Sanchika Campbell

Can you tell us about your PhD?

My PhD is looking at how people cope through religion and spirituality and how it affects their mental health and help-seeking. The project was focused on members from Black Majority Churches in South East London.

I used both qualitative and quantitative methods. I worked with members from the community who were directly concerned by the research; people who identify as being Christian, from Black racially minoritised backgrounds and who had some experience of mental health or mental illness. This is known as a participatory research approach.

How did you choose your PhD?

I had been working in acute and forensic psychiatric units in the NHS when I decided I wanted to shift into research.

In applying for research roles, I came across the Health Inequalities Research Network (HERON), based at King’s. They had a lot of community engagement going on, and I thought it sounded so meaningful. I had lived in South East London for a long time, and I was drawn towards initiatives that challenged inequality. So, I started a Research Assistant role for the South East London Community Health study (SELCoH), helping to recruit study participants.

I always wanted to work with people who would be directly impacted by the research project, I feel their voice has to be central to any study. I also knew I wanted to work on health inequalities, and I wanted to develop my PhD proposal to include participatory research.

I met my PhD supervisor while I was working as a Research Assistant for SELCoH, and I was inspired to do a PhD with her. My PhD didn’t happen right away, I spent time putting the idea together after doing a master's, and then applied for funding twice. In the meantime, I had a baby and worked as a research assistant. So, it took about three years for me to actually start applying for a studentship.

Why did you choose King’s for your PhD?

I did my undergraduate degree at another London university, but I chose King’s because there was a collaborative research atmosphere here. So, I wanted to stay.

My Health Inequalities Research Group (HIRG) colleagues were happy to share their expertise and were very encouraging. There is an emphasis on inclusivity and sharing knowledge.

Can you tell us what you have learnt about public involvement in research through your PhD?

Research shouldn’t just take, it should give back to the individuals and communities who take part. I have always been a strong advocate for reciprocity, and this is something my supervisor has cemented and pushed for during my PhD. Giving back can include sending participants an update on the outcomes of the research, or a newsletter through the research process, to providing job references, and opportunities to engage in sharing findings and developing their networks.

I am currently preparing an infographic summary of the research findings to share with those who took part and circulate the findings locally. I used this approach to keep participants updated mid-way through my project, in 2022, when I sent out a booklet with our emerging findings to participants.

Did your experience as a Research Assistant help shape your PhD?

The Research Assistant role was really helpful to give me a taste of research and help me transition to a doctorate.

When I first started as a Research Assistant, I felt like I was jumping into the deep end. I had to learn really quickly. Our team had protocols for everything, and I had to be incredibly organised. The role really taught me project management skills. A PhD is never easy, but having these tools and the experience has helped.

During my Research Assistant role, I also met my future PhD supervisor. She asked me what I wanted to do in the longer term, and whether I would consider a PhD. When I said I would, she recommended doing a master’s first. During that time, I took another Research Assistant job and kept in touch with my supervisor. Later, I put together the PhD proposal with her support and guidance from colleagues, and applied for LISS-DTP funding.

What have been the best things about your PhD?

As an early career researcher in the centre, I had access to lots of training, support and other opportunities, and I recently received a bridging fund to work on a publication for my PhD, after submitting my thesis.

What stage are you at in your PhD?

I submitted my thesis in June and I have just passed my viva. It felt transformational to hand in my thesis, and achieve that, and a next level feeling of relief and joy after passing my viva with minor corrections.

How did you go about co-producing your research?

I was a bit worried about how we would engage with more insular organisations such as churches because there has been a lot of historic mistrust between institutions of power such as universities and community organisations.

To start with, I created a clear recruitment leaflet to recruit three co-researchers. Then I contacted various local grassroot organisations like Black Thrive that were already working on challenging health inequalities for Black and other racially minoritised groups. This was also the time that the Black Lives Matter movement was resurfacing. So, there were a lot of anti-racism workshops which I engaged with, and I approached some of these organisations to circulate the recruitment leaflet and an interest form.

