For the second episode of our second series, we are joined by Daniel Alves, a PhD candidate who has been studying in the Department of Political Economy at King's College London since 2020.

Daniel's research is focussed on the politics of equity-enhancing reforms in Brazil, with a focus on the mechanisms and systems that have made policy reform possible in South America's largest economy. 

Daniel also talks to hosts Cameron Mitchell-Bell and Daniel Mansfield about studying for a PhD as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, his hopes for the future, and why running is where some of his best ideas are born.

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

Call My Supervisor! is back

Hot on the heels of our brilliant first series, we are once again catching up with PhD candidates from across the School of Politics and Economics for series two.

Launching our new series is Iris Magne, a doctoral researcher studying with the Kin's Russia Institute.

Iris talks to hosts Daniel Mansfield and Clara Goilav about her PhD research, Biopolitics, Authoritarianism and the New Global Order: Russia’s Policy in Central Asia, as well as what it's like to be a PhD, balancing work with study, and her advice for those thinking about taking on a postgraduate degree.

For the sixth and final episode in the first series of Call My Supervisor! we are joined by PhD candidate Michael Pandazis, from the Department of Political Economy at King's College London. Michael is also attached to the Policy Institute at King's. 

Michael's research will see him conduct trials aimed at increasing the uptake of higher education, especially among social groups that have low enrollment in higher education.

We discuss Michael's background in teaching, his own experience of higher education and his hopes for research outcomes that may help inform future policy. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

It's full steam ahead for the fifth episode in our first series and we're joined this time by PhD candidate, Anri Sakakibara, from the Department of Political Economy at King's College London.

Anri's research examines how trade affects gender inequality at the household-level, with a particular focus on Vietnam and the effects of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement of 2001.

We discuss Anri's experience of change in Vietnam and her inspiration to take on a PhD, learning to code from scratch and the importance of good data.

The episode also includes a bonus segment with Dr Marc Berenson, who talks to us about his experience of moving from the professional world back into academia.   

Thanks for tuning in!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

For the fourth episode in our first series, we were joined by PhD candidate, Lina Kramer, from the Department of Political Economy at King's College London.

Lina's research examines the AI government and tax policies designed by a multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithm in a political economy model.

We discuss with Lina the inspiration behind her thesis, what sorts of roles and applications AI may have in the future of government, and the surprising results of her work so far...including AI's suggestion for a fairer tax system.

Thanks for tuning in!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

For the third episode in our first series, we were joined by PhD candidate, Marypaz Ventura-Arrieta, from the Department of Political Economy at King's College London.

Marypaz's research examines how media coverage of immigration policies can have a potential effect on immigrants’ decisions to apply for immigration applications such as asylum, permanent residence status, and citizenship. Marypaz project focuses in particular on immigration policy changes during the administrations of George Bush Jr, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump in the United States.

Contained within the episode is a bonus interview with Dr Jonathan Leader Maynard  on the PhD application process, offering guidance and advice for would-be applicants on where to start and how to get the best out of your application.

Thanks for tuning in!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

For episode two we welcomed PhD candidate, Nick Scott, from the Department of Political Economy at King's College London.

Nick's research, Brexit Britain: the Fractionalisation of European Identity in post-Brexit England, asks what constitutes European identity and whether a pan-European identity, premised on a sense of shared socio-historical and cultural characteristics, exists beyond and/or exterior to membership of the European Union  

As well as discussing the ideas and inspiration underpinning his research, we also caught up with Nick about the highs and lows that come with a PhD, research methods, surprises along the way, top tips for aspiring doctoral students...and the tribulations of supporting Tottenham Hotspur!

Contained within the episode is a bonus interview with Nick as he shares his thoughts on some of the news stories related to his field of research. 

Don't miss it!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.

For the first ever episode of Call My Supervisor! we welcomed PhD candidate, Bill Weston, from the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London.

Bill's research, 'We Possess all things…and have no use for your Country’s Manufactures: Explaining the Innovation Divergence between Eastern Europe and East Asia, 2010-20', takes an in-depth look at at the factors influencing the divergence in innovation output of Eastern European and East Asian economies during the last decade.

As well as discussing the ins and outs of his research, we also touched on the challenges that come with a PhD, research methods, surprises along the way, top tips for aspiring doctoral students...and the eye-watering response rate for evidence-gathering e-mails!

And, as if that wasn't enough, there is a bonus interview included in the podcast with Dr Ben Jones, a teaching fellow in European foreign policy at King's, who shares his insights with us about the journey from the world of UK and European politics into academia.

Don't miss it!

Music for the episode was Flash by Crowander and Stomps and Claps by Scott Holmes Music.