Personal Information:

    Name:                         Mr. Alan Smyth
    Qualifications:            BA (NUIM), MA(NUIM). 
    Email:                         [email protected]
     
    Biography:
     
    In 2011 I graduated from Maynooth University with an undergraduate degree in Media Studies and Spanish. The following year I completed the university’s postgraduate programme in Spanish and Latin American studies. My application for a 2013 Hume Scholarship was, thankfully, successful and I have since begun a structured PhD under the supervision of Dr. Catherine Leen of the Maynooth University Spanish Department. In addition to funding my research, the Hume scheme has provided me with the opportunity to teach and I am currently responsible for delivering the Spanish language modules SPA101 and SPA102. My research interests include media and images of marginalisation in Latin America. This is reflected in my current thesis, which focuses on forms of self- representation emerging from informal Argentine neighbourhoods known as villas de emergencia. The second year of my PhD will be spent conducting research in Argentina. Additional funding has been awarded by the NUI Denis Phelan Scholarship to make this trip possible. I have continued to study at Maynooth University because of excellent funding opportunities at postgraduate level. In addition, the Spanish Department has continued to offer interesting modules and excellent learning support to students. I would highly recommend Maynooth University to prospective students, in particular those interested in language and cultural studies.
     
    Teaching:

    SPA101 - Beginning Spanish 1.
    SPA102 - Beginning Spanish 2.
     
    Scholarships:

    John and Pat Hume Research Scholarship 2013-2017.
    Denis Phelan Scholarship 2014. 

    Prizes and Awards:

    Media Studies Award 2011
    Fr. Michael Melvin Award 2011
    National Undergraduate Awards 2011 (Highly commended in Languages and Linguistics Category) 
    Conferences Attended
    Maynooth University Argentina Colloquium 2014 (presented ‘Pizza, birra, faso: Representing Marginalisation in New Argentine Cinema)
    Maynooth University Argentina Colloquium 2013 (presented a summary of forthcoming doctoral thesis at)