The Graduate Junction Team
The Graduate Junction Team has now expanded. Learn more about the researchers who are giving up their time to develop The Graduate Junction by clicking the links below:
Dan Colegate
Durham University
As a PhD student it is so easy to become isolated within your research project, despite the fact that there are probably many other researchers working on very similar projects. I had one particular experience at a conference in Sweden in 2007 when I met dozens of other PhD researchers working in my area. It was a really invigorating feeling and generated new directions in my work. When Esther suggested a website to find like minded researchers I thought it was such a fantastic idea that it must already exist, but I couldn't find one. That's when we started working on The Graduate Junction. I have recently become aware of other similar sites popping up, many of which are covered in advertising or offer to spam their members on behalf of advertisers. I hope that our members appreciate our no banner advertising policy and that we will never, ever send them spam advertising. We are going to continue developing The Graduate Junction, striving towards a united global graduate research community.
Esther Dingley
Durham University
With a background in Economics but now undertaking a Masters in Research Methods within Education, I realised how much overlap there was between different subject areas which many researchers never investigate. My vision is that The Graduate Junction will provide an international multi-disciplinary environment so that graduate researchers have the opportunity to meet and discuss their research interests with others.
Whilst it was my idea, Dan has done an incredible job learning to and then coding up this website. I’m really grateful to those who support the fundamental aims driving this website forward and who are helping spread the news about The Graduate Junction across the world.
Candice Kay Lee
Oxford University
The Graduate Junction appeals to a diverse group of users on several different levels. For me, the initial appeal, I’m a bit hesitant to say, was a rather grand one regarding its global vision for bringing together research students from around the world in a single, shared space. My own doctoral research working with North Korean defectors in South Korea has benefited greatly from cross-border knowledge exchanges, as scattered as they were – China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia and North Korea - lending themselves so generously to enhancing my own study. This passion for cross-border awareness and understanding of other research perspectives is the same passion I bring with me to The Graduate Junction. By generating ideas to ensure that new forms of academic interaction breed even newer forms of dialogue and collaboration across and within societies, it is my hope that the user’s needs are uniquely met and that research possibilities move beyond traditional and marked disciplines and boundaries.
Volunteers
The Graduate Junction also benefits massively from the help of a team of volunteers some of whom have provided a testimonial below. These people, along with the central team, give up their time because they share the vision of a global graduate community. We are very grateful to Alistair, Heather, George, Stecy, Pippa, Kevin, Shan, Isobelle, Conor and Rattu.
Alistair Brown - Graduate Journals
Durham University
My interest in postgraduate journals stems from my work as a co-founding editor of the interdisciplinary journal, (Kaleidoscope). I also have a more general interest in the use of the web for dissemination of research between the sciences and humanities, and to a wider public audience. The Graduate Junction provides a potentially excellent model in this area. My personal blog, which focuses on these issues, can be found at here
Heather Hund
Oxford University
After studying Finance, French, and Art History in undergraduate, my passion for Art History led me to pursue a Master’s at Oxford University, where I was delighted to discover that my research of art led to my immersion in diverse subjects, including science, history, and even equine studies. Through my research and discussions with others, I realized not only how much overlap exists between subjects but also how few resources existed for students to connect with other researchers beyond their academic communities. I strongly believe in the possibilities provided by the Graduate Junction, which not only enhances your research experience by enabling you to build an academic network and to find international opportunities to share your research but also provides the possibility of collaboration with other members in cross-border projects. I am encouraged by the continued growth of the Graduate Junction, and I want to welcome you to this unique international community.
George Wang
Durham University
As a PhD student in Finance from the University of Durham, I strongly believe the extraordinary and persistent value The Graduate Junction will bring to the international research community. I will use it as an important part of my common research life. I hope you also find it useful and enjoy using it.
Umer Rattu
Durham University
Graduate Junction is a right place for researchers in finding information about their research interests which will definitely help them in completing their research projects. The best thing about Graduate Junction is that it is being run by research students for the benefit of researchers without any commercial motive. Let me have the opportunity to say thanks to the initiators for providing us such a platform like the Graduate Junction.
Thank You to....
The Graduate Junction would also like to give special thank you to the following:
David Lehrer, from the University of Helsinki, for his input and help. David is one of the founders of the Kvasir Society, an American non-profit organisation dedicated to knowledge accumulation within the academic research community, who we hope to be formally partnering with in the future.
Dr. Eleanor Loughlin and the Graduate School at Durham University for their advice and support. At the same time as we had the idea for The Graduate Junction, the Durham Blueprint competition was advertised. We benefitted greatly from the advice and workshops which helped to develop our idea and we were also surprised but very grateful to be awarded ‘Overall Winner’. Over the last few months, whilst it was exciting to be winners of a business competition, it has helped confirm our beliefs that such a site run by those with profit-driven motives would not be one that benefitted the research community.
Merlyn Holmes at The University of Colorado at Boulder, who took an initial interest in The Graduate Junction, for all her input and advice from a Publications and Web Co-ordinator’s perspective. Merlyn even took the time during her family holiday to the UK to meet and discuss The Graduate Junction with us in person.
