PhD Students: Where are they now?
Dr Nick Naumov
From exploring the complex intersections of heritage, identity, and tourism in post-socialist Europe to mentoring the next generation of researchers, Dr Nick Naumov shares his academic career journey with jobs.ac.uk.
After completing his PhD at King’s College London, Dr Naumov has built a career that bridges academia, consultancy, and international collaboration.
Today, as a senior academic and researcher, he’s still growing and shaping his career, pursuing a Master’s in Education and working on several papers exploring topics such as corporate social responsibility in hospitality, food tourism, and cultural heritage tourism.
Read about Dr Naumov’s professional journey and discover the pathways from PhD to academia and beyond.
What was your PhD research about, and what inspired you to explore that topic?
I completed my PhD at the Department of Geography at King’s College London. My thesis examined the myriad interrelationships between heritage, identity, and tourism, focusing on post-socialist Central and Eastern Europe—a region long associated with political, economic, and social transformations since the collapse of the socialist regime.
Drawing on two case studies from post-socialist Bulgaria, I explored how communist ideologies had shaped the role of cultural heritage during the socialist period, and how the processes of decentralisation of political power, the legacy of socialist ties, and tourism development have changed the understanding and interpretation of heritage after 1989.
My study examined how these influences contributed to the development of heritage as a political, social, and economic resource, and further evaluated how the socialist past shaped the construction of national identities and post-socialist ideologies.
How did your supervisor support you, and do you have any advice for choosing the right one?
I began my studies under the supervision of Dr Tony Johnston, who was the first to believe in me and saw the potential in my research.
Later, I had the chance to work with Dr Ruth Craggs and the late Prof David Harrison—two extremely knowledgeable, kind, and supportive academics, to whom I will always be grateful for their motivation, encouragement, and constant support. They stood by me unconditionally, even when I was late submitting drafts or had difficulties balancing my PhD studies with full-time work.
Unlike many others, they were not solely focused on the completion of my thesis. Instead, they cared deeply about my intellectual growth as a researcher, academic, and person.
So, my advice for choosing the right supervisor is: choose the person who supports you, not just your thesis.
Now that you supervise PhD students yourself, do you think your own experience as a student has shaped how you approach the role?
Yes, fundamentally so. During my studies, I was always treated with respect and supported as a researcher. As a result, I consider all my doctoral students as fellow researchers and experts in their own fields.
I’m not a huge fan of the term PhD student—in fact, I believe it is misleading and, to an extent, disrespectful. We should refer to doctoral candidates as PhD researchers. My approach has always been centred on mutual respect, support, and motivation.
What was your career journey like after completing your PhD?
Shortly after starting my PhD, I was employed as a part-time lecturer at West Herts College in Watford.
Although this was a maternity cover and an hourly-paid role in FE, it marked my first step into education, and I learned the fundamentals (the hard way!).
Until completing my PhD in 2019, I worked as a part-time lecturer at several private institutions in London and also as a part-time assistant at King’s. In 2015, I accepted an hourly-paid role at the University of Northampton, which became a full-time position in 2016.
At Northampton, I progressed to Senior Lecturer and also held roles as Deputy Head of Subject Group and Academic Partnership Liaison.
Today, I continue to be affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Business Practices. Additionally, I hold visiting and affiliated positions at universities in Germany, Spain, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
In what ways has your PhD helped you build international connections or work in international contexts?
My PhD provided a strong foundation for building international academic and professional networks. Conducting research that involved comparative and international case studies enabled me to engage with scholars, institutions, and conferences around the world.
Through fieldwork, international conferences, and publishing in global journals, I developed meaningful collaborations with academics from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. I highly recommend attending conferences as early as possible.
In my case, attending events in Oslo, Hong Kong, and Sheffield during the early stages of my PhD proved instrumental—the feedback and support I received were invaluable.
The interdisciplinary nature of my research also made it relevant across various cultural and academic settings, enabling me to work confidently in international environments.
Looking back, how do you think your PhD influenced your career and where you are today?
My PhD was pivotal in shaping my academic identity and long-term career. It taught me to think critically, manage complex projects, and contribute original knowledge to my field.
Beyond academic skills, it strengthened my resilience, independence, and ability to navigate uncertainty. The experience prepared me for academic leadership, research supervision, and curriculum development. It also gave me the credibility and confidence to work across borders and in multicultural settings.
Ultimately, my PhD served not just as a qualification but as a transformative experience that continues to shape my teaching, research, and global perspective.
What areas are you currently researching?
I am currently part of several projects related to domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria and heritage and cultural tourism in Mozambique.
I am also completing my own Master’s in Education, with research focused on business professionals’ motivations to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in the United Arab Emirates.
In addition, I am working on several papers covering diverse topics, including corporate social responsibility in hospitality, food tourism and gastronomy, and cultural and heritage tourism.
What are you hoping to achieve in the next few years, either in your research or more broadly?
Beyond academia, I am regularly invited as a keynote speaker at both scholarly and industry events, and I frequently deliver professional workshops as a trainer in hospitality and service excellence. This brings me back to my pre-academic days in the tourism and hospitality industries—an area I still cherish deeply. I hope to collaborate more with industry partners and clients in the near future.
I am also actively involved in consultancy. My experience includes projects with the Council of Europe, the UAE Prime Minister’s Office, and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai. I enjoy working with a diverse range of clients, including corporate organisations, destination management organisations (DMOs), educational institutions, government bodies, and non-profits, and I hope to develop this area further in the coming years.
Finally, I am developing my own mentoring and coaching practice for early-career researchers, doctoral candidates, and young academics in tourism, hospitality, and the broader social sciences.
Having navigated the academic journey from student to senior academic, I understand the challenges and opportunities at each stage. I aim to support individuals in developing not just their academic and research skills, but also their confidence, resilience, and clarity in planning their career paths.
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