This post is part of our Research Initiation Scheme for 2020-2021.

Interview with Jordan McCullough, second year PhD student at QUB.

So, Jordan, what has been your university trajectory so far?

I studied French and Spanish at Queen’s, then continued on to do an MRes, with a dissertation examining end of life care in France, from the perspective of the patient and their family. While completing this, I felt like I would like to take things further and see where it might take me. I applied for PhD funding whilst I was still doing my MRes, got funded by Northern Bridge and here I am now, in the second year of my PhD!

What is the topic of your current research project?

My project looks at parental grief narratives, that is, writing by parents who have lost children for a variety of different causes, such as terminal illness, suicide, violent death, terrorist attacks or even accidental death. There are a wide range of causes of death but what I’m trying to do with that is to find out, first of all, what makes the parents write; what do they get out of it themselves, and what do they give to their children through this idea of continuing bonds and ongoing legacy, and secondly, what drives these parents to go beyond writing for themselves and their child and publish their text, and what changes when there’s a readership and an audience involved.

What has been the most interesting part of your research so far?

By far, the most interesting aspect of my research journey has been the short placement I undertook with the regional paediatric palliative care team in Brittany. It was wonderful to see how my research might have some sort of positive impact in the everyday lives of parents grieving the loss of their child. I learnt a lot from the staff at the unit and I think I was able to give something back in return. All being well, I hope to get back across to France next year to spend some more time with the team.

Have you found any aspects of your research challenging?

The emotional side of reading the texts can be difficult at times, especially because they are real texts from a parent’s perspective. As well as that, the texts I work on are from the 2000’s through to now, so these people are all still alive and could potentially read what I’m writing about them. I do have to be aware that this is such a sensitive topic and keep in mind what they have gone through, as I don’t want to misrepresent them!

Do you have any final advice for undergraduate students thinking of pursuing postgraduate study?

Start having conversations with potential supervisors early! Don’t put yourself under pressure at the last minute. Also, don’t doubt yourself! It can be daunting to look at this whole world of research and not know if you fit into it, but take any opportunity you can to expose yourself to it; by attending research events, for example. It’s hard to know if you haven’t had the experience, but attending seminars and workshops will definitely help make it clearer.

Interview by Holly Glenn, final-year student in French and Spanish