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Doctoral College Newsletter - 11 November 2024
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Nominations Close 12pm on Friday 22 November- The Dean of PGR’s Commendation for PGR Academic Citizenship
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The deadline for nominations has been extended to 12pm (midday) on Friday 22 November 2024.
The Dean of PGR and the Doctoral College are delighted to announce the creation of a new award: The Dean of PGR’s Commendation for PGR Academic Citizenship. The award was established to celebrate and recognise the outstanding PGRs who have demonstrated excellence in academic citizenship, research community and research culture development, and who have supported and improved the experience of their fellow PGRs.
Anyone can nominate a PGR who has shown excellence in the following areas:
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Contributing to a supportive and inclusive research environment in their department/ centre/ faculty/ university
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Contributing to a supportive and inclusive research community in their department/ centre/ faculty/ university
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Organisation, development and/or delivery of student-led workshops, symposia, reading groups, research culture resources;
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Mentoring and supporting less experienced students/peers;
For more information and to nominate someone for the Dean of PGR’s Commendation, check out the nomination form.
Nominations close: 12pm (midday) on Friday 22 November 2024
Outcomes will be announced: W/B Monday 25 November 2024
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In-Person AI Discussion Opportunity- Tuesday 19 November
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Venue: Seminar Room A, XFI/SA, Streatham Campus
Date: Tuesday 19 November 2024
Time: 10.30-11.30
Come along and have your say on the use of AI in your field, the position of the AI statement and anything else AI or Postgraduate researcher related. All postgraduate researchers welcome!
Discussion topics:
- Any thoughts you have about the state of the AI statement
- The Use of AI in your field and its relation to a university setting
- Any AI events you want to see available to PGRs
- Communication channels for AI related information
- Anything else you want to raise!
This initial focus of the discussion will be AI- however, you are more than welcome to raise any other concerns or questions you may have regarding anything postgraduate research related.
Kind Regards,
Your Postgraduate Research Officers,
James Thomas & Sunisa Satitanechai
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Movember: Spotlighting Men's Health Webinar- Wednesday 20 November
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Venue: Webinar
Date: Wednesday 20 November 2024
Time: 13.15-14.00
November (aka ‘Movember’) is Men’s Mental Health Awareness month, and Spectrum Life are delivering a webinar featuring guest experts who will share crucial information about looking after all aspects of men's health and wellbeing.
You can add the webinar to your Outlook calendar HERE. For more information about the support available to you please visit Colleague Wellbeing.
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Images of Research - Winners and Display
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Our Images of Research competition gives Early Career Researchers the opportunity to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience. We would like to invite you to view all entries at the Forum, Streatham Campus, Tuesday 12 November 2024 – Tuesday 14 January 2025. If you can’t make it in person, you can view all the entries from this year’s competition in our online booklet.
We’ve had a wonderful selection of images from skateboarding 50-somethings to seafloor mud-dwelling animals, which help move carbon and keep the ecosystem healthy.
Congratulations to our winners:
1st place - 'Blueberries for Osteoarthritis', Lauren Struszczak (Arts and Culture Commendation also)
2nd place - 'The Real Guardians of Arrakis', Adam Porter
3rd place - 'Josh at Stockwell Skatepark', Paul O'Connor
Dr Chris Wood, Head of Researcher Development and Research Culture, who has overseen the competition since its inception commented: “The variety of striking research images never ceases to amaze me. It’s been a fascinating journey and it’s exciting to see our research evolving across the University in such a striking and visual way.”
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Applications Close 12pm on Thursday 5 December: Researcher-Led Initiatives (RLI’s) Funding Award Scheme
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Don't forget to sign up for our webinar on How to Prepare a Strong Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) Application (Monday 18 November 2024, 13.00-14.00) if you are planning to apply for an RLI!
The Researcher-led Initiative awards are intended to enable postgraduate research students and early career research staff to be creative, proactive, and empowered, through the process of initiating, designing, managing, and delivering new professional development activities for their peers that will develop the skills and experience needed to progress their careers. Initiatives can be delivered via hybrid, remote and in-person activities.
