Rachel Salzano and Katherine Stephen

In October 2019 new PhD students Rachel Salzano and Katherine Stephen joined the Social Informatics Research Group at Edinburgh Napier University. Three and half years later, they are now coming to the end of their PhD journeys while settling into new work roles.

Rachel successfully defended her thesis The influence of culture on perceived use of public libraries by forced migrants in the United Kingdom in December. She is currently working on her thesis corrections with the expectation of graduating in July 2023, while lecturing full-time in the School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (SCEBE) at Edinburgh Napier University. Rachel’s teaching focuses on two modules: Producing digital and Computing in contemporary society. She is also serving as an examiner for a selection of MSc dissertations. Rachel plans to further her research on public library use and information practices after she has graduated with her PhD.

Katherine undertook a 3-month paid internship with the Marine Scotland as part of her PhD programme. So, although she started her doctoral studies at the same time as Rachel, Katherine will graduate later. This week Katherine starts a job as the Student Experience and Development Coordinator for the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science. This role focuses on the support of social science PhD students across 16 universities in Scotland, for example by organising training events and information sessions, and acting as a contact point for PhD students in Scotland who are funded by the ESRC. Meanwhile Katherine will continue to write up her PhD thesis part-time with the expectation of making her submission later this year.