What shapes the doctoral journey?
To mark the inaugural European Doctoral Day (13 May 2026), the Doctoral College invited postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and supervisors from across University of Limerick to reflect together on one question:
What has collectively enhanced your experience of doctoral education at UL?
The resulting photos and reflections reveal a journey that is rarely linear, often marked by stops and starts, uncertainty, and the need to reset direction. Progress emerges not only through milestones, but through experimentation, informal conversations, and moments where challenges are reinterpreted rather than resolved. Across the images and reflections, the role of supervisor is central- not only in guiding research, but in helping to make sense of uncertainty and building confidence as a researcher over time.
PGRs and supervisors also highlight the less visible conditions that sustain progress: time, trust, community and everyday connections over cups of tea or pizza. These factors are not always formally recognised, yet are essential to doctoral success.
These insights matter because they highlight what sustains postgraduate researchers in practice. The Doctoral College will use these reflections to inform its work in strengthening supervision, support structures, and the culture of doctoral education at UL. For those considering a PhD, this exhibition offers an honest glimpse into the journey and the relationships that help make it possible.
Scroll down to see each submission featured in the exhibition.
At the heart of electrospinning
Clotilde Techoueyres, School of Engineering
The image shows the electrospinning machine used to produce PVDF nanofibers during my PhD project. We chose this image because the perspective places the viewer directly within the experimental environment where the materials are formed, highlighting the core technique behind our research.
Electrospinning enabled the transformation of PVDF powder into nanofiber membranes with enhanced piezoelectric properties, which can then be integrated into carbon fibres to create sensing composites for structural health monitoring. Beyond the scientific objective, the machine reflects the collaborative process behind the research.
Optimising the electrospinning parameters required continuous experimentation, discussion, and shared problem-solving between the supervisor and candidate. Through this process, the project evolved from material development to the creation of functional sensing systems for early damage detection with potential applications in wind turbine blades and aircraft structures. This image, therefore, symbolises both the technical innovation and the collaborative learning that shaped my doctoral experience at UL.
Research Supervisors: Associate Professor Anne Beaucamp McLoughlin and Professor Maurice N. Collins
Lady Macbeth
Emma Barrett, School of English, Irish and Communication
We chose this image as a way of thinking about our relationship as scholars and as co-contributors to Emma’s scholarly journey. The artwork is Emma’s own, a portrait of Lady Macbeth, that she gifted to supervisor Carrie at the end of her MA programme.
This journey began at FYP stage. Emma’s interest in gender and early modern drama resulted in a study of Ophelia and female agency in Hamlet; she continued to explore women, witchcraft and the stage for her MA thesis, including a study of Lady Macbeth as a witch.
Now Emma is working on a doctoral project with Carrie Griffin and Sinead McDermott that develops her interest in witch trials, witchcraft literature and representations of women as witches in Jacobean English drama, incorporating gender theory. Overall, this image reflects our relationship as co-supervisors and doctoral candidate, along with the development of our shared research interests, in its encapsulation of our enthusiasm for the representation of women and feminine narratives in early modern culture.
Research Supervisors: Associate Professor Carrie Griffin and Associate Professor Sinead McDermott
Pizza networking
Yue Xu, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
The image captures the delivery of numerous pizzas to a PhD lunch on campus. We chose the picture because pizza has provided informal opportunities to get to know each other and our extended PhD group. Meeting and talking over pizza reduces some of the anxieties experienced in the formal supervisor-supervisee relationship and encourages a space where it is safe to discuss life realities and experiences without being judged.
From the perspective of being an international PhD candidate, the opportunity to spend social time with the supervisor is unexpected. ‘Pizza networking’ provides the time and space for the PhD candidate to learn about the university and university practices by hearing multiple perspectives from peers. From the perspective of the supervisor, the time spent organising such events and attending the same is invaluable in connecting with PhD candidates and learning more about their lives.
Research Supervisor: Professor Ann MacPhail
Living bridges
Nahelli Chavoya, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
During my doctoral journey, I have seen my supervisors' guidance as a gentle sharing of their lives' journeys, wisdom, and generosity. Their journeys reflected the outlines of the path I have been building in my own inquiry: my own bridge to walk this academic journey. I will always see their bridges in mine.
Research Supervisors: Asociate Professor Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain and Associate Professor Óscar Mascareñas
A Journey within The Journey
Rizki Amalia, Department of Work and Employment Studies
No two PhD journeys are the same, but most are stressful especially towards the end. After completing my fieldwork, I returned to Ireland feeling unready for the next stage of writing up results. My supervisors recognised my challenge and discussed realistic milestones for the next phase with me, pointing out that a break can be a good thing.
As a devoted Muslim, I had the opportunity for a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in the middle of my 4th year of PhD (when this photo was taken). My supervisors framed it as part of the research process: a chance to let ideas settle, reflect on my research questions. and breathe before entering the final demanding stage of my research. Their support made it feel legitimate, even necessary, rather than a detour from my work commitments. This spiritual journey provided an emotional reset that positively helped restore my focus.
Research Supervisors: Associate Professor Caroline Murphy and Associate Professor Ann-Marie Creaven
There is nothing that can’t be solved over a cup of tea
Siobhán O’Reilly, School of Allied Health and Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
This image depicts a laptop and a notebook sitting on a table. On the pages of the notebook, there is a to-do list and a stain from a cup of tea. I chose this image as the tea and laptop combination have been a common sight for me over the last three years.
