After becoming fascinated by the US legal system while doing her Master鈥檚, Amelia Shooter knew it would become the focus of her PhD. Once she discovered Birmingham City University鈥檚 renowned Centre for American Legal Studies, and succeeded in gaining a scholarship, Amelia knew studying in Birmingham was the perfect choice.
Vital scholarship opportunities
Initially, however, Amelia鈥檚 journey with the University didn鈥檛 exactly go to plan. 鈥淚 applied for a PhD but then the position got taken by someone else,鈥� she says. 鈥淗owever, my future supervisors and I spoke about what other areas I was interested in, and from that we created a few ideas to pursue.鈥�
Amelia then gained a STEAM scholarship, a Birmingham City University-funded opportunity for PhD students conducting innovative research across as a range of sectors. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to do my PhD otherwise,鈥� Amelia reveals. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 always feel you鈥檒l get opportunities such as this, so once there was a chance of securing a scholarship, I jumped at it.鈥�
Research 鈥� it鈥檚 in her DNA
Amelia鈥檚 research incorporates elements of law, science and public policy. 鈥淚鈥檓 assessing how judges understand, appreciate and make decisions about forensic science in the USA 鈥� do they know that DNA is highly reliable? Are they aware that there have been no major studies to show that fingerprints are unique?鈥� she explains. 鈥淟aw looks to find certainty in things, so when you鈥檙e challenging bullet marks and fingerprints, it鈥檚 a difficult thing for the law to process.鈥�
Law in the USA
Birmingham City University鈥檚 relationships with other institutions has proven a huge boon for Amelia and her studies. 鈥�Sarah Cooper, one of my supervisors, helped me to set up a residency at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC last year, which was an amazing experience and completely changed my viewpoint,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e also been able to go to London for workshops and to attain books from different libraries. My supervisors have always been able to get around potential issues.鈥�
A winning PhD supervisory team
When it comes to advice for future PhD students, Amelia says it鈥檚 important to take time to enjoy yourself. 鈥淵ou can get so far into the research and so engrossed in it that you forget to spend time away from it,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was something I learnt after being so absorbed for my first year.鈥�
Amelia also believes it鈥檚 important to have a good team of supervisors around you. 鈥淢y supervisors have been key to the direction my study has gone in,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 underestimate the amount of guidance they have given me, especially at the beginning.鈥