Career Summary:

Goshu is an accomplished individual who has had extensive experience working in various fields including: education, research, and community/international development. He has made significant contributions in geographical studies of migration, particularly in understanding how time shapes migration experiences. He earned his PhD in Human Geography from Monash University in 2021.

During his PhD at Monash, Goshu was offered a Research Officer and Teaching Associate role at Monash. Shortly after submitting his doctoral dissertation, he joined the Victoria government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as a Strategic Partnerships Coordinator based at Latrobe Community Health Service. Likewise, shortly after graduating, he was also offered his current position with California State University, Stanislaus as Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies.

Goshu’s research interests lie at the intersection of human geography, sociology, anthropology, and ethnic studies, with a specific focus on migrants' experiences in the diaspora, particularly in the context of time. His multidisciplinary approach allows him to explore the complexities and nuances of migrant experiences, shedding light on their social, cultural, and geographical dimensions.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Goshu has a solid background in community and international development. He has accumulated more than 12 years of experience working across various sectors, including academia, research, and development projects. His involvement in international development initiatives has provided him with invaluable insights into participatory planning and evaluation, evidence-based program implementation, and policy development. This practical experience enhances his research work and enables him to bridge the gap between academia and real-world applications. He continues to share his insights and expertise with students, fostering their intellectual growth and development.

Why did you choose to complete your PhD with Monash Arts?

Monash is one of the best universities in the world, and so I thought it would be the perfect place to help me realise this plan of what I wanted to do. It was also partly because the supervisor I wanted to work with was at Monash, and the programme he supervised fit with my PhD aspirations.

My primary supervisors had extensive work in human geography, migration, diaspora engagements, and sociology, so I was very happy to work with them.

What brought your PhD topic to mind?

I've always wanted to do work in migration studies, but the aspect of time was particularly interesting. I was fascinated when I first started reading about geography and space and realised the dimension of time had not been given the attention that it deserves in migration and geographical studies.

I was preparing for a project, and came across a whole variety of  literature about time, temporalities, and migration. I decided that it was something that I wanted to pursue and an area I could contribute to as well. Relatively speaking, geographical studies of migration from the perspective of space had already been saturated with research, but from the perspective of time it had not really been explored. I wanted to contribute to that exploration.

How did your supervisors and study experience mould your research? 

I had two supervisors, one from the Human Geography department, and my co-supervisor from the Sociology department. So, I was fortunate enough to get insights from the Human Geography side and also from the Sociology side. You can certainly see the influences of both in my research.

I think one of the great things about Monash is that it gives you that flexibility in terms of which disciplines that you want to tap into. Because I engaged with time, I had to look into renowned scholars, philosophers, and even mathematicians. This journey led me to explore a wide spectrum of perspectives from diverse disciplines. I delved into the works of philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein, seeking to understand their perspectives on time. I also had to explore how various societies understand time as well. The programme at Monash gives you flexibility to tap into many disciplines, all without leaving your home discipline. You have that freedom to draw insights and really make something special.

Did you complete any professional development or industry sector opportunities to support your research? 

Yes, that was a huge part of our PhD training. We had to complete 120 hours of professional development practice. It was really helpful in preparing students for the industry, particularly for those without prior industry experience. I'm testimony of its impact, as I had the opportunity to apply the lessons I learnt during the program in my industry job.

I had prior industry experience before coming into Monash - I was working for an international development organisation - so I had professional experience, but I would certainly say my training at Monash also highly contributed to where I am today.

Were there any particular experiences that you found really helped you in your current career?

As part of the PhD programme - particularly in the social sciences - we read a lot of materials, and we have to examine those texts critically. Due to this, I would certainly say my critical thinking skills have developed. I examine things, I don't just take things at face value. I like to dive deeper into the epistemological and ontological meaning, why do we think something happened? What is beyond the obvious? What is the background - the context? What lies beneath? These are skills that are applicable in many areas of the job sector.

As PhD students, we are trained to conceptualise things and analyse them in-depth, and engage in critical analysis. All these skills can be applied to navigate industry.

Would you say your PhD has many real-life applications? 

Absolutely. We get to interact with so many students and faculty members in our academic community, so we learn communication skills and we utilise those when we have to present. We have to deliver on tasks and we have to hit some milestones. We execute projects. We are our own project managers and have to work within the available time, with the available resources. Those communication and project management skills are very transferable in real life.

What does completing a PhD look like?

You meet and discuss your research journey with qualified supervisors. They advise you on literature and help you set milestones. You learn to manage and divide your time, resources and energy.

You undertake 120 hours of immensely valuable professional development practice, in which you are provided with a selection of research, professional and career-related development workshops and seminars. You learn new things and contextualise them depending on your situation and your needs, whether it is for industry, or academia.

Overall, it's certainly a huge and demanding journey, but it’s worth it.

How has Monash Arts shaped where you are today?

Having a PhD from Monash Arts, one of the top universities in the world, increases your credibility and affords you a professional presence. I participated in numerous work and teaching opportunities within the university. I coordinated Monash Migration and Inclusion Center’s postgraduate network, organised and conducted seminars, and took on some teaching roles within the Human Geography department as well.

These experiences are invaluable as they all shaped my career. Now I'm an assistant professor at California State University Stanislaus.

Do you feel your PhD amplified your potential to make positive change in your field and in the world? 

Absolutely yes. I spent almost four years crafting my research, thinking about it, writing about it, reading about it, and so it has highly contributed to what I'm doing right now. I wouldn't have been able to be where I am today if I didn't undertake my PhD journey here.

Do you have an idea where your research might take you next?

At the moment, I'm developing my research agenda for the next couple of years. I’m building on what I have already done, and collaborating with other scholars from other universities in Australia, Africa, and in the US. It has opened up a lot of opportunities.

What would you say to those considering pursuing a PhD at Monash?

My experience with Monash has been great. It's amazing. The faculty and community here are very supportive and there are many opportunities. I have had nothing but positive experiences with Monash. So, I would highly recommend Monash to anyone who wants to embark on a PhD journey like me.