Janet Kiri PhD, Psychology

PhD student

PhD title: Comorbid depression and alcohol use disorder: join developmental trajectories and risks profiles

For me, this scholarship is not just about increasing diversity within our Faculty – it is about recognising the need for diversity of thought in scientific research.

I started my BSc Psychology degree at Southampton in 2018 and graduated with a First in 2021. Having thoroughly enjoyed my time here, I started my MSc in Foundations of Clinical Psychology later that year, and graduated with a Distinction in 2022.

I was then fortunate enough to be awarded the Black Futures scholarship, and started as a postgraduate researcher (PGR) later that year. Throughout this time, I have also been a director at FV & JK Consulting Limited, where I have collaborated on international public health research projects.

I am also currently the co-ordinator for the Black Students in FELS (Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences) network, which aims to provide Black students with a support system. As part of the network, we host career inspiration events where students can meet and network with prominent Black academics from a range of disciplines.

The network arose following my contribution as a Junior Research Fellow for the Latitude Prize project, which explored the experiences of Back students within FELS. During my first year as a PGR, I have worked as a postgraduate teaching assistant and provided mentoring / tutoring to Black undergraduate psychology students.

I have always been interested in alcohol use disorders and considering the impact harmful drinking has on the NHS and wider society, I feel that this area of research is particularly important. Thanks to the flexibility afforded by the Black Futures scholarship, I have finally been able to pursue research in this field.

My PhD research is focused on understanding the development of comorbid alcohol use disorders and depression, by studying patterns of alcohol use and depressive symptomatology throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. My research will utilise large datasets and complex modelling, with the hope of ultimately building a predictive model of future comorbidity.

Aside from my main PhD project, I am currently working on an umbrella review that seeks to determine whether psychiatric illnesses can be categorised according to the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework.

For me, this scholarship is not just about increasing diversity within our Faculty – it is about recognising the need for diversity of thought in scientific research. In my opinion, the differing perspectives and experiences brought by Black academics is essential for promoting innovation in research.

Undertaking a PhD is no small task, so the best advice I could give to someone who is considering is considering applying for the Black Futures scholarship would be to pursue an area of research that you are deeply passionate about.