Michelle O’Reilly

A fully funded PhD studentship is available through the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership, focusing on the project "Objects of Care: The Role of Museum Collections in Supporting Young Adults’ Mental Health." This opportunity is jointly offered by the University of Leicester and The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Norfolk Museums Service. The research aims to investigate how museum object-based engagement can foster psychological wellbeing and resilience among young adults (aged 18–25), a group currently experiencing significant mental health challenges in the UK. The project will be co-supervised by Dr Kate Noble (University of Cambridge), Dr Nuala Morse (University of Leicester), Dr Sarah-Jane Harknett (University of Cambridge), and Dr Michelle O’Reilly (University of Leicester). The studentship offers opportunities to work across multiple institutions and collections, with a strong emphasis on participatory and practitioner research, public engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration in museum studies, anthropology, and mental health. The studentship is open to both home and international applicants and can be undertaken full or part-time. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject or demonstrate equivalent experience. The program encourages applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds and career stages, particularly those from Global Majority backgrounds. The funding covers tuition fees and provides a stipend for living expenses. Key research areas include museum studies, mental health, young adult wellbeing, public engagement, anthropology, and the role of material culture in psychological resilience. The application deadline is 10 May 2026, with an online information session scheduled for 16 April 2026. For further details and to apply, visit the official studentship page. For informal enquiries, contact Dr Nuala Morse or Dr Kate Noble via email.