We are delighted to introduce our SMaRteN Student Research Team for 2020/21...
After being overwhelmed with the number of applications, we have selected a new group of 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students to represent the student voice as part of our Network. The Student Team form an integral part of SMaRteN, be it through assisting with research or conference planning, helping to award funding or providing a student perspective on mental health research. We can't wait to begin working with the new recruits - welcome to SMaRteN!
Click here to read about our Student Team for 2019/20.
After being overwhelmed with the number of applications, we have selected a new group of 11 undergraduate and postgraduate students to represent the student voice as part of our Network. The Student Team form an integral part of SMaRteN, be it through assisting with research or conference planning, helping to award funding or providing a student perspective on mental health research. We can't wait to begin working with the new recruits - welcome to SMaRteN!
Click here to read about our Student Team for 2019/20.
Get to know the Student Team
Our student team are at the heart of SMaRteN's activities. They plan conferences, award funding, conduct research and, most importantly, they're on an ongoing mission to uncover the questions that students want this country's researchers to answer when it comes to student mental health.
Read more about each member of our dedicated and ambitious team below.
Our student team are at the heart of SMaRteN's activities. They plan conferences, award funding, conduct research and, most importantly, they're on an ongoing mission to uncover the questions that students want this country's researchers to answer when it comes to student mental health.
Read more about each member of our dedicated and ambitious team below.
Yasmin Rahman
I have a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Warwick Medical School. I am passionate about improving the mental wellbeing of young people and have researched the mental health of students in Higher Education, focusing on BAME students. I have helped to create an online resource library at the University of Warwick for staff and students to implement wellbeing in the teaching and learning environment. I am excited to be joining the SMaRteN Student Research Team due to SMaRteN’s focus on institutional and social factors that cause mental health issues, as prevention is paramount to preventing the growing mental health issue among the student population.
I have a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Warwick Medical School. I am passionate about improving the mental wellbeing of young people and have researched the mental health of students in Higher Education, focusing on BAME students. I have helped to create an online resource library at the University of Warwick for staff and students to implement wellbeing in the teaching and learning environment. I am excited to be joining the SMaRteN Student Research Team due to SMaRteN’s focus on institutional and social factors that cause mental health issues, as prevention is paramount to preventing the growing mental health issue among the student population.
Julia Alsop
Hi, I’m Julia and I’m currently studying graduate entry medicine at Warwick, having studied a previous degree in Music in the University of Oxford. I first became interested in student mental health after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have subsequently been widely involved in mental health, disability, and LGBTQ+ education and campaigning. I am currently on the Student Advisory Committee for Student Minds, and was previously the Editor for their blog. Within mental health, I have a particular interest in the mental health of healthcare students, as well as student experiences of particularly stigmatised mental health experiences (such as psychosis/mania).
Twitter: @juliaisobela
Instagram: @juliathemedic
Hi, I’m Julia and I’m currently studying graduate entry medicine at Warwick, having studied a previous degree in Music in the University of Oxford. I first became interested in student mental health after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have subsequently been widely involved in mental health, disability, and LGBTQ+ education and campaigning. I am currently on the Student Advisory Committee for Student Minds, and was previously the Editor for their blog. Within mental health, I have a particular interest in the mental health of healthcare students, as well as student experiences of particularly stigmatised mental health experiences (such as psychosis/mania).
Twitter: @juliaisobela
Instagram: @juliathemedic
Lauren Charters
Hello! I’m Lauren (she/her) and I am a second year undergraduate studying Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. I think that this pandemic has caused a mental health crisis, particularly among University students, so now is an important time more than ever to research mental health and its interventions. I feel very proud to be part of initiatives like SMaRteN that aim to help students during this time and hope to be able to make a difference. In particular, I am looking forward to getting involved in investigating the impact of mental health problems and ensuring that the outputs of research reaches those who benefit from it. In my free time, I enjoy going on walks and playing video games.
