2023 PhD Yearbook

I couldn’t have got through this without my wife, Dr Nidhi Nath. She supported me throughout my research journey. Her advice always proved to be the most valuable. Whenever I felt demotivated, she was the one who invariably encouraged me as well as scolded me, when needed!

In a world where technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, it's only natural to consider how it can revolutionize the realm of education. My research delved deep into the perceptions of Modern Language (ML) student teachers towards CALL, examining how these perceptions evolved throughout their Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs in 2020/21.
Covering seven institutions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, my study revealed fascinating insights. At the commencement of their ITE journey, student teachers displayed a positive outlook towards CALL. However, as they neared the completion of their programs, their enthusiasm waned. The shift in perception was accompanied by a transition from relying on university education to embracing self-directed learning as the primary means of acquiring CALL knowledge.

Uncovering a total of thirty influential factors, I discovered that workload emerged as a significant concern during follow-up focus groups. Furthermore, the CALL behaviours of student teachers diverged from their initial expectations, revealing the dynamic nature of their experiences. It is important to note, however, that these findings were not uniform across all student teachers, showcasing the rich diversity within the UK's jurisdictions.
Drawing upon the collective wisdom of student teachers, I am thrilled to present twelve recommendations aimed at enhancing CALL instruction in Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) courses. These recommendations, based on the voices and experiences of our peers, have the potential to shape the future of CALL adoption in our field.

In the course of my research, I had the privilege of developing an innovative theoretical framework that encapsulates the student teacher pathway to CALL adoption. Introducing the Student Teacher CALL Acceptance Model (STCAM), this framework has been meticulously designed, tested, and refined, offering a fresh perspective on our journey towards integrating technology in language learning.

Undertaking a PhD is no small feat. It's a testament to our dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to knowledge. The countless hours spent poring over research papers, designing experiments, and grappling with complex theories have all led us to this significant milestone. And in the midst of it all, my proudest moment was submitting my thesis, a culmination of years of hard work and intellectual growth.
It's not just the end result that fills me with pride, but the entire process itself. The challenges I encountered along the way, the moments of self-doubt, and the exhilarating breakthroughs that pushed the boundaries of my understanding – they have all shaped me into the researcher I am today.

Through the ups and downs of this journey, I've learned that resilience and tenacity are vital companions. There were moments when the weight of the work seemed overwhelming, but I found solace in the support of my incredible supervisors. Their guidance, wisdom, and unwavering belief in my abilities propelled me forward when doubt threatened to consume me.
Now, as we embark on the next phase of our lives, I would like to offer a few words of advice. Embrace curiosity. Never stop questioning, exploring, and seeking knowledge. Remember that learning is a lifelong journey, and the more we discover, the more there is to uncover.
Be fearless in the face of challenges. Every obstacle presents an opportunity for growth and learning. Embrace them as stepping stones to greatness, and never shy away from pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone.

Remember the power of collaboration. Seek out diverse perspectives, engage in meaningful discussions, and surround yourself with people who inspire you. Together, we can achieve remarkable feats that surpass what any one individual can accomplish alone.

Lastly, cherish the connections we've formed during our time here. I am incredibly proud to have walked alongside all of you on this remarkable path. Thank you for being a part of my journey, and may the future hold endless possibilities and fulfilment for each and every one of us.

My name is Jason Ferguson, and I studied Civil Engineering as an undergraduate at Ulster University. During my final year studies, I undertook my final year dissertation / major project within the Highways Lab with Dr David Woodward and Dr Phillip Millar. My dissertation encouraged me to be curious and raised many questions about the durability of asphalt pavements. This curiosity led me to ask a question I could not find the answer to - so this led me to undertake a PhD at Ulster.

My research evolved from that initially set out, but my eventual focus and great interest fell upon runway surfaces. My research focused on Grooved Marshall Asphalt. For anyone who has never come across the term, Marshall Asphalt is dense asphalt material that is used as a surface course on Airport Runways – Yes, when you are looking out the window when you are jetting off it is very likely that the black surface you look at before you disappear into the sky is Marshall Asphalt.