Applications need to align with one or more of the following themes:
• Developing an engaged research culture;
• Leadership;
• Communication;
• Wellbeing.
Funding is available (maximum of £2000 per award) to support projects, events, and initiatives on these themes. Collaborative and inter-disciplinary applications are encouraged!
Deadline for applications: Thursday 5 December 2024 (12 noon).
Please note: all initiatives need to be completed and funds fully spent by 27 June 2025.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss an idea for an application, please contact researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.
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GW4 Open Research Prize 2024/25 - competition now open!
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In celebration of International Open Access Week, the GW4 Alliance is excited to announce the launch of the 2024/25 Open Research Prize competition.
Led by the University of Bath Library Services, in partnership with GW4 Library Services and the GW4 Alliance, this year’s Prize will recognise outstanding entries that showcase exemplary open research practices in one of three award categories:
• Widening Reach
• Improving Quality
• Poster Prize
The Prize is open to submissions from all researchers (including postgraduate research students), in all disciplines, across the GW4 Alliance universities. Applications from technical and professional services staff, who conduct or support open research, are also welcomed and encouraged.
The Prize forms part of GW4 Open Research Week, which celebrates best practices in open research, taking place next year from Monday 31 March – Friday 4 April 2025. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend an in-person awards ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at the University of Bath.
Deadline for submissions: Friday 14 February 2025
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Exploring and understanding students' perceptions of entrepreneurship
This research study intends to explore and understand the international students' perceptions of entrepreneurship, in addition to examining how these perceptions compare to home students and students in other academic levels and disciplines. As students in higher education, your input is crucial for advancing the understanding of the factors that drive career choices and motivations.
This portion of the research is a short self administered survey that is designed to collect responses from current UK students (home and international) across all academic levels. The survey shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria: You are enrolled (registered) and studying within the UK, at a UK Higher Education Institute or Provider, at any level, and you are classified as a Home or an International student (by your university and/or the UKVI).
Please contact Said Al-Kindy (sa841@exeter.ac.uk) if you have any queries about this study.
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Is Alexithymia a risk factor for benzodiazepine use?
Alexithymia is a difficulty identifying and describing feelings and emotions. People who score high on 'alexithymia' measurements have trouble identifying their emotional state. They often don't experience them as specific states such as "I am hungry" but more general like "I feel negative". High levels of Alexithymia have been associated with problematic alcohol and drug use. Potentially, if a person experiences their emotional state as a vague state, this could make someone more susceptible to use alcohol and drugs to regulate their emotions.
In this project we are studying whether Alexithymia forms a potential risk factor for problematic use of Benzodiazepines. In this survey, we will be measuring levels of Alexithymia and benzodiazepines use and dependence. Also, testing if recent stress, anxiety and/or depression leads individuals who score higher on Alexithymia to use more Benzodiazepines.
Complete this survey via the link below or by scanning the QR code on the right.
If you have any queries about this study, please contact Sophie Coles (shc220@exeter.ac.uk).
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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 core facilitated hours are:
Monday 10:00am-12:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am-12:00pm
Friday 10:00am-12:00pm
There are unfacilitated sessions outside of these hours so you can fit it around your working patterns.
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1-2-1 career appointments available
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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.
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Wellbeing Support and Sessions
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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
Sprectrum.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.
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Join the Penryn Campus Sea Shanty Choir!
Calling all seasoned sailors and landlubbers alike! Come and join our relaxed and friendly singing group for a weekly maritime singsong, guided by local musician and singer Charlotte Cripwell. Enjoy the mood-boosting effects of group singing while having fun and learning some traditional Cornish sea shanties.
When: Every Wednesday, 13:00-14:00
Where: Stella Turk Seminar room, Penryn Campus
Brought to you by the Cornwall Wellbeing Network.
If you have any queries or wish to receive a calendar invite, please contact Tasha Hammond.
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Nurture-U: Are you feeling worried about your thesis or other PhD work?
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.
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Free Mindfulness Sessions for Wellbeing
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.
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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 10.00am – 3.00pm 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 10.00am – 3.00pm Monday to 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 10.00am – 2.00pm 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.
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