolinguists in the field! Also, the phonetics lab and equipment available to students in general is fantastic. I knew that at Queen Mary my research would be supported by the department, both in terms of staff and research infrastructure in general. There are also reading groups and lab groups to join where you can discuss research in a supportive environment.
What topics did you like learning about and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?
Having already completed an Integrated Master’s in linguistics, I really appreciated the wide range of modules available. This meant that I was able to choose very specialist modules to complement my existing knowledge and experience. Classes in Sociolinguistic Theory and Syntax were two favourites, and despite having already touched on these topics in my previous degree, the Queen Mary courses taught me loads that I didn’t know before. This set me up with a great grounding in linguistics knowledge in order to start my PhD.
Can you describe your career path to date and touch on your current role? How did you arrive in your current role?
My current role is as a linguistics PhD student here at Queen Mary. Following my MLang French & Linguistics degree at the University of Southampton, I knew that I wanted to specialise in sociolinguistics research and pursue a career in academia. As I already mentioned, the MRes course here was the perfect preparation for PhD study, and it was really nice to spend a year in the department meeting staff and other students before starting on the doctoral programme. It meant I had great friends and connections from day one!
Can you describe what a typical working day looks like for you?
On a typical day in London, I might arrive at the PhD linguistics lab, catch up with my friends, and then get my head down reading and making notes on an assigned reading group paper. I might finish off the morning transcribing some of my data. After lunch, I might spend the rest of the day writing a conference abstract or chapter for my thesis. On a fieldwork day, I might catch an early train to Birmingham to visit my research sites in the Black Country, and spend the day collecting data with participants.
What are your career plans for the future?
In the future I would like a job in academia, so I can continue researching in sociolinguistics! However, I know that the skills I have learned in both my MRes and my PhD are widely applicable. I could also explore a career in industry research with my knowledge of data collection and statistical analysis.
What advice would you give to a prospective student considering the course you studied and Queen Mary?
Go for it! You won’t find a more supportive department with such a great track record of research. You will meet great people and have the opportunity to learn about and take part in ground-breaking research. The Research Practicum module is a particularly great example of this; you will get to assist a staff member in their own research, acquire real research skills, and make a contribution to your chosen subfield of linguistics.
What was special about your time at Queen Mary? Can you give one or two examples of your most memorable moments?
One moment which comes to mind was the Copenhagen Winter School in Sociolinguistics which I was able to attend during my MRes year. I got to spend a week in Denmark and present my PhD research plans to loads of other early career sociolinguists. I received great feedback and made friends in the field from other institutions and countries. Secondly, I also enjoyed taking part in a Research Practicum project with Kathleen McCarthy, recording stimuli in the Black Country for an experiment that she was running. I have continued working on this project since and have just returned from presenting some of our findings at a conference!