Meet Our Current PhD Students

Kevin Doyle carried out his PhD in the School of Communications under the supervision of Dr John O’Sullivan. His PhD thesis is concerned with the role of social media in the Cambodian political process. According to Kevin, the highlight of his research was being able to focus on a subject of concern in a part of the world where the freedom to scrutinise and analyse structures of power and processes of authority is not a given. He notes the guidance and support from staff at the School of Communications, which was central to the completion of his research at DCU. The supportive environment at the School of Communications helped him to overcome the challenges encountered when undertaking multi-year research at doctoral level. Kevin notes, “I really feel that the successful completion of a PhD is a group effort as the School of Communications offers collegiate and supportive surroundings, and the quality of this research environment is so important for the researcher.”

"The highlight of my research was being able to focus on a subject of concern in a part of the world where the freedom to scrutinise and analyse structures of power and processes of authority is not a given. Notable also was the guidance and support from staff at the School of Communications, which was central to the completion of my research at DCU. The supportive environment at the School of Communications helped me to overcome the challenges encountered when undertaking multi-year research at doctoral level."

Iemima Ploscariu was born in Romania but raised in Sacramento, California. As part of the School of History and Geography, she is working on an Irish Research Council funded PhD project entitled ‘Dappled Communities: Jewish, Roma, and Romanian Evangelicals in Interwar Romania’, supervised by Dr. Maria Falina. 

"At DCU I have benefited greatly from excellent supervisory support as well as support from other faculty members in the school.  The research materials made readily available, as well as the opportunities to give guest lectures and to teach tutorials, are just some of the highlights I benefited from as a PhD student in the School of History and Geography."

Annelieke Anne Marieke Mooij is Dutch and is a PhD student in the School of Law and Government, supervised by Prof. Federico Fabbrini. Her research focuses on the European Central Bank’s crisis response and whether it has upset the balance between independence and accountability. Annelieke says that the best part of being a PhD student is the freedom to research your passion.

“I wish for my academic career to make a contribution to economic justice. To see how our monetary system can work as part of a democratic system to benefit everyone. Furthermore doing a PhD has allowed me to actively contribute to (academic) debate. I have the freedom to write articles for both academic journals and co-found and run a research institute. The Dublin Law and Politics Review has been a great way to promote the discussion of important topics with a wide audience. And as affiliated staff with the DCU Brexit Institute and Jean Monnet Network BRIDGE I frequently get the opportunity to listen and contribute to expert debates.”

Rana Roshdy comes from Egypt and is a student in the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies (SALIS). Her research is about the translation of Islamic law, known in Arabic as ‘Sharia’. It aims to uncover the norms governing the translation of culture-specific concepts rooted in Islamic law, which are considered symbols of an intangible cultural heritage. When asked about the highlights of being a PhD student at DCU, Rana says she appreciates the cultural diversity in the Faculty, getting to know people from different parts of the world.

"The modules I studied as part of the PhD pathway really broadened my horizons as I learned about several cutting-edge topics from an interdisciplinary perspective. My school, SALIS, offered me an ideal environment for conducting my research, thanks to its distinguished staff and strong digital humanities profile."

Orla Shannon is a PhD candidate whose research addresses the issue of gender (in)equality in the canon of twentieth century Irish art song. This research has been the recipient of two scholarships awarded by the Irish Research Council and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, DCU and is also endorsed by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland where Orla was appointed the inaugural scholar-in-residence in 2018.

"From my first day at orientation, I immediately felt part of a wider research community and was informed about the many ways in which the Faculty could support my research. This included a shared PhD office where I could liaise with other postgraduate students, my own desktop and workspace, access to a monetary travel grant to use towards a conference, technological software for my musicological analysis, and access to pianos to aid my performance studies. In terms of academic development, I was also presented with a multitude of graduate training courses, workshops, and study days (including an accredited Irish diploma) to help expand both my research-specific needs and transferable skills for employment beyond the PhD. In fact, one of the mandatory courses, ‘Research Integrity’, became an essential component for the completion of another project which I was working on externally to the PhD."

Mac léinn reatha in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge is ea Jamie Murphy. Is é teideal oibre a dhochtúireachta ná: ‘An bhfuil athghabháil na Gaeilge mar chuspóir i ndrámaíocht aistrithe na Gaeilge? Anailís ar chnuasach aistriúchán Gaeilge ó dhrámaí de chuid J.M. Synge, Lady Gregory, Martin McDonagh agus Brian Friel.’

