Thea - Leverhulme Early Career Fellow

What tips do you have for PhD students who might be considering doing an Early Career Fellowship?

"My main advice is to make sure your proposal aligns with the strengths and priorities of your host institution. Many fellowship schemes don’t just evaluate individual projects, they also consider how well a project fits within the institution’s research environment.

It’s also crucial to connect with your host institution’s research office early and let them know you’re applying, especially if you’re an international applicant (you don’t want to miss an internal deadline!). Just as important is finding an academic mentor who understands the fellowship landscape and can help you shape your proposal strategically."

Tell us about your research…

"I’m an ancient historian and classicist - my PhD in ancient Greek history focused on Sicilian inscriptions and archaeology, exploring how they shaped social identities in the Archaic and Classical periods.

This research became the foundation for my postdoctoral work on machine learning for ancient written cultures of the Mediterranean."

Why did you choose the University of Nottingham?

"After my PhD, I’d been abroad for three years - two years on a Marie Curie Fellowship in Venice and a CHS fellowship in the US - and I was keen to return to the UK, where I’d done my graduate studies. I really value how UK institutions support interdisciplinary research.

Nottingham had always been on my radar. It’s a leading research-intensive university, and another big factor in my decision was my current mentor here, who has been a huge inspiration to me. Another key reason was the excellent support structure. 

The level of support makes a huge difference - you never feel like you’re navigating the process alone."

What has it been like collaborating with the Department of Classics and
Archaeology?

"The Department of Classics and Archaeology has been incredibly supportive, offering plenty of opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, engage with students, and connect with research clusters. 

The facilities are excellent, and the campus environment makes a real
difference."

How is the teaching side going?

"There’s a lot of support. As a Leverhulme Fellow, there’s a cap on teaching hours, but gaining experience is essential, and it’s been incredibly easy to get involved to convene modules or supervise dissertations. Earlier in the term, I also received great support from colleagues to organise my own masterclass."

What are your ambitions for after your Fellowship?

"I chose Nottingham partly because of its strong support for research fellowships, like the Nottingham Research Fellowship and the UKRI FLF. My department has an ERC winner and several Leverhulme Prize winners, and the research office is also fantastic - they’re incredibly proactive and well-equipped to help with major funding bids, which makes it a great place to plan for the next steps in securing funding."

Anything else to add?

"Beyond the work environment, I’m really enjoying living in Nottingham. There are lots of independent cafes and excellent restaurants, a brilliant indie cinema, and the Theatre Royal gets amazing visiting artists. And the canal cycle paths are such a nice way to get around. Coming from Venice, that definitely mattered to me!

For international applicants, the accessibility to East Midlands, Birmingham, and Manchester airports, as well as direct links to London and beyond, makes a huge difference."