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Seven Questions with Julian Laufs

7 November 2019

This week we meet Julian Laufs, a PhD candidate who talks us through his role as a student quality reviewer where he worked in partnership with staff to improve teaching at 果冻影院.

Julian Laufs

Why are you interested in Security and Crime Science and what do you plan to do in the future?

I first did my MSc at 果冻影院鈥檚 Jill Dando Institute and then continued with the PhD. I chose the PhD in Security and Crime Science at 果冻影院 because I have always had a natural interest in the field.听I love the topic I study and even more so, the supportive and welcoming environment at the department. It is great that I can explore a topic I am passionate about, at a world-leading institution while being supervised by leaders in the field. After I graduate, I would like to continue working in academia or work for the European Union at either the EEAS or Frontex.

What is the most interesting thing you鈥檝e done, seen or got involved with while at 果冻影院?

Two things come to mind right off the bat:

The first one is being a last year. It is such a crucial role because you gain so many interesting insights into how 果冻影院 turns student feedback into action and because you get to be part of the process. I worked to facilitate the Annual Student Experience Review (ASER), a review process departments do for each programme. I worked between students and staff at one 果冻影院 department and made recommendations as to how student feedback could be put into action.

I think it is one of the most worthwhile programmes 果冻影院 is running because it allows students to directly bring fresh ideas into the feedback process. Through this experience I gained valuable insights in how 果冻影院 works and learned a lot of things that I also took back to improve the department I study at. Receive 拢150 if you get involved!

I have also worked as a lead department representative for Security and Crime Science and have represented my fellow MSc and later PhD colleagues to the department and faculty. Both the student quality reviewer and the student rep experience have been very rewarding and I can only encourage anyone starting at 果冻影院 to take advantage of them.

Have you discovered any 鈥榟idden gems鈥 during your time at 果冻影院?

Cafe 49 and Fleet Kitchen (both close to Tavistock Square) are two of my favourite lunch spots and are definitely worth a visit. I also think the George Birkbeck Bar is a prime spot for an after-work drink in the summer (sorry 果冻影院).

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London

  • Go visit Primrose Hill for a picnic or just the view.
  • Hang out in the library of the Wellcome Collection (it is a wonderfully weird place).
  • Go ice skating in one of the beautiful ice rinks around London in the winter.

If you were Provost for the day, what one thing would you do?

Even though I love 果冻影院, there are still a few things I would like to change. The first thing I would do is to听make 果冻影院 less bureaucratic. I think there is a lot of paperwork that could be simplified or eliminated.听I would also make sure that PGTAs get paid all the same across 果冻影院, because I think especially at a university that prides itself in its research, we should have coherent standards for all research students. But even though I won鈥檛 be provost for a day (at least not in the near future), I still try try to tackle these issues by working as a student rep and running as a faculty rep to help to improve 果冻影院.

Who inspires you and why?

While this might be a bit of a clich茅, since I am German, I would say Angela Merkel. Though I don鈥檛 agree with every policy decision she makes, I admire her calm and collected approach to things. Especially in such turbulent times, we could do with some more world leaders that take a step back and think. She is a brilliant diplomat and, what most people don鈥檛 know, also has a doctorate in quantum chemistry. I would say she is an all-round inspiration.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I absolutely love trash movies. 鈥淭he Room鈥 and 鈥淏irdemic鈥 are probably some of my favourite movies of all time. There is a great place in Chinatown that shows films like this on the regular.

Become a student reviewer of teaching

Become a student reviewer of teaching for the paid opportunity to review an academic member of staff鈥檚 teaching and report on the learning experience of students on the course and earn 拢150. Apply today and throughout the year.