Is iad an tOllamh Ciarán Mac Murchaidh agus an Dr Éadaoin Ní Mhuircheartaigh a bheirt stiúrthóirí dochtúireachta. Seo an méid atá le rá ag Jamie mar gheall ar a sheal mar mhac léinn taighde go dtí seo:

"Mar mhac léinn dochtúireachta i nDámh na nDaonnachtaí agus na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta, agus in DCU trí chéile, tá rochtain fhairsing agam ar neart acmhainní sárluachmhara. Tá roinnt de na saineolaithe is mó le rá in iliomad réimsí agus disciplíní sa Ghaeilge ag obair in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge. Bíonn gach duine fíorchabhrach agus toilteanach a gcuid saineolais a chomhroinnt, rud a chruthaíonn an-mhuintearas i measc na foirne agus na mac léinn PhD. Tá na leabharlanna san ollscoil, go háirithe na ranna a phléann leis an scoil seo, den chéad scoth agus ba cheart iad a mholadh go hard as an obair a dhéanann siad chun cabhrú le mic léinn an ceann scríbe a bhaint amach. Tríd is tríd, bhí an t-eispéireas a bhí agam in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge go dtí seo thar a bheith fiúntach agus dearfach."

Jamie Murphy is a current student in Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge. The working title of his thesis is: “Is reclamation of the Irish language an aim in translated Irish-language drama? An analysis of a collection of translated Irish-language plays by J.M. Synge, Lady Gregory, Martin McDonagh and Brian Friel.” He is supervised by Professor Ciarán Mac Murchaidh and an Dr Éadaoin Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Of his time as a PhD student, Jamie says:

“Being a PhD student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, and within DCU as whole, means having access to a wide variety of invaluable resources. Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge holds some of the most renowned experts in a wide range of disciplines in the Irish language. Everyone is always more than happy to help and share their expertise which creates a sense of community among staff and PhD students. The libraries within the university, especially those who liaise with the Faculty, go above and beyond to facilitate the work of PhD students and should be commended for their efforts in helping students make it past the finish line."

Is mac léinn dochtúireachta é Justin Ó Gliasáin atá sa bhliain dheireanach. Is é teideal oibre a thráchtais ‘Mionlogainmneacha i mBarúntachtaí Uíbh Fhailí Thoir agus Uíbh Fhailí Thiar, Co. Chill Dara’. Is iad Gearóid Ó Cleircín (FSG) agus Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (Ollscoil Luimnigh) na stiúrthóirí atá aige. Tá an méid seo a leanas le rá aige faoin seal atá caite aige mar mhac léin dochtúireachta sa Scoil:

“Le linn na tréimhse atá caite agam mar mhac léinn PhD i nDámh na nDaonnachtaí agus na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, bhí fáil agam ar réimse leathan de shaineolas agus bhí de dheis agam tabhairt faoi mhodúil i scoileanna éagsúla sa Dámh, Scoil na Staire agus na Tíreolaíochta, agus Scoil na Diagachta, Fealsúnachta agus Ceoil san áireamh. In Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge féin, tá foireann acadúil agus taighde atá ildánach a bhfuil saineolas acu ar ghnéithe éagsúla de léann Gaeilge agus réimsí eile. Bíonn baill foirne na scoile i gcónaí flaithiúil lena gcuid saineolais agus iad sásta ceisteanna a phlé go foirmeálta agus go neamhfhoirmeálta. Tá scoth an chomhluadair ar fáil sa scoil chomh maith agus bíonn neart deiseanna cúrsaí an tsaoil a phlé thar cupán caifé nó lón. Tá caidreamh ag Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge le roinnt eagraíochta seachtracha a bhíonn ag plé le réimsí áirithe den léann amhail An Brainse Logainmneacha agus Cnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann. D’fhág an caidreamh atá ag an Scoil leis an mBrainse Logainmneacha go raibh teacht agam ar chuid de na scoláirí is aitheanta i mo réimse taighde féin.Tugadh tacaíocht dom maidir le taisteal chuig comhdhálacha a bhain le mo chuid taighde agus tá an tacaíocht riaracháin sa Scoil den chéad scoth. Mholfainn Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge agus DCU trí chéile do dhuine ar bith a bhfuil sé de rún acu tabhairt faoi chúrsa taighde iarchéime.”

Justin Ó Gliasáin is a final-year PhD student in Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge. The working title for his thesis is ‘Microtoponyms in the Baronies of Offaly East and Offaly West, County Kildare’. He is supervised by Gearóid Ó Cleircín (FSG) and Aengus Ó Fionnagáin (University of Limerick). Of his time as a PhD student, Justin says:

“During my time as a PhD student in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Science in DCU, I have been able to draw on a wide range of expertise. I had the opportunity to do modules in different schools in the Faculty including The School of History and Geography, and The School of Theology, Philosophy and Music. In Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge itself, I have access to a multidisciplinary academic and research staff who have a wide-ranging expertise and have always been more than happy to answer questions both formally and informally. There is also a great sense of camaraderie amongst the School staff, and plenty of opportunities for a chat over lunch or coffee. The School collaborates with a number of important external organisations such as The Placenames Branch and The National Folklore Collection. The relationship with the Placenames Branch in particular proved invaluable to my own research, and meant that I was able to draw on some of the most experienced scholars in my own field of study. I was given assistance in travelling to conferences which related to my research and the administrative support in the school is second to none. I would recommend Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge and DCU as whole to anyone who is considering doing a postgraduate research course.”