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.
Thomas Williamson
Class of 2023
What are you doing now and could you provide a brief overview of your career journey since graduating?
Since graduating, I have worked in research in different capacities. I am currently working as a Social Research Interviewer for the National Centre for Social Research (UK), collecting survey data for research projects funded by government departments, charities, and academic institutions. Thus far I have worked on studies concerning housing, work, financial circumstances, aging, and transport.
Aside from this, I have worked alongside University of Sheffield housing academics, designing and conducting interviews with people experiencing drastic rent increases and/ or displacement in south-central Manchester.
I am especially interested in the research-activism nexus and as such have also designed surveys and conducted research interviews with social housing tenants for Greater Manchester Tenants Union, the union for which I’m a branch delegate.
What sparked your interest in the course and what aspects did you find most rewarding?
I was initially drawn to the course by the variety of modules offered and by the chance to study at two highly regarded universities. What I found most rewarding about the course was undertaking the dissertation research; I found myself thoroughly enjoying the data collection aspect, something which has informed my subsequent career trajectory.
Moreover, the topic of my dissertation has had a lasting impact on me. Partly as a result of my personal experience of Dublin’s housing crisis, I chose the ‘Housing Experiences of the Hindu Indian Diaspora in Manchester and Dublin’ as my dissertation topic. My interest in housing justice that was fostered through this is evident in my post-graduation research work and tenants union activism.
What advice would you offer to anyone considering postgraduate studies in sociology?
I would definitely recommend undertaking postgraduate studies in sociology to anyone that was considering it. Once there, I would urge new students to take classes in topics outside of their existing areas of interest.
My master’s in Comparative Social Change was extremely enriching in developing new and existing interests, developing skills such as in research and presenting, and in clarifying my career pathway.
Finally, I would urge students to endeavour to learn from their classmates; a great benefit of the master’s for me was being exposed to the perspectives of classmates with varying life experiences, from different parts of the world, and at different stages of their careers.
December 2024