Experiences navigating doctoral education and motherhood
This #PhDMums study is a research project led by Dr Shannon Mason, Assistant Professor at Nagasaki University and Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University. The study aims to gather and better understand the lived experiences of doctoral candidates who are also mothers and carers of children, in order to:
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FIRST PAPER HAS BEEN PUBLISHED
How motherhood enhances and strains doctoral research/ers has been published in the Journal of Further and Higher Education.
We received survey responses from 1,323 past and present doctoral mothers from 112 countries across the world. This article focuses on the challenges and opportunities of doctoral studies for mothers and can be accessed here or via ResearchGate if you don't have an institutional subscription.
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Learn About the Researchers
Dr Shannon Mason
Shannon is an Assistant Professor at Nagasaki University in Japan, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University, Australia. She completed her doctoral studies, while also caring for her two children, both of whom were born during her candidature. |
Dr Melissa Bond
Melissa is a Research Fellow and EPPI-Reviewer Support Officer at University College London in the United Kingdom, and is a mum to a 10 year old and step-mum to two teenagers. She is a former high school teacher and recently defended her PhD in educational technology and student engagement. |
Professor Susan Ledger
Susan is the Head of School and Dean of Education at the College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle. Susan recognises the power of education to transform lives. Her PhD was completed in the middle of West Papua whilst juggling a new baby and international school teaching role. |