Hi Emily, congratulations on passing your viva! How does it feel?!
Thank you! It feels like a massive relief to have passed the Viva.
What was your PhD title?
The Creation of Creativity in Radio: How does radio as an industry define, practice and negotiate creativity?
Can you explain in a couple of sentences what your PhD was about?
My PhD explores the creativity of the radio industry. Radio is framed in government policy as a creative industry so I explore the ways that we can understand creativity within an industry that features traits such as regulation and disciplinary influence which all shape practice.
Can you sum up your PhD experience in three words?
Fun, Tiring! & Rewarding
What was the viva like?
The viva was slightly odd as it had to take place online due to the current pandemic. The examiners were all nice and asked a wide range of questions. The questions only lasted for about 45 minutes though and then the wait to hear the outcome seemed to last forever!
What are your top tips to someone preparing for their viva?
Read your viva a few times beforehand, but don’t stress if you spot small mistakes, you can write these down so that you are prepared to edit them once the viva is finished.
I also found it really helpful getting someone to ask me potential questions that the examiners may ask me, and if I struggled to answer any I wrote them down and tried again the next day!
Any advice you’d tell your earlier PhD self now you’ve made it to the other side?
Maybe some prior warning that I would be doing both my mock viva and actual viva in the middle of a pandemic, whilst pregnant!
On a more serious note, I would tell myself that it is definitely worth it once you get to the other side and to enjoy being able to dedicate three (and a bit in my case!) years to studying something that you are really passionate about.
What are you up to now and any exciting plans for the future?
I’m currently working as a part-time Senior Lecturer at the Academy of Contemporary Music so I’m filling most of my time supporting students there who are currently in the final few weeks of their dissertations.
In terms of the future, I’m hoping to get my minor corrections out of the way as soon as possible and from November I will be taking some time ‘off’ from academic work to be a Mum!
Thanks so much for your time Emily, we wish you all the best for the future!
