My PhD Journey - Olivia

A PhD can feel all consuming which makes thinking about what comes next seem pretty daunting. For most of mine, I was set on going into industry, drawn by the wide skill set a PhD gives you and a growing feeling that I wanted to explore something beyond academia. But as I got closer to the end and started job hunting, I began to question whether industry was the right fit for me at this stage. Because my PhD sits between design and environmental science, I realised that I’d likely have to choose between the two in an industry role which was something I wasn’t ready to do. That’s when I spoke to my supervisors about continuing in academia as a postdoctoral researcher. I still had so many unanswered questions, particularly around the environmental impact of cellulosic microfibres, and it felt like the text industry was on the edge of a major issue that not many people were addressing. In the end, it was that sense of curiosity and the drive to bridge the gap between environmental science and the textile industry that led me to stay in research.   

With all that being said, I still had concerns about my pursuit of a career in academia. The lack of funding within academia drives a highly competitive field of work often meaning that flexibility to move between institutions is often vital to follow postdoc opportunities that often only have short term contracts, leading to a high level of job insecurity. The constant pressure to continuously find a niche in the researcher to generate publishable work whilst often taking on lecturing and supervision responsibilities may seem overwhelming. Despite this, I found the support offered by my supervisors and the research team in the School of Geography to be highly beneficial in making me feel like continuing in academia was the right step for me. 

So, was the PhD worth it? For me that’s easy, absolutely! My PhD came at a time in my career when I was unsure which route to take, however, having completed a Masters by Research previously, I was certain that I had a strong passion for research. In addition to being a key stepping stone in my career path in academia, I have gained a wide range of skills and experiences I otherwise wouldn’t have had to opportunity to have. From attending and presenting research at international conferences, to working with a company in America to produce information sheets for industry informing them on the biodegradation of textiles. I have felt my confidence as a researcher grow throughout. I am confident that whatever the next steps, I have developed a strong and adaptable skill set that will put me in good stead for the future. 

Balancing other roles alongside a PhD can somethings feel like a bit of a juggling act, but it’s also been a really valuable way for me to build skills and apply them in real-world settings. Throughout my PhD, I’ve had the chance to work as a demonstrator on undergraduate modules, as well as take on a role as an Education Outreach Fellow. In that role, I’ve designed and delivered environmental science and STEM workshops to students across West Yorkshire, which has been such as rewarding experience.  

More recently, I started working as a Student Sustainability Architect within the University’s sustainability team. This has been a great opportunity to see a different side of the university and get a better understanding of how professional services teams operate, especially in relation to sustainability.  

Looking back, these role shave really helped build my confidence, particularly when it comes to teaching and presenting. They’ve also pushed me to think about my research in different ways, especially how to explain it in a way that is engaging and accessible for school-ages students.  

One thing that made a big difference is that all of these roles are based within the university. There is a lot of flexibility and a clear understanding that my PhD comes first, which makes balancing everything much more manageable. I’ve found that keeping a structured routine really helps me stay on top of things. It makes it easier to plan my time and manage my workload, so everything gets done without feeling too overwhelming. Balancing work alongside my PhD hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding thanks to the extra experiences I’ve gained along the way.