Director Welcome

Welcome from John Synnott

Leading the Professional Doctoral Academy is a privilege. I founded the academy to give professionals in policing, criminal justice, security, military, and public health the opportunity to undertake doctoral research that advances their careers while delivering real-world impact.

What sets the academy apart is its practice-based research, ensuring our candidates tackle pressing challenges—from disrupting criminal networks to improving national security and public health. To support this, we offer a flexible, fully funded model that removes financial barriers, allowing professionals to earn advanced qualifications while continuing their careers.

Collaboration is at our core. We work with UK and international partners, including police forces, government agencies, and global institutions, to ensure research is both academically rigorous and practically relevant. This network provides our candidates with interdisciplinary support, knowledge exchange, and access to world-class expertise, strengthening their research and professional impact.

Explore our work to discover groundbreaking research, career-enhancing opportunities, and the tangible difference our candidates are making. Whether you're a prospective researcher, a potential partner, or simply interested in our mission, we welcome your engagement and look forward to connecting with you.

Thank you for your interest, and I look forward to sharing more about our work through this platform.

Professor John Synnott

Director,
Professional Doctoral Academy,
University of Huddersfield