Welcome to Graduate Stories, where we celebrate the diverse journeys of our post-graduate sociology students at Trinity College Dublin. Each month, our graduates share what sparked their interest, the highlights of their studies, and their advice for future students.
Aaron Koay
Class of 2022
What are you doing now and could you provide a brief overview of your career journey since graduating?
Since graduating from the MSc in Comparative Social Change, I have been pursuing a PhD at University College London (UCL), funded by the UCL-Birkbeck Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership. Situated in global health, my PhD research seeks to operationalise intersectionality in epidemiological and policy analysis, with a focus on non-communicable diseases in Malaysia.
I also work as Research Officer at Global Health50/50, a UK-based non-governmental organisation that generates rigorous data to drive action and accountability for gender equality in global health.
Furthermore, I am Chair of the UCL Critical Global Health Network, which convenes early career researchers who are committed to decolonisation and equitable research and partnership practices in global health.
What sparked your interest in the course and what aspects did you find most rewarding?
Initially qualified as a pharmacist, I recognised early on that the biomedical and clinical training I had was insufficient to understand and address the structural drivers of health inequities, such as gender, racism, (forced) migration and class. Therefore, I decided to pursue an MSc in Comparative Social Change to better understand the workings of societies and how they shape inequities.
As challenging as it was, completing my MSc dissertation – from conceptualisation to write-up – was intellectually fulfilling. My dissertation, focusing on understanding why there was a delay in deploying community pharmacy in the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Ireland, originated from a module essay and drew inspiration from my professional experience as a pharmacist. My supervisor and I are now turning the dissertation into a peer-reviewed journal article, which is very exciting.
What advice would you offer to anyone considering postgraduate studies in sociology?
Transitioning to postgraduate studies in sociology without a firm grounding in social sciences was challenging. However, while I at times found myself inundated with readings and struggled with key sociological concepts, the experience was intellectually stimulating and ultimately rewarding.
Through reading, writing and classroom discussions, I was able to interrogate social structures that drive inequities at a deeper level by drawing on both evidence and experience. I also made friends and met colleagues from all around the world, which enriched my social life.
Overall, I highly recommend pursuing postgraduate studies in sociology – even for those without substantial prior experience. It was an experience that significantly expanded my thinking and imagination as to how societies could and should work to promote equity.
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