People Profile: Mariam Salim Hammoud
Meet Mariam Salim Hammoud, PGR and winner of the Queen Mary Three Minute Thesis Final. Mariam tells us about her research, her experience with 3MT and training at Queen Mary.
Mariam accepting her 3MT award.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve studied at Queen Mary?
I am a second-year PhD student at Queen Mary University of London in the School of Business and Management, researching women's leadership trajectories in higher education. I joined Queen Mary in 2023 and have loved being part of such a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment.
Describe your average day/week
My typical day or week usually revolves around a lot of reading and writing for my PhD! I also enjoy attending seminars related to my research interests, especially topics around women’s leadership, higher education, and intersectionality.
What made you want to take part in Three Minute Thesis?
I wanted to challenge myself to communicate my research in a clear and engaging way to a broader audience. The 3MT was the perfect opportunity to distil the core message of my work and highlight its relevance beyond academia.
What are the skills you’ve learnt from Three Minute Thesis?
I’ve gained confidence in public speaking, learned how to craft a compelling narrative, and improved my ability to convey complex ideas succinctly. It’s helped me think differently about how I present my research in both academic and public settings.
What were the challenges with Three Minute Thesis?
The biggest challenge was fitting everything into just three minutes! It was difficult to decide what to leave out and how to simplify technical language without losing meaning. Practicing under time pressure was a skill in itself.
What’s your favourite place on any of our campuses?
The canal-side is my favourite place to sit with friends, especially when it’s sunny—so peaceful! I also love walking around campus in the spring when the flowers are blooming; the campus looks beautiful then.
What are your hobbies or pastimes outside of your research?
One of my favourite hobbies is photography. There’s so much to capture around London, making it the perfect city to practice and enjoy my hobby.
Are there any Queen Mary activities you’d recommend PGRs getting involved with? Is there any training you have done with Queen Mary or externally that you’d recommend?
For those interested in teaching, I highly recommend the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education course. I attended every week in person, which made the experience more engaging and gave me the opportunity to meet new people and connect with other PGR students. It was really interesting to hear the experiences of others involved in teaching, and the effort and enthusiasm of the instructor, Valentina, made it especially valuable.
You can view Mariam's 3MT presentation titled, Climbing the Leadership Ladder: Exploring the Intersectional Forces Shaping Leadership for Lebanese Women on QMPlus. Keep an eye out for more information about the 3MT final in the near future.