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Doctoral College Newsletter - 24 February 2026
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The Doctoral College Newsletter provides you with fortnightly updates for events, opportunities and news specifically relevant to postgraduate researchers.
Here are just some of the highlights this week:
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We are looking for students to beta test the brand new Development Needs Analysis Tool for PGRs; full details in the Opportunities section
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Applications are now open for the role of PGR Study Space Coordinator; find out more about this paid opportunity in our Opportunities section
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Important changes have been made to the TQA; head to the Reminders section to read the key updates
To find out more about these, and everything else at the University for PGRs, jump to the relevant sections using our linked contents list:
Opportunities
Events
External Opportunities
Reminders
Community
Careers Support
Wellbeing Support and Sessions
Enquiries
The next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 17 March 2026. Please submit items for the next newsletter by Wednesday 11 March 2026. Please refer to our style guide before submitting your item.
You can also share your news and events on PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage, or on our Bluesky account.
The place to look for training and development opportunities at the University and beyond is our Postgraduate Researcher Training and Development Bulletin.
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Sign up to beta test the brand-new Development Needs Analysis (DNA) tool for PGRs
Looking for a new tool to support you in assessing and planning your professional development? Interested in helping to shape the replacement to the Training Needs Analysis? Then please sign up as a beta tester for the new DNA.
We are looking for PGRs to pilot the DNA over the coming two months, ahead of its launch in September 2026.
The DNA provides a structured process to help to identify your current skills, knowledge, and experience, assess gaps, and plan targeted development activities. It is intended to be a tool for reflecting on your professional growth, one that evolves with you across your postgraduate research journey. By providing examples from your experience, you will begin to see patterns in how you learn, grow, and respond to challenges. You can also use the DNA to guide discussions with your supervisor regarding your development needs.
To register your interest in participating, please email Dr Gabby Davies and Kathryn Coombes, Researcher Development Manager (PGRs) at RDPGR@exeter.ac.uk by Thursday 6 March 2026.
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Could you be the new PGR Study Space Coordinator?
We are now recruiting for a coordinator for the PGR Study Space. The PGR Study Space is an online space to work alongside other PGRs, run by PGRs for PGRs. It aims to help you focus on tasks by running facilitated sessions using the Pomodoro Technique (25-50 minutes of focused work, then a short break). As well as being a useful method for productivity, it is also a valuable opportunity for you to meet other PGRs from different faculties and disciplines and gain peer support.
This role involves
• Preparing the schedule for facilitated sessions
• Promoting PGR Study Space
• Recruitment and support of volunteer PGR Study Space Facilitators
• Recording and reporting on the number of attendees at sessions
• Working with the Researcher Development Managers (PGR) to further develop PGR Study Space.
Time commitment is roughly 1 hour per week and is paid at the standard Postgraduate Teaching Associates (PTAs) rate (currently £21.24 per hour)
If you would like to discuss this casual role before applying, please contact the current coordinator Ellie Hepworth (PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk) or the Researcher Development Manager (PGRs) Kathryn Coombes/Gabby Davies (rdpgr@exeter.ac.uk).
To apply, please complete this PGR Study Space Coordinator application form by 12 noon on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
Deadline for applications: 12 noon on Tuesday 17 March 2026.
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Exeter Open Research Awards 2026 – PhD Call for Case Studies
Are you championing open and reproducible research in your PhD? The Exeter Open Research Awards 2026 are now open to registered doctoral students across the University.
Submit a short case study showcasing best practice in open research within your discipline. This could include publishing preprints, sharing code or data, conducting a registered report, developing open-source software, pre-publication peer review, or promoting open research in teaching.
Prize vouchers will be awarded in each Faculty, and winners will present their work at the Award Ceremony on Thursday 18 June 2026 at the South West Institute of Technology (SWIOT), Streatham Campus. This is your opportunity to gain recognition for advancing transparency, rigour, and accessibility in research.
Please note: previous prize or commendation winners are not eligible this year.
Deadline for applications: Wednesday 29 April 2026
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Human Tissue Act Training- Tuesday 31 March
Are you removing, storing or using any human tissue for research or teaching? The Human Tissue Act (HTA) training is mandatory for anyone working with human tissue samples at the University of Exeter. The next session is on Tuesday 31 March at 10.00 (online).
If you plan to collect informed consent as part of your research, you need to attend the Informed Consent training, also held on Tuesday 31 March at 11.15 (online).
You should attend these training sessions even if the human tissues that you work with are later rendered acellular (for example, plasma or urine). This helps ensure that all researchers at the University understand their responsibilities under the Human Tissue Act and feel confident in meeting those obligations. If you have previously completed this training but have not stored samples or taken consent in previous two years, then you should re-attend.
Please contact the HTA team on HTA-return@exeter.ac.uk for further enquiries or to book your place.
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IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota
This postdoctoral opportunity is for scholars who currently hold a PhD or will complete their PhD by this summer.