The material dates back to World War two when its structural performance was recognised, and its use adopted as the standard airfield pavement to address poor structural performance exhibited by existing asphalt pavements at that time. The strength of the material was vital at this time – think about the amount of weight or the point loading of an aircraft’s weight distributed over a few small tyres!

Grooving was then introduced into the surface by sawing lateral grooves into the surface. Grooving improves tyre pavement interaction during wet weather conditions as it inhibits the flexibility of the tyre, sealing the path of escape of water, therefore, reducing the risk of hydro planning to a manageable level. When I say manageable level, I mean the risk of hydro planning is not eliminated but greatly reduced, and this will be dependent upon the amount of rainfall and the speed of the aircraft. Grooves, therefore, facilitate the bulk removal of water from the tyred interface.

My research looked and the interface between and tyre and a grooved surface. It investigated how grooved asphalt with various groove dimensions reacted to simulated trafficking. I was surprised to find that I could not find any initial research relating to why or what led to the eventual adoption of the current standard grooving dimensions! This led me to investigate a series of grooving dimensions and subject them up to 75,000 wheel passes. Simulated trafficking was carried out by the Road Testing Machine. This is an old machine but excellent machine that simulated a tyre passing over an asphalt surface to simulate wear of the surface. Simulated wear is very important as it provides insight as to how a material performs. Performance is important, particularly in regards to skid resistance. What I found was that certain groove dimensions provided really good skid resistance results but they broke down prematurely and therefore were not durable whereas other test specimens provided reasonable skid resistance but lasted up to 75,000 wheel passes.

My research highlighted the lack of understanding of the standard testing method and suggested improvements to the method. The research used novel and innovative methods to quantify interface contact between the tyre and asphalt when subjected to simulated wear. For example, I used a very simple but effective method of painting the asphalt surface with pink paint – Yes, pink paint! This method was very insightful as when the asphalt was subjected to simulated trafficking; it offered insight into what parts of the asphalt specimen and, more so, what parts of the aggregate where in contact with the tyre. This was shown by those areas where the pink paint had been removed or worn by the surface!

Finally, my search expanded to 13 chapters and was probably the most challenging/interesting but rewarding piece of work I have ever undertaken!

My most memorable experiences throughout my PhD Research is travelling the world! I was afforded and encouraged to travel! Throughout my research I visited USA - Washington DC, Italy - Naples and Pisa, France - Nantes, Greece - Thessaloniki, UK - London, Ireland - Dublin, China - Xi'an - Shanghai. My best advice to myself was to take advantage of every opportunity that you are given!

Shout out to my laboratory technician who was instrumental in my PhD research!

I am a mum of two amazing little boys who inspired my MSc research on women's experiences of online breastfeeding support and my PhD research which developed an online group EMDR intervention for breastfeeding trauma.

My proudest moment was when I passed my viva and my children told me they were proud of me for finishing! I'll never forget the support and encouragement I got from my supervisors throughout my whole PhD journey. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD, the best piece of advice I would give myself is just put one foot in front of the other. Don't look too far ahead and don't let yourself get overwhelmed, you will get there!

It has been a long road! I did my PhD part time while working full time. During my PhD, I took maternity leave for both of my boys. There was a lot to juggle but I persevered and was stubborn enough not to give up. My background is in education and applied behaviour analysis and I was fortunate to have supervisors who introduced me to this field way back when I did my maters. Both Claire and Julian have been part of my own educational journey since the first year of my masters in 2007, all the way to now, finishing my PhD in 2022. I am forever grateful.

Graduating with a PhD is not something I ever believed was in my future! I always told myself, things like that don't happen to people like me! However, look at me now! The impostor syndrome is still there and is something I will have to live with, but I did it! I finished, submitted and passed my PhD!

I am so very proud of myself. I wouldn't have done it though without the support of my amazing family. My 2 beautiful boys, I began this journey for one reason, but kept going for a different one, you. All of this is for you. Both of you can do anything you set your mind to. Your funny stories and snuggles got me through some of the hardest days. Thank you both. I love you more than you will ever know.

