Placements at CHASE
We are currently advertising three placements with the CHASE team, about which you can find out more by following this link. Read the posts below to find out our current placement holders’ experiences as Research Networks Officer, Alumni Engagement Officer and Knowledge Exchange Hub Officer.
Sandy Di Yu
Placement - Research Networks Officer
Sandy is currently undertaking a PhD in Digital Media with the following working thesis title: "Digital Optimisation: Investigating Temporal Reconfiguration through Digital Artist Critique".
Sandy says: “I started my placement as the Research Networks Officer in June 2022, after a few months of involvement with the Digital Studies Collective. The Digital Studies Collective is a research network formed of post-graduate researchers from across the various CHASE institutions, united by their interest in digital methods, practices, and cultures. Because of my role within the network, I had first-hand knowledge of what was required for a network to run smoothly, as well as some of the pain points that networks often faced. I was excited to bring what I already knew about research networks to this placement in order to support the researchers who would benefit from my expertise.
The previous Research Networks Officer set up useful processes and documentation of each existing network, and my goal was to build on this whilst supporting the new networks that came about. My first step was to get to know each of the active networks. It was fascinating to get to know how each of them were run, as well as learning about where they overlapped in their needs and particularities. The issue of networks resilience and their shared need for support in marketing their programmes and events were the most prevalent of issues.
Working with researchers in disciplines that I wouldn't usually come across made the work especially exciting. It gave me the opportunity to consider other ways of organising networks, understanding the unique challenges of various network types. Drawing on my own interests of digital platforms and web management, I was also able to revamp the Networks page on the CHASE website to make it easier for those who wanted to either join a network or start their own. I also developed the beginnings of a toolkit to help networks follow best practices in terms of inclusivity and to demystify funding processes.
One of the best parts about this placement was being able to work on the CHASE team, and to take part in the conversations surrounding humanities research. It provided me with hands-on experience of working on the admin side of academia, in the crucial work that goes into supporting groundbreaking research. It was also wonderful to meet with so many researchers in networks across the consortium, many of whom I’ve established professional connections with and with whom I hope to collaborate with in future instances.
I was also able to put my problem-solving skills to the test in my efforts to help revive and relaunch the CHASE Feminist Network as a real-life case study for networks resilience. This culminated in my participation in the organising of the Feminist Network Symposium, which has proven to be popular across both the network and the consortium at large. The highlight of my placement, thus, has yet to come: on the 13th of June 2023, close to the end of my placement, the Symposium will be taking place as the results of my support and the unwavering commitment of the researchers who are a part of the network. I look forward to this finale to my placement and I plan on taking forward all of this invaluable experience to all of my future roles.”
Cecily Proctor
Placement - Alumni Engagement Officer
Cecily is currently undertaking a PhD in American Studies with the following thesis title: "Black Chautauquans: African American Progressivism, Citizenship, and Public Culture during the ‘Nadir’, 1880 – 1917".
Cecily says: “As the Alumni Engagement Officer at CHASE, my primary responsibility was to create and manage the Alumni Network. I started my placement in July 2022, and was looking forward to using my experience in relationship management and network building to establish this community.
I enjoyed problem solving the challenges of establishing a network almost from scratch and working out the best processes for keeping track and in touch with alumni. It was also valuable to gain further experience in managing online databases and website development. It was fascinating to see what alumni had gone on to do, and I think there is a lot of potential for making this cohort an enriching and significant aspect of the CHASE community. I would thoroughly recommend the experience of being part of the CHASE team.
Now that the Alumni Network is up and running, I am confident that the next placement holder will be able to continue to nurture these important relationships. I believe that the next person in the role will be able to build upon these foundations and continue to strengthen the connections between alumni and between alumni and the current CHASE cohort. I will be available to provide guidance and support for the next placement holder.”
Hanna Randall
Placement - Knowledge Exchange Hub Officer
Hanna is currently undertaking a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing with the following thesis title: "Rendering the Urban Invisible: Writing the Neuroqueer city”.
Hanna says: “My yearlong placement as the CHASE Knowledge Exchange Hub Officer started in June 2022. Throughout the placement, my responsibilities have included facilitating various knowledge exchange activities, expanding and maintaining the CHASE Knowledge Exchange Hub website, liaising with students and partners, event organisation, various administrative tasks and conducting research projects. The placement appealed to me as the role not only offered experience in areas important to my skills development, but was also variable and open to a creative person. I was given some freedom to design and conduct projects that I felt were important to CHASE’s knowledge exchange hub, and I relished the opportunity to put my creativity into the work.
As someone who has come from a costume making career in the theatre industry, this sort of role was entirely new to me. I have gained and developed a breadth of skills that have improved my self-confidence in making the next steps in my career post PhD. In particular, I have gained insight into how academic funding bodies support students and the sorts of knowledge exchange activities that enrich student experience and their career prospects, as well as those that benefitting the institution and external organisations. I have also gained skills in qualitive data analysis and report writing, which was something I had not done in my costume career nor my creative writing PhD!
The highlights of this placement have been developing the website’s accessibility, conducting a research project on collaborative doctoral award (CDA) student experience, and organising an event series around knowledge exchange in practice. As a neurodivergent/disabled first generation scholar, I have been particularly keen on developing support and resources for so-called minority students. Over the last few months, I have been conducting a research project on barriers to accessing placements, with the intention of understanding and addressing the various barriers that students experience when thinking about and applying for a placement. I have also established a project on researcher’s journeys, charting experiences from pre-application to CHASE, through PhD and careers beyond. Hopefully, my successor will continue this project to create a wealth of information for prospective students and anyone else interested in a researcher’s journey.”