arcadia@cambridge People

Esther Dingley

Esther Dingley graduate from her Economics and Management degree at the University of Oxford in 2007 before completing her Masters in Research Methods (Education) at the University of Durham in 2008, alongside which she worked as a Research Associate within the Department of Education.

During her Masters, Esther and a fellow PhD researcher identified flaws in the information flows for early-career researchers. Consequently, they co-founded www.GraduateJunction.net in May 2008. Graduate Junction is now the largest online academic network dedicated to the needs of early-career researchers, providing an opportunity to network based on research interests as well as gain peer-support on issues related to undertaking doctoral research. It is a researcher-led, self-funded initiative and managed alongside the founders own research commitments. Esther was almost entirely responsible for the original growth of researcher network, the website receiving over 150,000 unique visitors, 1.5 million page views and almost 15,000 registered researchers. Graduate Junction has featured in popular press such as the Chronicle of Higher Education (US) and the Times Higher Education (UK). Esther has presented Graduate Junction at a numerous events, including at the Vitae Annual 2009 Conference.

Esther is interested in digital scholarship and the role of academic networks and online referencing tools. Other hobbies include rowing, cycling, supporting her local animal rescue and hiking, particularly in the Lake District.