In this interview, we dive into the experiences of Anna Mammitzsch, a PhD student specializing in German Sociolinguistics, sharing her journey through the Research School and the invaluable insights she has gained along the way.
 

Anna Mammitzsch. Photo: Maria Moreno Rivas

Anna, could you tell us about your research subject?

Certainly! My research focuses on German migrants in Stockholm, specifically those who arrived as adults, investigating their storytelling about how they navigate their everyday lives in a foreign land, how they learn Swedish, and how they integrate into Swedish society. It's fascinating to delve into the complexities of identity and belonging and adapting to two distinct cultures, especially when you've spent 20–25 years in one culture.

That sounds like a unique and compelling area of research. What has your journey in the Doctoral School been like?

My experience in the Doctoral School has been truly transformative. I'm currently in my last year as a PhD student, and the Doctoral school has shown me places and perspectives that have been pivotal to my research. The community here is highly educated, and I've had the privilege to engage with people from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for research.
 

Can you tell us about the courses you've taken at the Doctoral School?

The Doctoral School offers courses that both teach interdisciplinary approaches to theory and method in the humanities, as well as gives practical courses where you can learn how to write for English publications, get to know how open science works and how to manage data for example. So the course offer varies and is targeted to current academic trends. Starting as a PhD student in a smaller subject area my professional development and research benefited greatly from the exchange across departments and subject areas to strengthen the network. These specialized courses brought people with similar research interests from different departments together, for example from ethnology, anthropology and philosophy. I learned to view my own research from different perspectives, fostering a deeper understanding. I always encourage fellow PhD students to explore the faculty courses. They're a goldmine of knowledge.
 

There are funding opportunities in the Doctoral School. Could you share more about that?

Stockholm University provides numerous scholarships and funding opportunities, which have been essential in my academic journey. With other PhD students, I co-organized a writing retreat this year in May in Sigtuna with funding from the Doctoral School]. It was open to PhD student working on projects regarding language. As a workshop style event, we had focused writing sessions to work on our individual theses and shared ideas how to develop our writing. Furthermore, our invited guest speaker, Professor Mary Jane Curry attended via Zoom and shared valuable insights on how to complete your thesis and things to keep in mind when publishing.
 

What about career development?

Career development is a critical aspect of one's academic journey. The doctoral school offers each term funding for quality assuring activities which can be used to enrich or strengthen the doctoral education and should welcome PhD students from several subject disciplines. Currently, a group of several PhD students from different departments at the Faculty of Humanities organizes a career workshop for all PhD students in humanities with this funding. Our aim is to invite former Stockholm University PhD students who have transitioned into various careers. They will participate in a panel discussion and sharing their firsthand experiences after academia. Some departments lack information about career opportunities, and we want to bridge that gap. Knowing that others have successfully found jobs inside and outside of academia and achieved job security is reassuring.
 

Can you tell us about your experience with conferences and the most valuable lesson you've learned from the Doctoral School?

The Doctoral School program offers PhD students at the Faculty of Humanities to participate in three conferences that target challenges and current issues within different stages of the PhD journey. The conferences cover a range of topics, including the transition from student to PhD student, publishing, audience targeting, supervision, developing your research project and future academic career opportunities. I've attended two of these conferences that the Doctoral School program offers, and it was incredibly enriching. Besides meeting doctoral students from different disciplines, the workshop-style conferences give great insight into the rights and responsibilities of a doctoral student in Sweden.  The faculty also sponsored a trip to Cambridge in 2022 to an interdisciplinary conference with partner universities in the UK, US, Australia and Germany, where we were able to present and discuss our thesis projects across and between disciplines and areas of study. It was a proud moment to be able to represent Stockholm University there and the international and interdisciplinary exchange was inspirational. The most valuable lesson I've learned from the Doctoral School is that getting involved is essential to further your career. Don't hesitate to ask questions and take advantage of the opportunities they offer. Don't remain isolated; reach out and explore. The Faculty of Humanities offers different platforms and working groups for you to voice your opinions and take an active part in creating your career path.
 

Finally, what tips do you have for fellow PhD students considering engaging in the Doctoral School?

My advice is to check what the Doctoral School offers and keep an open horizon. If you can't find the course you want, reach out to the research officer Lars Nordgren, who manages the Doctoral School in the Humanities and see if it can be arranged. Take the courses, embrace the interdisciplinary aspect, and consider writing papers together with fellow students. If you find the website challenging to navigate, don't hesitate to ask your supervisor or study directors for guidance. 

Discover more about the opportunities at the Doctoral School here.