The Graduate Junction Team
Graduate Junction was co-founded by Daniel and Esther in May 2008 and they continue to keep Graduate Junction online without any external support or funding.
They are very grateful for the help and support they've had along the way. Learn more about the others who have been involved and gave up their time, alongside their own studies, to develop Graduate Junction by clicking the links below:
Founders
Volunteers
Daniel Colegate - Co-founder
As a PhD student it is so easy to become isolated within your research project, despite the fact that there are probably many other researchers working on very similar projects. I had one particular experience at a conference in Sweden in 2007 when I met dozens of other PhD researchers working in my area. It was a really invigorating feeling and generated new directions in my work. When Esther suggested a website to find like-minded researchers I thought it was such a fantastic idea that it must already exist, but I couldn't find one. That's when we started working on Graduate Junction. We are grateful to so many of our peers who have encouraged us and helped us to continue drive Graduate Junction forward. If anyone has any suggestions we are always very grateful for any input on how we can improve and best serve our community. Alongside my own research, I am passionate about continually developing Graduate Junction, striving towards a united global graduate research community.
Esther Dingley - Co-founder
Having a background in Economics and then undertaking a Masters in Research Methods within Education, I realised how much overlap there was between different subject areas which many researchers never investigate. My vision is that Graduate Junction will provide an international multi-disciplinary environment so that graduate researchers have the opportunity to meet and discuss their research interests with others. Additionally, I believe that postgraduates have a very valuable skill set and that their talent should be showcased to businesses and industry. I would like to say a big thank you to Dan who has done an incredible job learning to and then coding up this website. I’m also really grateful to those who support the fundamental aims driving this website forward and who are helping spread the news about Graduate Junction across the world.
Thank You to....
Graduate Junction would also like to give special thank you to the following people who have helped Graduate Junction over the past two years.
Dr. Eleanor Loughlin and the Graduate School at Durham University for their continued advice and support. Merlyn Holmes at the University of Colorado at Boulder, who took an initial interest in Graduate Junction, for all her input and advice from a Publications and Web Co-ordinator’s perspective.
Graduate Junction also benefitted greatly from the help and dedication from a number of researchers who gave up their time to help raise awareness and grow the community because they shared the vision of a global graduate community. Some of these individuals have written a short testimonial below.
Sophie Tindale
Durham University
My initial draw to the opportunity of working with the Graduate Junction team was the simplicity of the idea and the success it has gained as a well focused and valuable platform and resource for researchers. I have since discovered that alongside this, it is the international reach of the community across all disciplines that makes the network so unique. I have enjoyed being a part of the hardworking and dedicated team that created the network and am excited to be involved in new projects that contribute towards the expansion of a great initiative. I hope that Graduate Junction continues to grow successfully as a resource and a community.
Charlotte Armstrong
Durham University
After graduating this summer with a BA Hons Business Degree from Durham University, I was very keen to get experience of working in a young, driven entrepreneurial environment. I was really impressed by the Graduate Junction website, its purpose and values and most importantly Esther and Dan’s vision of a global and interdisciplinary research community. From my own experience of completing my dissertation, I understand the potential benefits of being able to connect with other researchers with similar research interests outside your department and institution. I was also impressed by a lot of Graduate Junction’s other features including the resources section, conference listings, blogs and the advice forum. I also believe that the Innovation Exchange will provide graduate researchers with a brilliant opportunity to showcase their skills to industry. I am enjoying being part of a great team at what are very exciting times for Graduate Junction.
Alex Payne-Dwyer
Durham University
One may think of the Graduate Junction as both map and ferry in the great ocean of researchers; it gives direction and power to those keen to explore others, and the world around us, in the pinnacle of intellectual settings. In the face of such bewilderingly ambitious potential and demand, it is necessary to engineer new partnerships and encourage growth. I enjoy these projects which allow me freedom to think in depth about how to embody the site's admirable values.
Although technically an undergraduate when I chose to join the Graduate Junction, my experience ranging from almost-meditative Master's research in the chemical lab to outreach as a STEM Ambassador has given me some grounding in the world of advanced study and its communication to others. As our patrons and pioneers I commend you, and in the spirit of Graduate Junction, anyone interested in plasma technology is most welcome to drop me a line!
Alistair Brown - Graduate Journals
Durham University
My interest in postgraduate journals stems from my work as a co-founding editor of the interdisciplinary journal, (Kaleidoscope). I also have a more general interest in the use of the web for dissemination of research between the sciences and humanities, and to a wider public audience. The Graduate Junction provides a potentially excellent model in this area. My personal blog, which focuses on these issues, can be found at here
James Dean Shepherd - Technical Development
St. Andrews University
As an undergraduate Computer Scientist about to enter into Honours, I was really happy to be given the opportunity to work on Graduate Junction as a technical intern over the summer. Not only would it provide me with valuable experience, but internet development is something I enjoy and am currently hoping to make a career out of. The concept behind the website is brilliant, and I’ve no doubt that with Esther and Dan’s continued hard work and the support of the team it has a great future ahead of it. I am enjoying working as part of the team, especially in this exciting time of new developments for Graduate Junction. Working on the website has also given me the chance to learn Ruby on Rails, a brilliant web framework that I’ll no doubt be using in the future.
Candice Kay Lee
Oxford University
Graduate Junction appeals to a diverse group of users on several different levels. For me, the initial appeal, I’m a bit hesitant to say, was a rather grand one regarding its global vision for bringing together research students from around the world in a single, shared space. My own doctoral research working with North Korean defectors in South Korea has benefited greatly from cross-border knowledge exchanges, as scattered as they were – China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia and North Korea - lending themselves so generously to enhancing my own study. This passion for cross-border awareness and understanding of other research perspectives is the same passion I bring with me to Graduate Junction. By generating ideas to ensure that new forms of academic interaction breed even newer forms of dialogue and collaboration across and within societies, it is my hope that the user’s needs are uniquely met and that research possibilities move beyond traditional and marked disciplines and boundaries.
Heather Hund
Oxford University
After studying Finance, French, and Art History in undergraduate, my passion for Art History led me to pursue a Master’s at Oxford University, where I was delighted to discover that my research of art led to my immersion in diverse subjects, including science, history, and even equine studies. Through my research and discussions with others, I realized not only how much overlap exists between subjects but also how few resources existed for students to connect with other researchers beyond their academic communities. I strongly believe in the possibilities provided by the Graduate Junction, which not only enhances your research experience by enabling you to build an academic network and to find international opportunities to share your research but also provides the possibility of collaboration with other members in cross-border projects. I am encouraged by the continued growth of the Graduate Junction, and I want to welcome you to this unique international community.
George Wang
Durham University
As a PhD student in Finance from the University of Durham, I strongly believe the extraordinary and persistent value The Graduate Junction will bring to the international research community. I will use it as an important part of my common research life. I hope you also find it useful and enjoy using it.
Umer Rattu
Durham University
Graduate Junction is a right place for researchers in finding information about their research interests which will definitely help them in completing their research projects. The best thing about Graduate Junction is that it is being run by research students for the benefit of researchers without any commercial motive. Let me have the opportunity to say thanks to the initiators for providing us such a platform like the Graduate Junction.
