Hi – my name is Shane O’Connell and I am running to be your next Postgraduate Research representative on the Student’s Union! I am a second year School of Maths PhD candidate and am running on behalf of the Postgraduate Workers Alliance. My main priorities for the year ahead are:

• Ensuring fair payment for tutoring duties and abolishing the 120 hour unpaid contribution.
• Campaigning for increased postgraduate representation on the Student’s Union, including, but not limited to, the creation of a sabbatical role.
• Creating a support network of postgraduate researchers across colleges to ensure no researchers feel isolated in their departments / schools.
• Encouraging participation amongst postgraduate researchers in social outlets, such as the Postgrad Research Society.
• Ensuring international postgraduate researchers have the proper physical and financial supports during the course of their research, and liaising with the International Students Officer to provide and lobby for those supports, such as having the University cover residency card fees.
• Advocating for parental leave for PhD candidates.

I am the current class representative for my PhD programme and have been active in lobbying the University to treat postgraduate researchers fairly – I am committed to doing everything possible to achieve this goal along with the Postgraduate Workers Alliance. Thanks for reading, and be sure to email me at s.oconnell29@nuigalway.ie with any queries!