To my husband, I put you through so much hardship, the past couple of years especially! You took it all in your stride and kept the ship afloat even when I wanted to jump overboard! Thank you for giving me time. Thank you for being you. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD, the best piece of advice I would give myself would be, you are not alone. Reach out and find your tribe. On some of the lowest days I found support from other PhD parents and other part timers.

I am Karen Carr (nee Bleakley) a nurse for 30+ years. I have cared for children with acute and chronic care needs and predominantly those with palliative care requirements. My thesis involved surveying and interviewing bereaved parents and parents of very ill children and health care professionals to investigate their experiences regarding the initiation of advance care planning for the ill child.

I chose this topic as it reflects the increasing difficulty parents and health professionals face regarding multiple options and future care planning and decision making in today’s highly technological and medicalised society. I was brilliantly supported through my study by my UU supervisors, Dr Felicity Hasson, Professor Sonja McIlfatrick and International children’s palliative care Professor Julia Downing.

I had hoped that I would have the opportunity to be a full-time student for the first time in my career however covid presented the challenge of balancing PhD studies with home schooling, family life and working – all of which have made graduation even sweeter.

y proudest moment was when I had my first paper published. My favourite memory was laughing in ‘The Doc’ pe covid with the second- and third-year PhD students. I’ll never forget interviews with bereaved parents and parents of very ill children.

I couldn’t have got through this without my colleagues and supervisors ant the ongoing support of family. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD, the best piece of advice I would give myself would be to relax and enjoy the calmer times as the manic times counterbalancethem. I would also advocate for the need to spend time away from the screen with colleagues as listening and chatting to other PhD students is educational, informative and a good way to remain grounded.

'Juggling' is perhaps the greatest skill and achievement learned across the research period ! Balancing family demands with, reading, writing, and conferences allowed for a rich insight into all my strengths and weaknesses. My proudest moment was sharing with my family the result of the viva examination, while my favourite memory was an outdoor meal at the PLEA conference of 2022, within the architectural school of Santiago, Chile, sharing views and thoughts with a broad range of bright, international academics and practitioners.

A Doctorate is so different to undergraduate work, it can swamp you, if you come unprepared, and it would not have been possible without the encouragement of those closest to me, my dear family; and without some really good academic guidance. I have been fortunate in both.

The special moment that I'll never forget, was as the thesis began to coalesce, and I realised suddenly, (it crept up on me), that I had an achievable structure within which to frame my arguments ! Sage advice received midway through the studies, could be summarised as 'with patience and perseverance, success is inevitable'; this became my go-to reflection as the ebb and flow of the final year evolved.

My thanks to all who shared the journey, and to Ulster University for the opportunity and research structure which framed a really enjoyable few years.

I am mum of 3 beautiful ‘grown up’ children, Katie, Steven and Tony, and married to my best friend Michael. I am also a full-time senior lecturer in Ulster University Business School.  My PhD research uncovered that SME entrepreneurial leaders generate augmented SME growth.

Augmented growth is the combined outcomes of an SMEs commercial and social contribution to their local community prosperity. SME growth policy incorporating a more holistic augmented measure could demonstrate the ‘real’ value SMEs contribute to economic development, societal prosperity and wellbeing. My favourite memories without doubt were PhD submission day and my husband whisked me out to dinner unexpectedly, and after my viva meeting Michael and Katie for a celebratory toot!

I’ll never forget rising at 5am every Saturday and Sunday for 5 years to go to my desk and at 9am having breakfast with Michael to debate all things entrepreneurial and SME growth. If I could speak to myself at the start of my PhD, the best piece of advice I could give myself would be to be disciplined, strive to maintain a work life balance and be kind to yourself.

I couldn’t have got through this without my family, who showed so much patience, love and encouraged me to keep ‘chipping’ when I was struggling with self-doubt. Finally, I couldn’t have got through this without Michael, who always encouraged me to do my best, achieve my potential, always understood… and to him I dedicate this thesis.