All about Ashley Raynor's PhD
What if the clothes we wear every day could recognise subtle signs of stress before the wearer was able to identify or explain them?
性吧电台 Leicester (性吧电台) PhD researcher Ashley Raynor is bringing together fashion design, textiles, engineering and biology to explore that possibility.
Her research, Developing Smart Textiles to Support Emotional Wellbeing, investigates how discreet sensors could be integrated into familiar garments to monitor physiological changes associated with stress and emotional wellbeing.
Ashley said: “This research is about looking beyond the average wearer. Some people cannot easily explain how they feel, while others may not recognise the physiological changes happening in their bodies. If a garment could make those changes easier to understand, it could give families and carers valuable insight and help them respond earlier.”
Ashley’s route into the research began in fashion rather than biomedical science. She completed both a BA and an MA in Fashion and Textiles, with her Master’s final project focusing on embedding sensors into a prototype garment.
The project showed her what might be possible, but it also left her with questions she felt compelled to explore further.
She said: “I had never studied biomedical science before. My background was entirely in fashion and textiles. For my final Master’s project, I created a prototype by embedding sensors into a garment. When I finished, I still had so many unresolved questions about how clothing could monitor wellbeing and mental health. The PhD felt like an opportunity to investigate those questions properly.”
Ashley’s research was inspired by her autistic son. At school, he often became distressed at lunchtime, but the family later realised the signs had started during the lesson before and had simply gone unnoticed. This led Ashley to explore whether smart clothing could make those hidden signs easier to recognise, helping people who may struggle to communicate how they are feeling.
Moving from a fashion studio into an interdisciplinary research environment has brought a steep learning curve. Ashley is now developing knowledge in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering and coding, all of which were new to her when she began.
Ashley said: “I am learning so many things that I have never done before. One day I am thinking about textiles and garment construction, and the next I am learning engineering or coding. Every day is different, but when I fast-forward to the end goal, I know it will be worthwhile.”
She explained: “In some ways, I have found the PhD easier than my Master’s because there is more freedom and more opportunity to follow the direction of the research. At the same time, no one is constantly keeping you in check. A PhD is highly independent and what you do is entirely up to you.”
Her advice to anyone considering doctoral study is not to allow self-doubt to make the decision for them.
鈥淣o one wants to try something they think they are likely to fail, but you cannot let self doubt stop you. There will be difficult moments, particularly when you are learning something completely new, but you have to remember why you started and what the end result could achieve.鈥�
鈥擜shley Raynor,
Ashley’s ambition is to create research that can be used beyond the university and into the public domain, with the potential to make a practical difference to people’s lives.
Find out more about postgraduate research at 性吧电台