Meet the team

Alice is currently in her first year of a fully-funded PhD at the University of Stirling, where she works in partnership with Publishing Scotland and HarperCollins to research the last five decades of Scottish publishing. She graduated with an MSc in Publishing from Edinburgh Napier University and a BA in English Language and Literature (with Academic Writing) from Queen’s University (Canada). She volunteers for the Society of Young Publishers as Communications Officer, writes book reviews for literary magazine Pendora, and does freelance marketing design for publishing. Twitter: @AlicePiotrowska

Bissie is a PhD Researcher in Digital Media and Journalism, funded by a Scottish Graduate School of Social Science interdisciplinary award. Her PhD examines how meaning is (co-)constructed in interactive forms of digital storytelling and the wider social implications of new forms of audience engagement in journalism. A former journalist and digital communications professional, she has a BA and MA in English, an MLitt in Journalism, and an MRes in Media Research. She is co-organiser of the Scotland chapter of Hacks/Hackers, which seeks to bridge the gap between journalism and technology through meetups, workshops and hackathons, aiming to improve how we tell stories online and how audiences interact with them. Twitter: @HacksHackersSco.​

Víctor is currently studying the MLitt in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Stirling. In 2018 he finished his undergraduate studies in English and he took part in the 28th Colloquium on Generative Grammar at his former university, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona (Spain). His dissertation explored learning L2 pragmatics explicitly and implicitly. He is interested in cross-linguistic features that influence the acquisition of a second language and he teaches Spanish in Stirling.

Morven is a PhD Researcher funded by the Scottish Graduate School for Arts & Humanities and the Arts & Humanities Research Council’s Doctorate Training Partnership. Her PhD studies examine how authenticity is negotiated in 21^st Century book publishing. She has an MLitt in Publishing Studies. A former associate director of a media advertising agency, Morven has 30 years + experience in the marketing industry and continues to work as a freelance consultant in media and marketing fields. She is a board member with the volunteer-run Tidelines Book Festival in Ayrshire. Twitter: @Morv60

Hannah is a first-year PhD researcher at the University of Stirling. Her research aims to examine the methods and publishing practices of independent publishers to close the diversity gap within UK publishing. The diversity focus includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, region, and class. Prior to beginning her studies at Stirling, Hannah was a career writer and editor in Texas. She has worked on various publications from children’s books to award-winning magazines. She continues to work as a freelance writer and editor. Twitter: @thehfields

Grant is a full-time MRes Humanities student with a background in public affairs, lobbying, public relations, political campaigns and social enterprise. Grant’s research interests are focused on lobbying and public affairs practice, regulation, professional education and networks. Currently exploring the potential of social network analysis in investigating lobbying networks. Professionally, he is a Chartered Public Relations Practitioner and currently the independent Chair of the Remuneration Committee for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. Previously he has been Treasurer of the CIPR Scotland Group, Member of CIPR Council, Hon Treasurer and Board Member of CIPR. 

Helen is currently studying the Mlitt in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Stirling. She graduated with a BA degree in Greek Language and Literature with a specialization in linguistics, from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens(EKPA). Her research interests lie in the  area of cognitive linguistics, particularly focused on the relationship between CMT theory and cognitive processing.

Rowan is currently studying for an MSc in International Conflict and Cooperation at the University of Stirling. Rowan graduated with a BA Honours in History and Politics in 2018, completing her dissertation on the UN Security Council’s ability to protect human rights. Her interests lie in human rights and international conflict resolution. She is currently writing her MSc thesis on the ethics of humanitarian interventions during Tony Blair’s premiership. Rowan also volunteers for the Red Cross in Edinburgh and works as Vice-President for the university’s Red Cross Society. Rowan is enthusiastic to see papers which discuss disruption in history, politics and international relations.