When people got in touch and sent across the role interest form, I met them and spoke to them informally as a chance to get to know each other. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a formal interview, just a chance to connect and to understand what the project could mean to those interested. It was about building a connection.

How easy was it to form a connection with the people you were working with?

Well, I'm Christian myself, and that created a level of connection and understanding. Because of the pandemic, all our meetings were online, so it was amazing when we finally got to meet in person at an engagement event we co-facilitated. It felt so natural as if we had always known each other. Just before our event, we joined hands and prayed together. It felt quite radical and special to bring that sort of community bonding and allow an expression of authentic individual identity in an academic space.

Can you tell us how you found support and community at King’s?

I have had so many informal mentors who have been incredibly kind and generous – I have never been short of people who were happy to help. I try to do the same for others, to pay it forward.

I also went to an anti-racism book group which started in autumn 2020 by a friend and colleague. I developed some close friendships through that space. There were a lot of deeper connections formed by sharing our personal experiences with other peers in the HIRG. We continue to support each other now and celebrate our challenges and successes together – we shared the PhD journey and navigated the hurdles together.

Did you attend any training during your PhD?

Yes, I attended lots of courses, from skills relevant to my research, such as quantitative and qualitative methods, to some more unique ones like 'Drawing for Scholars' which brought a new, creative element to the research.

Another brilliant one was run by Adrian Blau, about how to write concisely. It changes the way you write about science. Now I always think about how I can shorten my sentences and keep my writing simple. The doctoral training opportunities were good.

Who else supported you during your PhD?

I got crucial support from my two supervisors. I started my PhD when my son was just over one year old, then lockdown happened almost straight away and I had had to navigate childcare and a PhD at home.

In my second year, I had a lot of personal life events couple with the impact of the pandemic, and it was a lot to cope with. My supervisors encouraged me to take some time off for my health and wellbeing. They could see the toll it had taken on me in a way I couldn’t see. It meant a lot to have supervisors show such care, both for my doctoral journey but also my wellbeing.

I was due to submit my PhD last year. But I was pregnant and wasn’t able to submit before I had my baby. My supervisors supported me work around that too. They are aware that people have lives outside of PhDs and academia.

Would you recommend a PhD to other parents?

I always say that if you get an opportunity, you should take it. Being from a racially minoritised, migrant background, I was taught to believe education can offer you keys to a different life which can challenge some of the inequalities we face.

My advice to parents of young children taking on a PhD is to think carefully about the support structures around you, and the level of financial stability you have. Because even a funded PhD doesn’t pay that much if you are living in London with children. And I found PhDs are rarely completed within three years of funding, they are usually four years when you factor in writing.

I would work late at night after my kids go to bed, but this negatively affected my health.

So, there is that tough balance to get right of making sure you can look after yourself, can look after your children and do what you need to at home as well as meet the PhD deadlines.

What are your top tips for parents doing a PhD?

I think that it is important to work with your supervisors and your departments to get the flexibility you need to balance home and work responsibilities.

Mixing up where you work can also be helpful. Working from home can save time on commuting, but I also found going into the office and having a change of scene was helpful.

Who inspired you to do a PhD apart from your supervisor?

My Mum as a working-class single parent poured so much into us to give us her quality of time and encourage us in our education. When we immigrated to the UK, she initially worked night shifts and she would come back home, take us to school, pick us up, and go back to work. So, for me a massive part of the PhD is a thank you to her - it is because of her.

What would you like to do after your PhD?

My passion is in co-production and participatory research, and I am looking at such roles after my PhD. 

I have a couple more months left in my research assistant role now, and I am starting to look for my next role.

Any final reflections on doing a PhD?

Doing a PhD is the one of the rare times you will get to manage yourself. In almost every other role you have a manager, but in a PhD you have supervisors guiding you, so you have autonomy and get to be creative with your methodologies and work. You have so many opportunities to learn and develop new skills. You can think about what motivates you most and how you can do work that feels fulfilling.

I also think it is important to take stock regularly during your PhD. Having time to reflect and look back will help you spot milestones to celebrate, remind you how far you have come, and notice all the things you have learnt and achieved.