Sarah Anderson
Hello, I'm Sarah and I study Social Work at UWS in Paisley, Scotland. I'm really happy to be part of this team and hope to use my experience of mental health both as an individual who is in the process of mental health recovery and as someone who is working in the field. I have CPTSD as a result of a battle with physical illness and have been battling for 4 years now, although am definitely much better after working through therapy, so I do understand the ways in which mental health can impact. I also am a mental health listener, from before being unwell, am a qualified counsellor and training to be a social worker so will be working with mental health in a professional capacity. I'm really looking forward to being part of this team to hopefully help with the ways in which mental health is acted on at university but also viewed and to destigmatise.
Instagram: @glasgoweatreads
Hello, I'm Sarah and I study Social Work at UWS in Paisley, Scotland. I'm really happy to be part of this team and hope to use my experience of mental health both as an individual who is in the process of mental health recovery and as someone who is working in the field. I have CPTSD as a result of a battle with physical illness and have been battling for 4 years now, although am definitely much better after working through therapy, so I do understand the ways in which mental health can impact. I also am a mental health listener, from before being unwell, am a qualified counsellor and training to be a social worker so will be working with mental health in a professional capacity. I'm really looking forward to being part of this team to hopefully help with the ways in which mental health is acted on at university but also viewed and to destigmatise.
Instagram: @glasgoweatreads
Becky Petley
I'm Becky and I am a second year PhD student researching interventions to improve student nurse wellbeing. I am passionate about supporting people with their wellbeing, with both personal and professional experience teaching me that a multi-faceted, holistic approach is often needed. With prior experience of patient and public involvement, I am very aware of how important it is to ensure those research is aimed at are consulted throughout the process in order to both utilise their expertise and ensure their needs are being met. I have a particular interest in ensuring all voices get heard, including those who may be harder to reach. I am excited to work with Smarten and hope to collaborate with a range of people from all different backgrounds in order to contribute to improving student mental health.
I'm Becky and I am a second year PhD student researching interventions to improve student nurse wellbeing. I am passionate about supporting people with their wellbeing, with both personal and professional experience teaching me that a multi-faceted, holistic approach is often needed. With prior experience of patient and public involvement, I am very aware of how important it is to ensure those research is aimed at are consulted throughout the process in order to both utilise their expertise and ensure their needs are being met. I have a particular interest in ensuring all voices get heard, including those who may be harder to reach. I am excited to work with Smarten and hope to collaborate with a range of people from all different backgrounds in order to contribute to improving student mental health.
Prahalad Giridhar
Hey, I’m Prahalad Giridhar, a fresher studying biology at the University of Oxford. Having lived in Chennai, India for the past 8 years, and Indonesia before that, my perspective on mental health is deeply rooted in the complex interactions between culture and media. I believe language particularly has the power to propel or sharply inhibit mental health discussion and would like to explore the interactions between language cues, such as microaggressions, and mental health. I’m also incredibly fascinated by the westernization of mental illness (see Crazy Like Us, 2010) and how it may alienate international students in the UK among a myriad of other consequences. I look forward to learning a lot and collaborating with a diverse group of students to voice authentic student concerns and needs in mental health! You can reach me at my Instagram, @giraffegiridhar.
Hey, I’m Prahalad Giridhar, a fresher studying biology at the University of Oxford. Having lived in Chennai, India for the past 8 years, and Indonesia before that, my perspective on mental health is deeply rooted in the complex interactions between culture and media. I believe language particularly has the power to propel or sharply inhibit mental health discussion and would like to explore the interactions between language cues, such as microaggressions, and mental health. I’m also incredibly fascinated by the westernization of mental illness (see Crazy Like Us, 2010) and how it may alienate international students in the UK among a myriad of other consequences. I look forward to learning a lot and collaborating with a diverse group of students to voice authentic student concerns and needs in mental health! You can reach me at my Instagram, @giraffegiridhar.
Ayowie Aimiuwu
Hi, I’m Ayowie and I’m a second year medical student at Keele University. As students, we are balancing our academic and personal lives against a backdrop of a global pandemic. We have entered an era where the importance of student mental health has become even more magnified than ever before. Being a member of the Student Research Team, I look forward to working with other students across the country with a common goal to bring awareness and to destigmatise an issue which I feel passionately about.
