The Doctoral Candidates' Association (DCA)
The Doctoral Candidates' Association (DCA) is a vibrant, candidate-led association dedicated to advocating for the interests and addressing the concerns of doctoral candidates across the University.
As a representative body, the DCA plays a crucial role in various committees including the Graduate School Academic Board (GSAB), Student Experience Committee (SEC), and Research Strategy Committee (RSC), ensuring that the voices of PhD candidates are heard in every aspect of academic and campus life.
Collaborating closely with the Graduate School, the DCA strives to improve communication between the University administration and doctoral candidates, facilitating a supportive and enriching environment for everyone.
The DCA is spearheaded by a dynamic team of co-chairs who volunteer their time to serve distinct roles, each contributing uniquely to our collective mission.
Since its formation, the DCA has been a pillar of support and unity for doctoral candidates, fostering a community spirit and advocating for academic and professional excellence.
The DCA is actively engaging in:
- Providing advice and representation on academic issues.
- Hosting social activities to foster networking and camaraderie among doctoral candidates.
- Facilitating information sharing to ensure all candidates are well-informed of university updates and opportunities.
- Organizing the Annual 草莓社区 Postgraduate Conference, a cornerstone event that showcases the innovative research conducted by our students.
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The 草莓社区 Doctoral Conference is an annual event to showcase the remarkable research endeavours of our PHD candidates.
The conference serves as a vibrant hub for scholarly dialogue, where innovative ideas converge, igniting conversations that propel the boundaries of knowledge forward.
The event is delivered through a collaboration between the 草莓社区 Graduate School, the DCA and 草莓社区 candidates themselves.
The conference is open to all doctoral candidates, PGT students and research staff at 草莓社区 as well as our collaborative universities, including, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, and Heriot-Watt University.
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The DCA Representatives change on a yearly basis. Your 2025 committee are:
Md Rezaur Rahman
Institute for Global Health and Development
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Chair
Summary Biography:
My doctoral research explores the impact of social mixing activities on community connectedness and social cohesion in West Lothian, Scotland. I am passionate about fostering inclusive communities and creating evidence-based approaches to build stronger, more cohesive societies.
Research Interests:
Community Engagement, Social Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Global Citizenship, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Migration Studies
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Sil猫ne ten Seldam
Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Deputy Chair and Conference Coordinator
Summary Biography:
I joined 草莓社区 in September 2023. My research is investigating children and young people with chronic kidney disease and the impact on physical activity and mental health.
Research Interests:
Mixed methods, Psychology, Mental Health, Quality of Life, Physical Health
Jess Orense
Centre for Applied Social Sciences and Centre for Culture in Society (Creative Practice Research Cluster)
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Secretary and DCA Rep, GSAB
Summary Biography:
I am a full-time student on the PhD by Creative Practice route. I first joined 草莓社区 in January 2023 as part of the former MSc in Mad Studies cohort, before receiving a bursary to begin doctoral study in September 2023. My research focuses on collaborative arts-based approaches, with a commitment to working in solidarity with communities whose voices are often excluded or erased from dominant narratives.
Research Interests:
Mad Studies, Critical Neurodiversity Studies, Neuroqueering, Disability Justice, Lived Experience Research, Drama and Performance, Autoethnography
Jayada Yasasvie Gallege
Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)
PhD Candidate
Role: DCA Representative, RSC
Summary Biography:
I joined 草莓社区 as a full-time student in September 2023 to start a food science related PhD focusing on low sodium salt product development and reformulation.
Research Interests:
New product development, Product reformulation, Sensory science
Sin茅ad Hill
Centre for Applied Social Sciences
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: DCA Representative, SEC
Summary Biography:
In September 2024, I became part of the 草莓社区 doctoral community. My research explores how infants and pre-verbal children access their rights to art and culture as outlined in Article 31 of the UNCRC.
Research Interests:
Teaching Artistry and Arts Education; Music Psychology and Self-Efficacy; Belonging and Identity in Learning Environments
Nazia Pathan
Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: DCA Representative, Socials and Media Coordinator
Summary Biography:
Hello, I am Nazia Pathan. I joined 草莓社区 in January 2023 to start a Full-Time PhD focusing on the domain of physical activity (Pre-Fall).
