PhD candidate Georgia Tobin from Kilkenny has successfully combined her interest in sports with psychology and mental health. Having graduated with an MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology from South East Technological University (SETU), Georgia now finds herself working towards a lifelong ambition of completing a PhD in the field right here in Waterford.
Beginnings
I am originally from the UK, but I grew up in Spain. I moved to Ireland when I was 16. Unfortunately, I didn't receive any second level qualifications (A Level or Leaving Certificate) though I always wanted to go to university to study further. I applied for the Open University which doesn't require previous qualifications to get accepted. I spent three years studying for a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Psychology and finished in April 2020. I took a year out and applied to the MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology at SETU in 2021.
"One of my proudest moments in academia was when my work received a merit in the poster category at the Physiological Society of Ireland (PSI) Annual Conference."
SETU PhD student, Georgia Tobin
An interest sparked
I've always had a keen interest in sport. We have a yard of 12 horses at home and I enjoy competing as well as breeding foals. When it came to choosing a career route I decided to combine my interest in sport with my curiosity for psychology. This led me to choose an MSc in Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology at SETU in Waterford city.
The next step
Since finishing my undergrad at SETU, I have been working hard in my field toward getting my accreditation. On top of my applied work, I was delighted to have my MSc thesis published and presented at two conferences last year. One of my proudest moments in academia was when my work received a merit in the poster category at the Physiological Society of Ireland (PSI) Annual Conference. SETU's Dr Ciara Losty had a huge impact on my career as an amazing supervisor during the MSc, and is now one of my supervisors for my PhD, which I started in January. Working on my PhD allows me to hone in on my research interests, which focuses on mental health in a sporting environment.
Residential weeks
The part of the course that benefited me the most was the residential weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the content for a full week. It was a great opportunity to get to know my classmates, enabling us to connect.
Advice
My advice for anyone considering further education is that it is worth it. I made so many connections, both professionally and with peers, that will have a huge impact on my career. I'd highly recommend studying in Waterford city, as I have always felt welcome and supported there.
Georgia's PhD research project is titled "Supporting the People Behind the Moment - Using Mixed Methods to Develop a Mental Health in Equine Sport Education Programme for Trainers and Stable Staff". Georgia is supervised by Dr Ciara Losty (SETU), Dr SarahJane Cullen (DCU) and Dr Arthur Dunne (SETU). The research project aims to investigate the mental health, well-being and coping strategies of the stable staff and trainers in the thoroughbred industry in Ireland. The project is funded by SETU and Irish Horse Racing.