Adam Muncaster
Hi! My name is Adam, I am a first year student studying Applied Psychology at the University of Cumbria, and I am also a part-time Gym Instructor. Working with people in the gym inspired me to study psychology, as I saw first hand the range of mental health problems people experienced. I believe now more than ever mental health has a massive impact on student's lives, especially with the current pandemic. I hope this research will have a positive impact across the country from London to my small town of Whitehaven.
Hi! My name is Adam, I am a first year student studying Applied Psychology at the University of Cumbria, and I am also a part-time Gym Instructor. Working with people in the gym inspired me to study psychology, as I saw first hand the range of mental health problems people experienced. I believe now more than ever mental health has a massive impact on student's lives, especially with the current pandemic. I hope this research will have a positive impact across the country from London to my small town of Whitehaven.
Marc Devanny
Hi, my name is Marc, I am studying undergraduate Combined STEM through the OU with my module choices to focus on human biology and mental health. I am a qualified nurse but not working currently due to my own ‘breakdown’ and subsequent diagnosis with Schizo-affective disorder meaning I let my PIN go during a rough patch. I am really excited by the opportunity with SMaRteN to use the experience of having previously gone through University undiagnosed, combined with the new knowledge of the diagnosis to provide some insights or a different perspective. Which will hopefully make it easier for others with lifelong mental illness to not feel it is a barrier to further education.
Hi, my name is Marc, I am studying undergraduate Combined STEM through the OU with my module choices to focus on human biology and mental health. I am a qualified nurse but not working currently due to my own ‘breakdown’ and subsequent diagnosis with Schizo-affective disorder meaning I let my PIN go during a rough patch. I am really excited by the opportunity with SMaRteN to use the experience of having previously gone through University undiagnosed, combined with the new knowledge of the diagnosis to provide some insights or a different perspective. Which will hopefully make it easier for others with lifelong mental illness to not feel it is a barrier to further education.
Jelena Milicev
I studied Serbian and English Literature in my twenties and thirties respectively, and embarked on a degree in Psychology at the University of Glasgow just before my fortieth birthday. As one of the very few mature students in my group, I lacked the sense of belonging, which often exacerbated the stress and anxiety of studying on a highly competitive course. My lived experiences underpin my passion for research into student mental health and inspire my PhD project at the University of Glasgow, looking into the role of social support in the mental health and wellbeing of PhD students. Student mental health is a complex issue that needs to be explored from multiple perspectives, most importantly from the student one, which is why being part of the SMaRTeN Student research team is such an exciting and rewarding experience.
I studied Serbian and English Literature in my twenties and thirties respectively, and embarked on a degree in Psychology at the University of Glasgow just before my fortieth birthday. As one of the very few mature students in my group, I lacked the sense of belonging, which often exacerbated the stress and anxiety of studying on a highly competitive course. My lived experiences underpin my passion for research into student mental health and inspire my PhD project at the University of Glasgow, looking into the role of social support in the mental health and wellbeing of PhD students. Student mental health is a complex issue that needs to be explored from multiple perspectives, most importantly from the student one, which is why being part of the SMaRTeN Student research team is such an exciting and rewarding experience.
Katie Ní Chléire
Hey! I'm Katie. I'm the President of Queen's Students' Union in Belfast, and I recently graduated from Queen's University with a degree in Social Work. I have been passionate about mental health since I was 15, when I ran my first mental health campaign. Since then, I've been involved in many other campaigns and lobbying efforts, particularly around student mental health. Most of my job in Queen's Students' Union centres around student mental health and wellbeing. I also live with depression & anxiety. I have professional and personal experience working on student mental health, and I'm absolutely delighted to be on the Student Research Team, and I'm excited to continuing working for the improvement of student mental health!
Hey! I'm Katie. I'm the President of Queen's Students' Union in Belfast, and I recently graduated from Queen's University with a degree in Social Work. I have been passionate about mental health since I was 15, when I ran my first mental health campaign. Since then, I've been involved in many other campaigns and lobbying efforts, particularly around student mental health. Most of my job in Queen's Students' Union centres around student mental health and wellbeing. I also live with depression & anxiety. I have professional and personal experience working on student mental health, and I'm absolutely delighted to be on the Student Research Team, and I'm excited to continuing working for the improvement of student mental health!