My name is Francisco Welligton Barbosa Jr, I am Brazilian, psychologist, and hold a master’s degree in literature and psychology. Currently, I am a PhD candidate in Cultural Studies at University of Aveiro in Portugal, as a research fellow, with a scholarship financed by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal. Research whose focus is on identifying the flows of desire of elderly writers residing in Portugal. These are elderly people who in their daily lives engage in writing as a form of free expression rather than a professional and financial purposes. The study aims to answer guiding questions, such as: what desires lead these elderly people to write? How do they amplify their life experience through writing? What hegemonic and counter-hegemonic discourses emerge in these practices?

Motivated by these research interests, I contacted Lancaster University and consulted Dr Cornelia Gräbner about the possibility of conducting a doctoral internship at the University under her supervision. After the acceptance, this PhD internship was approved and financed by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

Therefore, from October to December 2023, I conducted my PhD internship at the Department of Languages and Cultures (DeLC) at Lancaster University. I chose this institution due to English tradition in Cultural Studies and the tradition and innovation of this field of studies at Lancaster University. This is exemplified by the research themes of Dr Cornelia Gräbner, supervisor of this PhD internship during the period mentioned and who investigates culture, literature, writings, and processes of resistance.

Throughout these months, I developed and participated in various activities, internal and external to the Lancaster University, resulting from this internship: Attending seminars on culture led by Dr Cornelia Gräbner, in which topics such as defining culture and cultural studies, fascism, racism, gender issues, bureaucratization and government helplessness, as well as resistance practices in the face of certain hegemonies, among others; I conducted research in library databases, based on the selection of themes that aligned with my investigation; I participated in internal and external events from University (such as the “Work-in-Progress Seminar”, at the Lancaster University; the workshop "Spatio-Temporal Entanglements of European Memory in Contemporary Literature", at the University of London), and met researchers whose studies align with my area of interest (including Professor Ian Buchanan, from Edinburgh University, Scotland and University of Wollongong, Australia, specialist in studies on schizoanalysis; and Professor Nathan Widder, from Royal Holloway, University of London, coordinator of the Contemporary Political Theory Research Group, focusing on Deleuze and Guattari’s works).

Still in this experience, based on recommendations from Dr Cornelia Gräbner, I delved into significant writings in the field of cultural studies, with innovative authors and perspectives. I also explored literary works that call for important reflections and criticisms to think about investigative work in the field of cultural studies.

Another noteworthy aspect is the respectful and welcoming environment at the Lancaster University, especially the Department of Languages and Cultures, manifested by its structure, its organization, the good relationship with Dr Cornelia Gräbner, other professors, and fellow researchers involved in the investigation. The atmosphere and relationships that value respect and learning through interactions with others and dialogues on the studied topics. This provided a sense of well-being and significantly contributed to the deepening of my investigative interests during the internship, resulting in a part of a chapter of my thesis and the development of articles related to my research.

These factors lead me to conclude that this experience was highly satisfying and crucial for my PhD process. In January 2024, I returned to Portugal to complete my PhD. Since then, I have been certain that these three months of PhD internship were fundamental for the development of my research and, most importantly, for my development as a researcher.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Lancaster University, the Department of Languages and Cultures, my supervisor during this internship, Dr Cornelia Gräbner, Olga Gomez for her warm reception, Professor Charlotte Barker, director of the Doctorate in Languages and Cultures, Dr Samuel O’Donoghue, director of Postgraduate Studies at DeLC, and to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), for funding this internship.

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