Welcome to this fortnight's edition of Doctoral College Newsletter; here are just some of the highlights this week:

• Read our Opportunities section for information on applying to be a PTA for Researcher Development Programme 2025/2026
• Another highlight in our Opportunities section is the announcement that applications are open for the Research Showcase competitions
• Visit our Community section for an opportunity to get involved with the running of PAFS (Parent and Family Support)- multiple voluntary roles available.

To find out more about these, and everything else at the University for PGRs, jump to the relevant sections using our linked contents list:

News

Opportunities

Community

Reminders

Careers Support and Sessions

Wellbeing Support and Sessions

Enquiries

Our next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 27 May 2025. If you have a news story or opportunity you would like to advertise, please email ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 21 May 2025.

Please refer to our style guide before submitting your item.

The place to look for training and development opportunities at the University and beyond is our Postgraduate Researcher Training and Development Bulletin. The next bulletin will be sent out on Wednesday 4 June.

Did you know that we have a dedicated PGR Training & Development Resources SharePoint site where you can access course slides and other learning resources from our training programme? There’s also links to external resources such as Vitae and Research Methods Centre. Refresh your knowledge from courses you have already attended or explore new topics. This site is continuously updated so you can refer to it throughout your degree.

Recently added items include Vitae researcher booklets on The Informed Researcher and The Creative Researcher.

The PGR Research Showcase is your chance to share your work, build your research profile, and develop valuable presentation and communication skills. Whether you’re presenting or attending, it’s a brilliant way to connect with the wider PGR community and explore the breadth of research happening across the University.

Enter the Poster Competition to showcase your research and be in with a chance to win a prize. Poster displays also open to all on:
• Monday 2 – Wednesday 4 June at Penryn in Upper Stanary
• Monday 16 – Wednesday 18 June at Streatham in Terrace Restaurant

Take on the Exeter Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and summarise your thesis in just three minutes to a friendly, non-specialist audience at the final on Wednesday 18 June.

For training resources on creating a poster and presentation skills please visit PGR Training & Development Resources Sharepoint site.

Can’t enter this year? Visit the exhibitions to support your peers and get inspired!

👉 Enter the PGR Poster Competition by 12.00 (pm) on Wednesday 28 May

👉 Enter Three Minute Thesis (3MT) by 12.00 (pm) on Wednesday 11 June

 

Questions? Email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk

 

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the recruitment of several casual Postgraduate Teaching Associates (PTAs) on our central  Researcher Development Programme for PGRs programme 2025/2026.  If you are interested in joining us and would like to develop your facilitation & training skills, please complete this  application form by Monday 9 June 2025 at 12.00 (noon) GMT. Please note that this is  NOT  the application form for Faculty and Department PTA roles, which are advertised and recruited separately.

 

Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held virtually on Monday 23 June 2025 or Tuesday 24 June 2025, and will include a micro-presentation followed by interview questions. This is an opportunity to tell us about yourself and to give us an idea of your presentation style. If you are shortlisted, please make sure that you are available on these dates as unfortunately, we are unable to offer any alternatives. 

 

If you have any questions, please email Gabby & Kathryn at  rdpgr@exeter.ac.uk  with ‘PTA recruitment query’ in the title. 

 

We look forward to receiving your application.

Anthrozoology as International Practice (AIP) is an international, online, free student conference organised by PGRs and alumni from Exeter’s Anthrozoology programme. All organisers are volunteers passionate about promoting anthrozoology/human-animal studies and building a supportive network of early-career peers. The conference is in its fifth year and they encourage submissions from undergrads, master’s, recent alumni, and PhD students from around the world.

The event is FREE and takes place online, Friday 12- Saturday 13 September 2025.

The call for papers closes Monday 16 June 2025 (and is unlikely to be extended).

There are some FAQ and links to resources on their webpage and you can watch their informational videos on YouTube.

Bookmark their page or follow them on Bluesky, X and Instagram. You can tag them to share any anthrozoology-related content.

Deadline to submit papers: Monday 16 June 2025

For all events and information for student parents please visit our new website.

To ensure the sustainability of the group we are seeking PGRs to take on new roles. We rely on PGRs who seek to improve not only their experience but others too. Please contact us if you are interested in taking on a role:
• Leadership
• Events planning
• Admin and social media

Join fellow PGRs in this online space, led by PGRs for PGRs to focus individually on whatever tasks you would like to work on. You can join the PGR Study Space Microsoft Teams Group here, or for further information, please contact Jo Sutherst.

The PGR Study Space facilitated hours are as and when facilitators are available.

There are unfacilitated sessions outside of these hours so you can fit it around your working patterns.

During a successful first term, our staff choir has evolved and now enjoys singing a range of both classical and contemporary songs, with only the occasional sea shanty 😉 Do consider dropping in for a mid-week singalong and enjoy the mood-boosting effects of group singing while having fun, all under the expert guidance of local artist and musician, Charlotte Cripwell.