Throughout the duration of my doctoral studies at University of Limerick, the importance of a cup of tea has become apparent. Whether it is during a supervisory meeting, with the public and patient involvement panel, or at the end of an intervention session with participants, the best ideas and conversations happen with tea in hand.
Aside from the warm comfort from the cup, the ritual of pouring, stirring, and drinking helps to slow down the moment and put times of stress into perspective.
Research Supervisors: Professor Amanda Clifford and Associate Professor Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain
Lignin-based fibres as a sustainable precursor for carbon fibres
Jean Rougé, School of Engineering
This image shows the wet-spinning line used in my doctoral research to produce lignin-based fibres as a sustainable precursor for carbon fibres. It represents a typical moment of doctoral life: experimenting, adjusting parameters, and learning directly from the process.
We chose this image because it captures the hands-on nature of the PhD journey and the environment where most of the learning happens. Around this equipment, ideas become experiments, challenges become discussions, and failures often lead to new solutions. The support and guidance from my supervisor during these moments have been essential to transform uncertainty into progress.
More than just a laboratory setup, this space represents collaboration, curiosity and persistence. It reflects how doctoral education is not only about producing results, but about growing as a researcher through shared problem-solving.
Research Supervisors: Professor Maurice N. Collins and Associate Professor Anne Beaucamp McLoughlin
Brewing a doctorate
Xin (Tony) Su, Department of Psychology
This image displays a cup of coffee at the centre of my home office desk, surrounded by different beverages: instant coffee, ground coffee, teas, oat milk, and sugar. The background of the calendar, and research papers and notes on either side, frame the everyday working environment of a doctoral candidate.
The different beverages and ingredients reflect the range of supports and perspectives that sustain the doctoral journey. Just as different beverages suit different moments of the day, research requires different forms of guidance, reflection, and encouragement at different stages of the process.
The candidate, represented by the cup of coffee, and the supervisors, mentors, participants, and colleagues represent the beverages surrounding it. Together, they illustrate how the doctoral process is shaped through collaboration, guidance, and a combination of different contributions over time.
Research Supervisor: Associate Professor Elaine Kinsella
Move forward step-by-step
Lukas Hartz, School of Engineering
During my PhD, I’ve been working on melt spinning lignin fibers. What started as a lab-scale idea took years to scale toward continuous production in our research group. This moment - finally producing fibers - felt like a real milestone.
Research rarely moves in big leaps. It’s small, incremental progress - often two steps forward, one step back. There are countless failures and moments of doubt. What made the difference was having a supervisor who gives honest guidance - encouraging when there’s potential, and realistic when it’s time to rethink.
I chose this picture because it reflects that reality: not a polished success, but a quiet, technical moment at the machine, making things work step by step. This machine is more than a result. It shows that research is never a solo achievement - it’s built on the work of many, with each of us carrying the baton forward.
Research Supervisor: Professor Maurice N. Collins
Support in motion
Eoin Joy, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences
This image captures a shared space where our doctoral work comes to life beyond formal meetings. Every two weeks, we meet for standardised supervisor–student support sessions focused on research guidance and progress. Alongside this, we also schedule two additional meetings each month where we come together for a gym session on campus.
These sessions create an informal environment where conversations about doctoral progress, challenges, and emerging ideas unfold naturally alongside movement. We chose this image because it reflects how support, trust, and dialogue are strengthened through shared physical activity. For us, these moments blur the boundary between supervision and wellbeing, reinforcing doctoral education as a lived, embodied experience.
This approach is especially meaningful given our shared interest in the development of lifelong physical fitness.
Research Supervisor: Associate Professor Brendan O’Keeffe
A Dream Team
Míriam Cano Esteller, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance
My experience has been positively impacted and fundamentally changed by the unconditional support I have received since starting my doctoral journey. Not only by my PhD supervisors, but current and past PhD candidates.
Being able to be heard, understood, supported and encouraged, and having a community around me to lean on, I have found is essential not only to survive your PhD, but to be able to thrive in your academic journey.
I feel extremely grateful to have found such a dream team and encouraging environment to pursue my PhD in, as it is in fact, the hardest thing I have ever done (yet).
Research Supervisor: Professor Hilary Moss
"Our Knowledge and Memory of Us in Good Works”
Aaron Keane, School of English, Irish and Communication
The image shows the culmination of our knowledge and the pursuit of leaving an impact on the world. It is the longevity of this knowledge and pursuit of good work that drive us forward in our lives, in the hopes of passing our knowledge onto those that come after.
In a way, this pursuit of presenting notable works to the next generation is an important aspect of all academic works and doctoral research, with the presented image capturing the evolution of our respective journeys, having influenced one another.
There is a quote that best encompasses this photo: “I wanted to live honourably as long as I lived, and leave behind, for the people who would come after me, the memory of me in good works.” (Alfred the Great).
Research Supervisor: Associate Professor Carrie Griffin
Support- a journey into the unknown
Gerard McDonnell, Department of Work and Employment Studies
The photo’s title is support, suggestive of the multitude of support required and given unconditionally to someone embarking on their PhD journey. The subtitle, a journey into the unknown, is reflective of the leap of faith required given the outcome is unknown and uncertain.
The picture shows the author taking the leap but is clearly supported from behind but it is unclear who is offering the support given it can and does come from many sources, family, friends, supervisors, and the University.
There are other clues in the picture that are suggestive as to where some of the support might come from. There are additional clues that suggest growth as we head through spring and into summer reflective of potential personal growth through the PhD journey.
Research Supervisors: Associate Professor Jean McCarthy and Professor Sarah MacCurtain
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