University of Minnesota are recruiting a fourth cohort for the IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment (IonE). The position focuses on interdisciplinary research and community collaboration to advance real-world, equitable sustainability solutions.
They will be hosting multiple live calls for interested candidates to connect and ask questions. There is also recordings of this year and previous webinars that provide an overview of the program, tips and tricks, and answer the most common questions from applicants. If you'd like to learn more or know what it is like to be an IonE Postdoctoral Fellow, you are encouraged to attend one or more of these webinars.
Deadline for applications: 17.00 U.S. Central Time (23.00 BST) on Wednesday 29 April 2026.
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VIU Graduate Seminar International Law in the Age of AI and Cyber, October 26-30, 2026- Call For Applications open
VIU Graduate Seminar International Law in the Age of AI and Cyber is being co-organised with partners from VIU member universities later this year. By virtue of Exeter’s full membership in VIU, our PhD students, junior researchers & Masters students who are accepted to take part are entitled to full fee waiver scholarships, free accommodation at San Servolo, and travel grants are available. A maximum number of 6 students per member university/institution can be admitted.
This event will be relevant for those with a background in International Law, EU Law, Public and Comparative Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, Cybersecurity Sciences, Political Sciences, or International Relations.
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You Asked, We Did! PGR Fieldwork Resources
Some of you indicated in your PRES survey and Researcher Development workshop feedback that you wanted more guidance on preparing for your fieldwork, whether you are literally digging in a field in the UK, or travelling overseas for interviews, archives or nature reserves. So we have developed some new training and resources to help you prepare for your fieldwork.
This includes a new 'one-stop' handbook that contains key information and advice, timelines and flowcharts, and new online and in-person training workshops. The resources cover everything from planning and selecting fieldsites at the start of your programme, to ethics and risk assessments, budgeting, packing and travel advice, to tips on lone working when you are in the field, and what to do when you get back to your desk at the end.
We hope that you will find these resources really useful, and that they will make preparing for your fieldwork (and trying to navigate all the related university websites) easier and more straightforward. Happy planning and safe travels!
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Check out The Writing Brain: a new online academic writing resource
The PGR Researcher Development & Research Culture team are excited to announce the launch of The Writing Brain, a one-stop website to help support your academic writing development. It contains a wealth of resources from the basics, through clarity and style to structure and includes mini video lectures and practical worksheets on a wide variety of topics.
A big thank you to Dr Emily Bernhard Jackson for curating all content and to Research England for funding this resource.
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Introduction of Turnitin at Upgrade
For students starting in the 2025/6 academic year, Turnitin will be introduced as part of the upgrade submission. Turnitin is a formative tool to identify poor research practice and to facilitate discussion between students, upgrade committees, and supervisors. Students will need to enrol on an ELE module to upload their work to Turnitin and will be required to share the similarity report with their upgrade portfolio.
Full details are available under the upgrade tab in the DC Handbook.
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PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage
The PGR Community Hub is a collaborative online space for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Exeter. Posts can be uploaded by PGRs, The Exeter Students' Guild or The Falmouth and Exeter Students' Union, alongside teams that support PGRs such as the Researcher Development and Research Culture Team. Please use this space to discuss ideas, share best practice, ask questions and keep up to date with the latest activities, events and opportunities. Here you can have your voice heard and shape our community and research culture.
Please do not use this channel to advertise/search for rooms to rent; the University has its own Viva Engage channel where you can do this.
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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.
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.
If you have any queries, please contact PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk.
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The Exeter Wellbeing Network is a social group for staff and PGRs run by volunteers, hosting a variety of events to help colleagues based at Streatham, St. Luke's or online to connect with one another. Recurring events include StaffCraft, singing, Walk and Talk and Fika; find the full list on our webpage.
You can also contact us at wellbeing-network@exeter.ac.uk.
If you are looking for information about activities at Penryn, Falmouth and Truro, please visit the Cornwall Wellbeing Network webpage.
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Doctoral College Networks and Student Societies
There are a wide range of societies and/or groups that you may like to join, such as the Mature Students Society and the PG Society (Exeter).
Check out the Doctoral College Networks webpage for full information. Don't forget to also take a look at the societies on offer at Exeter Students' Guild and Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union websites, which include a society for international students as well as various sports and interests.
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All Staff Choir at Penryn Campus, Tuesdays 13.10-13.55
A relaxed, informal singing group to promote positive wellbeing and a sense of community and connection across our lovely campus. No experience necessary! Open to all staff and postgraduate students from Exeter, Falmouth, FX Plus, the SU, and any other organisation that is based on Penryn campus. If you know someone who might like to join, please encourage them to fill out this interest form.
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Career Support Resources at University of Exeter
The University has some excellent resources to help with careers. Whether you plan to work in industry, set up your own business, join the third sector, stay in academia, or are not yet sure and want to explore your options, you can find guidance and helpful pointers using these resources:
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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
Spectrum.Life provides a confidential telephone, video, and live chat counselling service to help with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bereavement and more (sign up using your University of Exeter email address).. 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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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 10.00 – 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.
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