Becky Higgins
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
PhD Student
+44 114 2XX XXXX
Full contact details
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
The Wave
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield
S10 2AH
- Profile
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I am an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in visual arts, the humanities, and sociology. I joined the School in 2023 as a 1+3 ESRC funded PhD student, and am currently a PhD candidate in Sociological Studies. Before returning to education, I worked as a trained advocate for 10 years, in the areas of NHS health complaints, LGBTQ+ anti-violence, and supporting families traumatically bereaved by the state. I am an advocate for by and for approaches. My research interests range from topics such as loss and grief, to working with intimate others in the research process.
- Qualifications
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BA(Hons) Fine Art, Wimbledon College of Art, University of Arts London (Upper Second Class) (2008-11)
MA Visual Sociology, Goldsmiths College, University of London (Distinction) (2018-19)
MA Medical Humanities: Bodies, Cultures and Ideas, Birkbeck College, University of London (Distinction) (2022-23)
MA Social Research, University of Sheffield (as part of 1+3 ESRC funding, Distinction) (2023-24)
- Research interests
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PhD Title: “My coma”: recontextualising coma experiences outside of the hospital
My PhD research will use creative, inventive and visual methods to interrogate how individual reflection upon the 'lost time' of coma unconsciousness can provide vital insight into an extremely under-researched state of being. I will conduct collaborative research with my father, who has experience of coma unconsciousness, that utilises inventive creative methods, specifically the visual essay, to draw together approaches from visual sociology, visual anthropology and the medical humanities to explore the liminal space of coma unconsciousness.
Broadly, my research interests span across topics and methods, including:
- Oral histories
- Visual methods
- Narrative methods
- (Auto)ethnography
- Near-death experiences and prolonged unconsciousness
- Death and dying
- Harm reduction
- Research group
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Dr Matthias Benzer (supervisor)
Dr Will Mason (supervisor)
- Grants
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1+ ESRC funded PhD Scholar, University of Sheffield (2023-28)
Wellcome Trust scholarship (fees and stipend) for MA in Medical Humanities: Bodies, Cultures and Ideas, Birkbeck College, University of London (2022-23)