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Postgraduate Researcher

Case Studies

Meet the postgraduate researchers on That's Me!

Postgraduate researchers are working on the That's Me! project across the Routes In, Routes Through and Routes Out teams to eliminate barriers to Postgraduate Research Study in the West Midlands. Find out more about their research areas and journeys to postgraduate research study at Birmingham City University here. 

Sarah is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, with a Bachelors and Masters in Black Studies. Her academic journey has revolved around delving into the challenges and triumphs of global majority communities, so she is thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the That's Me! Project, an initiative that deeply resonates with her passion for equity, institutional accountability, and inclusion.

The That's Me! project's commitment to dismantling barriers and cultivating a more inclusive research environment provides a unique opportunity to make a substantial impact on the representation and success of global majority researchers. Sarah is looking forward to co- creating solutions and working alongside fellow researchers to drive positive change in the West Midlands and beyond. Together, we can eliminate obstacles, empower global majority researchers, and celebrate their contributions to research and academia.

Saif is pursuing a PhD at Birmingham City University, exploring how AI, Machine Learning, and IoT can optimize building efficiency and occupant comfort with adaptive controls. He is interested in working on the 'That’s Me! Project' to tackle inequalities, meet new people and learn new ideas on how education can be shaped for the future. 

Emmanuel is a registered nurse and midwife with over 10 years of experience within and outside the UK. He has worked as the Chief Operating Officer of the Institute of Nursing Research, Nigeria, where his research focuses on digital nursing education, public health, cancer, genetics, and genomics. He is currently a doctoral researcher and assistant lecturer at Birmingham City University, UK. His doctoral research explores teaching and learning in digital spaces in nursing and midwifery education.

Emmanuel is excited about joining the "That's Me! Project", an initiative that aligns with his desire to contribute to upholding equity within the research landscape, removing obstacles and thus ensuring success for most researchers.

Huafeng holds BA in China and MA in Germany, and recently continue her academic journey as a PhD student at BCU focusing on the digital divide and inclusive city planning in public transport. With years of experience as an architect and design manager in Europe, Huafeng possesses a diverse skill set and confidence in engaging with various stakeholders, providing her with a global perspective and mindset.

"That's Me" project resonates deeply with her as an international student with a Global majority background, especially concerning routes in barriers and strategies for navigating routes out in the context of the UK.

A first-generation immigrant from Ukraine, with a working-class background, Melisa offers a unique and underrepresented perspective in the realm of higher education. Melisa is deeply committed to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion by shining a light on a seemingly overlooked group of students in research, those who navigate higher education as migrants, particularly those with varying circumstances with the Home Office which often hinder their potential. 

Her PhD research focuses on empowering civil society in the US through the UPR, aiming to create a model for these CSOs to advocate for targeted, accessible, and human rights-aligned law reform using the UPR. Now, in her role as a research assistant on the That's Me Project, Melisa brings her passion for academic research, diverse skill set, and unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive academic spaces, with the aim of making a significant impact on the PGR community.

Shameela Yoosuf Ali is a journalist, bilingual writer, poet, and activist passionate about gender studies, social justice, early childhood, artivism and empowering marginalised communities, particularly Muslim women. She is the Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of FemAsia Magazine, a nonprofit online quarterly publication shortlisted for the Asian Media Awards 2022.

Shameela is currently studying for her PhD in Media Studies at BCU. She believes teaching is learning and co-creating knowledge. By fostering an environment that encourages participation and creativity, Shameela loves to experiment with new tools and techniques in teaching.

As Nsikan advanced through her studies, earning both a BSc in Accounting and an MSc in International Business, she found herself increasingly drawn to research. This passion led her to pursue a Business PhD at Birmingham City University, where she has been supported by a vibrant academic community and inspired to explore her interests in human behaviour and its impact on organisational performance.

Farzad is a doctoral researcher at Birmingham City University exploring inclusive design through extended reality (XR) in Places of exchange. His personal experiences as an individual with ADHD and dyslexia have deeply informed his passion for creating accessible, user-centred environments. With a background in architecture and user-centred design, Farzad is dedicated to breaking down barriers that minoritised communities face, mainly through sensory-friendly and inclusive XR experiences, such as pet therapy for children with autism in collaboration with NHS. Joining the That's Me! The project resonates with Farzad's commitment to promoting equity and diversity, allowing him to collaborate in shaping more inclusive postgraduate research journeys for underrepresented and neurodiverse students in higher education.

Passionate about entrepreneurism, and a firm believer in its power to bring about a fair and equitable society, Dennis has worked to deliver entrepreneurship projects for the Government of Uganda, the UN and various other entities. He has recently graduated with his PhD in Business at Birmingham City University.

If you would like to find out more about our work, please contact Project Leads Oliver.Carter@bcu.ac.uk and Sarah.Cooper@bcu.ac.uk.