Last night I had a meeting which I’ve been waiting for for some time: and it turned out to be a great experience for all the participants, I think. Lots…
Written by Jenny Walklate
'I completed my PhD in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester in 2013. My research project used literary theory and strategies to investigate the production and experience of temporality in museum spaces, and its analytical model is one I hope to develop in the future. After completing my first degree, an MA.Hons. in Medieval History at the University of St. Andrews, I commenced a full Masters at the University of Leicester's School of Museum Studies. There I won an AHRC scholarship to conduct my PhD research, and was fortunate to have a rich, varied and enjoyable time as a full time research student. Currently, I'm looking for academic jobs - many of my posts will focus on this aspect of post-PhD existence - but I am fortunate to be able to blog here, to work in the University Bookshop, and to have roles as the Treasurer for the Museum Ethnographers Group, Editor of Museum and Society, and Editor of the ICME newsletter. I hope that I will be able to provide information and encouragement to those at all stages of their PhD, and afterwards for the life beyond.
Voices of Authority
I’ve often figured that, given my education, I should be able to sort things out on my own. That I should know – just, instinctively, know – how to do…
Spider in the Web
How does one do this, this work, research, write, lark? It is hard: and I am aware that I say this from a distinct position of privilege. I’ve just, very…
Movements of Fire and Shadow
It’s surreal, and disconcerting, to experience a familiar event from a different perspective. When I’ve attended conferences, even if I’ve been helping out administratively, I’ve always been involved – always…
Plato’s Stepchildren
Sometimes, you need a good old-fashioned kick up the backside. I’ve been rather down again about my work situation recently – hello, sense of failure, I’ve missed you these past…
The Menagerie, Part II
The last few weeks have been hectic, and last Friday turned into three days in one. After going for a run – another pleasure of being here is the closeness…
The Menagerie, Part I
Well, it’s been a while. I’m sorry about that. As you might have guessed, what with working, it’s become a little more difficult for me to post as regularly as…
Court Martial: Dealing with Negativity
Recently, a few negative things have happened to me: a project that I’ve been hoping would come to fruition for about a year now has, after much see-sawing, been finally…
The Deadly Years; or, I’ll live – and I’ll enjoy it!
It is becoming more widely mooted that the life of a post-doc is no easy one. Every day, on various academic job listings, I see adverts which are either for…
Patterns of Force: Doing things you didn’t expect, beyond the boundaries you set yourself
Sometimes, we end up in situations beyond our control, and which are, perhaps, at the edges of, or well beyond, our normal comfort zones, and perhaps outside of what we…