Samantha Gallivan

Hi - my name is Sam Gallivan and I'd like the opportunity to serve our PG community as Council Representative (PG Non Faculty).

I have broad professional and leadership experience, having spent 18 years as an NHS doctor while training to be a Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon, and have spent the last six years in varied teaching and education roles at Imperial alongside my clinical career. Many students at Imperial have had unusual paths to doctoral and masters study. I'd especially like to represent our community who have caring and family responsibilities and those balancing part time work and study to stay afloat.

I believe that one of the major pressures on PhD students is financial. Living on a PhD stipend during a cost of living crisis in one of the world's most expensive cities is tough. If we don't raise the minimum stipend, studying for a PhD will become a luxury only affordable by the independently wealthy or by burning through savings or loans. I'll focus on the financial burden of PG study as your representative and continue the great work already underway at ICU to advocate on your behalf.