Class of 2017: Katie Groves

All this week we are celebrating the achievements of some of our students who are graduating in the class of 2017. Katie Groves graduating today from the Department of Psychology tells us her story.

Katie Groves (Psychology PhD) achieved the incredible feat of distilling her 76,000 word thesis, into a 450-word oral presentation to win the University of Essex Three Minute Thesis competition and take the runner-up slot at the national final, where she received a standing ovation.

Her research, which Katie hopes will ultimately lead to improvements in the treatment of eating disorders, has been published and recognised across the world – she has presented to thousands of academics at cognitive neuroscience conferences in Italy, Germany, Hungary, the UK and the USA.

Katie is currently working for the University as an Education Outreach Officer - encouraging those who never thought they could go to university to consider it. “I struggled with my own self-confidence for years. It was only while I was doing my PhD that things started to change. My supervisor had such a strong belief in me, I began to realise ‘I can do this!’ Now I hope I can inspire others that they can do it too,” said Katie who also received an award at this year’s International Women’s Day for her success in motivating, empowering and inspiring others.