Welcome to Graduate Stories, where we celebrate the diverse journeys of our post-graduate political science students at Trinity College Dublin. Each month, our graduates share what sparked their interest, the highlights of their studies, and their advice for future students.
Aryan Goyal
Graduated in 2024
What are you doing now and could you provide a brief overview of your career journey since graduating?
Since graduating from ASDS, I got hired to work as a research associate on a project about misinformation on WhatsApp in the Global South at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. I have been working on this project for a full year now. My work has allowed me to get a close insight into all aspects of the research process from data collection, analysis to publication. With my experience at TCD and this position, I will be applying to start a PhD in political science soon.
What sparked your interest in the MSc Applied Social Data Science programme and what aspects did you find most rewarding and impactful?
The use of data science methods for social sciences is on the rise which made me interested in ASDS. Plus, data science methods are utilised in various other fields as well.
Learning these advanced methods allowed me to come up with innovative research designs to answer the questions I was interested in, in a way that I was unable to do before. The interactions with the faculty at TCD were really rewarding and helped drive my learning.
What advice would you offer to anyone considering postgraduate studies in political science?
I would ask you to think about the kind of life you want: if you want stability and security early on then I don't think political science is for you as there is quite a bit of uncertainty in terms of funding and opportunities in the field. If you are okay with some uncertainty, and find yourself thinking about society often while enjoying the research process, I would absolutely recommend it.
March 2026
Past Stories