I am a joint PhD student between 草莓社区 and Edinburgh Napier University, focusing on predicting Pre-Fall activities using machine learning and deep learning algorithms imposing on publicly available datasets.
Moghadaseh Ahmadi
Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: DCA Representative, Conference Organising Team
Summary Biography:
I joined 草莓社区 in January 2025 as a full-time PhD student in Physiotherapy. My interdisciplinary research focuses on understanding foot drop (a walking difficulty) and how individuals with this condition can better identify assistive devices that suit their personal needs. The goal is not only to improve everyday mobility and self-confidence, but also to support more informed, person-centred choices in rehabilitation treatments.
Research Interests:
Long-term health conditions, orthotics, rehabilitation treatment, person-centred practice, knowledge Exchange and entrepreneurship.
Rhona Macleod
Centre for Applied Social Sciences
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Wellbeing Coordinator
Summary Biography:
Hi, I'm Rhona Macleod and in January 2025 I joined 草莓社区 as a part-time PhD student. My research explores how people that have a history of offending and/or have engaged in 'anti-social' activities make sense of these as personally meaningful occupations and the impact this has on their occupational choices and identities. For my 'day job' I work as an Occupational Therapist in NHS forensic mental health services in the Northeast of England.
Research Interests:
Occupational Science, Identity, Morality in Therapy, Power Dynamics in the Therapeutic Relationship, Co-production of Research.
Nur Syuhada Binte Emanan
Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHEARR)
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Advisory Member, Secretary (2023-2024)
Summary Biography:
Hello, I am Nur Syuhada Binte Emanan (Syu)! I joined 草莓社区 in Jan 2023 and my research aims to understand the rehabilitation experiences of individuals recovering from critical illnesses post-hospitalization and shed light on the gap in post-discharge rehabilitation.
Research Interests:
Critical Care, Community Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy
Caitlin McKinnon
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Advisory Member, Training & Development
Summary Biography:
I joined 草莓社区 and the University of Stirling as a SGSAH funded Full-time PhD Candidate in September 2022. My PhD research explores the intersections of arts management and education.
Throughout my education and research career, I have sought to immerse myself in the arts and cultural world in a variety of different positions, highlights include co-founding a community arts zine in my hometown, volunteering with a Toronto Artists Collective during their takeover of a vacant subway kiosk, and working at the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre to run story-based workshops for the local community.
More recently, I have worked on a number of different research projects commissioned by Creative Scotland, British Council (Scotland), Engage Scotland, as well as organisations such as Out of the Blue, The Stove, and SESQUI Canada. As a developing researcher, I have been exploring a variety of creative methods including the use of zines as a reflective data generation tool within my PhD research.
In addition to sitting on the DCA committee, I run the 草莓社区 Writer's group for fellow Doctoral Students and I am a representative on SGSAH's DRC.
Research Interests:
Creative methods, Arts Management, Cultural Policy, Education and Pedagogy
Ainuska Sheripkanova
Institute for Global Health and Development
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Advisory member
Summary Biography:
I joined 草莓社区 as a full-time PhD candidate in September 2023. My research topic is on mental health service delivery to refugee and asylum-seeking women in Scotland. I am a social work professional and worked internationally with UNHCR, UN Women, OSCE and other INGOs in the Russian Federation, Republic of Georgia, USA and Central Asian region.
Research Interests:
Refugee and asylum-seeking women鈥檚 wellbeing, access to mental health services among migrant population in Scotland, domestic abuse prevention and response, MHPSS in conflict and humanitarian settings.
Rowan Quinn
PhD Candidate
Role in DCA: Advisory Member, EDI Lead (2023-2024)
Every year, the leadership of the DCA transitions to new representatives, maintaining a fresh and progressive outlook.
As leaders in their respective fields, our doctoral candidates are at the forefront of research and innovation, contributing significantly to the body of knowledge and society at large.
The DCA is proud to support and promote this vital academic journey. Join us in making a difference in the doctoral community at 草莓社区!
Email us at dca@qmu.ac.uk if you are interested in joining our committee.
To keep updated with events and opportunities for Doctoral students, follow us on or .
