Ulster University's Derry~Londonderry campus was the venue for this year’s Festival of PhD Research, held on 4 and 5 June 2025.
The event brought together PhD Researchers from across all campuses for a significant showcase of research excellence and innovation within the University’s doctoral community.
The Festival commenced with a thought-provoking keynote address delivered by Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Innovation Commissioner at Innovation City Belfast. Dr Johnston provided strategic insights into the future of innovation and the pivotal role that research plays in driving economic and societal progress in Northern Ireland.
The two-day programme featured a broad range of activities designed to reflect the diversity and impact of doctoral research at Ulster University. These included oral and poster presentations, practice-based exhibitions, and engagement with academic and professional services staff.
The programme provided researchers with a valuable platform to communicate their work, receive feedback and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
Among the highlights were two popular competitions which returned for 2025:
- Bake Your PhD, where researchers created baked goods that visually represented aspects of their research topics, from conceptual ideas to experimental processes
- A photography competition, showcasing striking visual interpretations of research themes, environments, and fieldwork
In addition, attendees had the opportunity to engage with exhibitors and take part in networking and social events, helping to strengthen connections within Ulster’s vibrant research community.
Lisa Thompson, from the Doctoral College, commented:
“The Festival of PhD Research is a cornerstone of our research culture at Ulster. It highlights not only the intellectual rigour of our doctoral research, but also the creativity and societal relevance of the work being undertaken by our PhD community.”
Congratulations to Our Festival Winners
Best Poster Awards
- Jodie Mills – Inspiring Creativity and Innovation
- Amanda Calderwood – Building the Sustainable World
- James McAllister – Building the Sustainable World
- Mary Dunnion – Challenging Inequality and Division
- Naomi Smyth-Patterson – Challenging Inequality and Division
- Niamh Murphy – Accelerating Data Futures
- Steven Mitchell, Mobashir Fatimah, Aimee Russell, Gillian McNaugher – Transforming Health
Best Practice-Based Poster
- Gail Mahon
Bake Your PhD Competition
- Jamie McNulty – Winner
- Rachel Woodward – Runner Up
- Rachael Wilson – Runner Up
Photography Competition
- Amanda Calderwood – Winner
- Samantha McCombe – Runner Up
- Asif Ali – People’s Choice Award
Festival of PhD Research
