My name is Zhenyan Yin, and I am a PhD researcher in the School of Education at University of Birmingham. My research explores the role of morphological awareness in bilingual literacy development. I am interested in understanding how morphological awareness contributes to reading development across languages and how targeted morphological training can support children’s literacy skills.
One of the most rewarding parts of my PhD journey has been taking part in the PGR Research Festival during both my second and third years. In my second year, I presented a research poster, and in my third year, I challenged myself to enter the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. These experiences helped me look at my research from a completely different perspective. Unlike academic conferences where you are speaking mainly to specialists in your field, the Research Festival encourages you to communicate with a much broader audience. Explaining complex ideas in a clear, engaging, and accessible way made me think more carefully about the purpose and impact of my research.
Winning the University of Birmingham 3MT competition was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my PhD. Beyond the award itself, it gave me something even more valuable: confidence. Research can often feel like a long journey with uncertainty and self-doubt, so receiving such positive feedback and encouragement reminded me that my work mattered and that I could communicate it effectively. That experience motivated me to keep moving forward with my research.
I know that opportunities like poster competitions or 3MT can seem intimidating at first. I certainly felt nervous before taking part. However, I found that stepping outside my comfort zone was worthwhile. Preparing for these events helped me clarify my own thinking, challenged me to consider my research from different angles, and encouraged me to reflect more deeply on the bigger picture. The conversations, encouragement, and appreciation I received from others gave me renewed confidence and enthusiasm to continue my PhD journey.
If I could offer one piece of advice to other postgraduate researchers, it would be to embrace these opportunities whenever you can. They are not only a chance to share your work, but also an opportunity to grow as a researcher and communicator, and to rediscover why your research matters.