Every Wednesday, 13.00 – 14.00, Stella Turk Seminar room, Penryn Campus.

Brought to you by the Cornwall Wellbeing Network- enquiries to Natasha Hammond or Andrew Pye.

The Dean of PGR and the Doctoral College are delighted to launch two Dean’s Commendation schemes for postgraduate researchers.

Following a successful pilot, we welcome nominations for PGRs who have displayed excellence in Academic Citizenship, and for a new award for Excellence in PGR Supervision.

The Academic Citizenship Commendation recognises PGRs who contribute to a supportive and inclusive research community. The new Supervision award celebrates supervisors who go above and beyond basic role requirements.

Nominations are open to all – PGRs, Directors of PGR, support teams, and supervisors.

Submit your nomination by completing the below forms by 12.00 (midday) on Monday 19 May 2025:
Excellence in PGR Supervision
Excellence in Academic Citizenship

Award outcomes will be announced the week beginning Monday 9 June, with receptions at Penryn and Streatham in the week beginning Monday 16 June.

You will be pleased to hear that the Travel Risk Assessment for International Travel has been updated to make it more concise and easier to complete. Please note that risk assessments for Fieldwork have not changed. You can find all the guidance on travelling internationally and latest risk assessments on the Travel Sharepoint. Guidance for travellers and approvers on completing risk assessments has also been updated.

New rules now also apply to personal travel. Holiday travel taken in conjunction with business travel will no longer be covered under the University of Exeter travel insurance policy. Only incidental travel in the country associated with University travel will be covered.

If you have any questions, please contact the Insurance Team at insurance@exeter.ac.uk.

1-2-1 careers appointments with our dedicated PGR careers coach, Kenneth Howgill, are available to book on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Kenneth is a qualified and experienced career coach, lecturer and learning and development professional with over 20 years’ experience within the corporate sector, universities, further and adult education. He has held management roles in the public, corporate and not for profit sectors, leading professional development, coaching programmes, and recruiting graduates. Kenneth is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and holds a business degree, a master's in music and a professional career coaching qualification.

All appointments are 50 minutes long. Please contact researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk if there are any technical difficulties.

Every Mind Matters
Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. The NHS have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing. See their website here.

 

Spectrum.Life
Spectrum.Life provides a confidential telephone, video, and live chat counselling service to help with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bereavement and more. The Spectrum Life web portal offers wellbeing courses, mindfulness, healthy eating resources and online fitness classes to help you to stay well.

Wellbeing Centre
If you would like to speak to PGR Education Welfare Team for Welfare, they can be contacted at welfare.pgr@exeter.ac.uk or tel: 01392 726207. Further wellbeing information, tools and support can be found on our wellbeing webpages.

The Nurture-U team are offering FREE resources and therapies to help with confidence and stress while doing your PhD.
We have:
1. An online toolkit, to help you track your mood over time and manage your busy lives
2. An innovative app to build confidence,
3. Online therapy, with a therapist or self-guided, and
4. A resilience workbook, with support from a therapist.
All these options have been proven to work, we’re just researching who responds best to what type of support. You can hopefully improve your wellbeing, earn shopping vouchers, and help other students in the future by contributing to research!

Any questions, please email nurture-u@exeter.ac.uk. You can also follow us on Instagram.

Mindfulness is a powerful practice of training our attention and an evidence-based way to tackle anxiety, stress and low mood. If you’re interested in exploring more, there is a variety of free internal options available for all colleagues.

Sessions from the internal Mood Disorders Centre mindfulness team include: an eight-week MBCT-L course (2hrs weekly), an eight-week ‘deeper mindfulness’ course for those who’ve completed the MBCT-L course and bespoke ‘healthy mind’ sessions for whole teams, which can be delivered in-person or online.

You may also be interested in trying mindful meditation in 30 min online sessions each Thursday lunchtime. This is a secular practice run by the Chaplaincy.

Details on how you can contact the PGR support team, either via email, telephone or face to face via our hubs (located on all campuses) is available on our contact us webpage.

Remember you can come along and meet the team or to ask any enquiries you might have at either of our helpdesk hubs below at any of our campuses:

The Streatham PGR Hub is open from 10.00 – 15.00 Monday to Friday. The Streatham Hub is situated in the Old Library Ground Floor next to the Quiet Study Space and Bill Douglas Centre.

The St Luke’s PGR Hub is open from 10.00 – 15.00 on a Monday and a Thursday. Students wishing to access the hub should go to the Info at St Luke’s desk and request PGR support, the PGR team will then be called to see you.

The Penryn PGR Support Office is open from 10.00 – 14.00 Monday to Friday. It is based in the Postgraduate Suite in Daphne Du Maurier building 3 (next to the SU and opposite the Stannary).

For enquiries surrounding training and development, please contact the team on: ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk

You can view previous versions of the newsletter here.