Life-Writing Today (Ref: SSH26-SF-JC-EN)

About the Project

There has been an explosive interest in writing and publishing autobiography, autofiction, memoir, autotheory, lyrical essays, and other forms of first-person literature since the start of the millennium. Also emerging is a rich body of medical memoirs, written by health professionals and those whom they treat. As yet, the literary scholarship analysing these forms, including experimental and hybrid incarnations, is only just developing. Yet this varied body of life-writing tells us much about how we culturally and socially understand ourselves and the world we find ourselves experiencing. The writing of those who are under-represented, minoritised, discriminated against, or suffering climate-related harms has much from which scholarship can learn.

Candidates interested in studying these or other aspects of contemporary life-writing or, through their own creative practice, producing innovative forms of life-writing, are invited to work under the supervision of life-writing expert, Professor Jennifer Cooke, and another English faculty member aligned to the project’s areas of interest.

As a member of the Loughborough English research community, the successful doctoral researcher will benefit from a lively research culture, including regular research seminars and research group activities. Relevant research groups for this project are The Contemporary Research Group and the Health Humanities group. The English Faculty, the School of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Doctoral College, through its Research Development and Pathways Programme, provide a suite of training to build relevant and related skills for doctoral researchers, including for teaching and public engagement.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:

Professor Jennifer Cooke J.A.Cooke@lboro.ac.uk

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/subjects/english/staff/jennifer-cooke/

Entry requirements:

A 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in English Literature, Creative Writing, or a related subject.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements

Further details are available on the International website. https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/researchareas/english/

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: 1st July 2026

Start date: October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RA (UK £5,006, International £22,360)

How to Apply:

All applications should be made online. Under Campus, please select 'Loughborough' and select 'English' as the Programme. Please quote the advertised reference 'SSH26-SF-JC-EN' in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents. The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.

Project search terms:

american studies, creative writing, disability studies, english literature, life-writing autobiography medical memoirs

Email enquiries:

ssh.pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk