PhD Graduation Cohort 2023
Funding: AHRC DTP
Project Title: The Technical Recipe: A Formal Analysis of Nineteenth-century Food Writing
Supervisors: Professor Dahlia Porter (University of Glasgow) and Dr Ben Marsden (University of Aberdeen)
What was your research about?
In my thesis I investigated the literary qualities of nineteenth-century recipes and cookbooks, analysing the representation of culinary technologies to understand how authors situated themselves in relation to the past, present, and future. In the first half of my dissertation I developed a structural methodology, breaking recipes down into key components to interpret two material technologies with very different temporal connotations: gridirons and tinned foods. In the second, I applied a sustained literary analysis to the cookbooks of Alexis Soyer, Agnes Marshall and Georgiana Hill to understand how they interacted with the wider literary culture of the nineteenth century, subverting the expectations that governed the cookbook genre to engage with discourses of historicity and innovation.
What made you apply for the SGSAH AHRC DTP?
I always loved reading and studying, and felt like an academic career would suit me well. Having undertaken an MA and an MLitt, I had developed further research questions about literature, history, and food that I wanted to explore in a larger project. The decision to undertake a PhD was therefore driven by both my career aspirations, and my passion and curiosity about my topic and research in general. Â
Which aspects of your PhD did you enjoy the most?
Throughout my PhD I enjoyed having the time and space to really dig into a research topic. The thesis I ended up with was very different to the one I imagined writing, and I loved the journey that took me from literary criticism to cultural history. Because of the structure of my PhD, I was able to indulge my interdisciplinarity across two institutions, giving me the space to situate myself within and across the field.
In addition to my research, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my PhD was undertaking my SGSAH-funded internship with the National Trust for Scotland. I worked with curators and property managers at Gladstone’s Land in Edinburgh to reinterpret food within the property and write an interactive food tour called Tables Through Time for visitors. Undertaking the internship gave me the opportunity to engage the public with my research, experience working in a different sector, and provided opportunities which led to my current career.
How has your PhD helped you to decide on a career path?
My PhD was hugely important to my current career path. It allowed me to develop a research identity and portfolio, make valuable professional connections, and develop the skills that underpin my current job. The training opportunities provided by SGSAH were critical to my professional development not just as a writer and researcher, but also in terms of networking and gaining experience across different sectors.
It was when undertaking my internship that I realised there was a gap around our understanding and representation of Scottish food heritage; something that is inherent to the work and research I undertake now. Whether I stay working in Higher Education or not, I’m sure the skills and confidence I gained and the connections I made while doing my PhD will continue to benefit my career.
And now?
I am currently one of the Knowledge Exchange Associates for the College of Arts & Humanities at the University of Glasgow. My role sits between at the juncture between the research done within the College and the outside world, and my job is to enable research to actively benefit external communities, stakeholders and partners. Working as a research professional has enabled me to continue to grow the networking, partnership and research skills honed while undertaking my PhD, and gain knowledge and understanding of multiple disciplines and fields. In addition to this, I am working on a book proposal and undertaking research and broadcasting work that platforms and champions Scottish Food Heritage.
One piece of advice you would give an incoming PhD researcher?
Give it time. Even with a fairly good idea of what I wanted my thesis to be, and the field I wanted to contribute to, the PhD I ended up writing was not the one I imagined. It took at least a year (maybe even two) of reading, writing, and conceptualising to land on the shape and structure of my thesis. Don’t panic about this (like I did, on occasion) as the research will lead you, and it should take you to some surprising, unexpected places.
Also, get out there! Early! Go to conferences and events to meet people. The networking activities I undertook in the first year of my thesis ended up leading to new collaborations and publications, so I would definitely recommend exploring your field early on.
CONNECT WITH LINDSAY (she/her)
Email: Lindsay Middleton
Twitter/X: @lindsmiddletonÂ
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