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Doctoral College Newsletter - 28 October 2025
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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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Two new in-person courses taking place; find out more in the News section
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An AI-themed hackathon, Jam with PartyRock, is taking place at Streatham and Penryn; head to our Events section for the full details
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In the Opportunities section, there's a chance to have your say on the University's Digital Research Infrastructure to improve your research experience.
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
Events
Opportunities
Reminders
Community
Careers Support
Wellbeing Support and Sessions
Enquiries
The next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 11 November 2025. Please submit copy for the next newsletter by Wednesday 5 November 2025.
You can also share your news and events on PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage, or on our new Bluesky account.
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.
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New In-Person Courses: Insights from the Dean and PGR Skills Development and Network Building
Are you keen to meet more PGRs in person, whilst also learning key skills to help you in your research journey? Book onto our brand new course, Insights from the Dean, where Professor Stacey Hynd (Dean of Postgraduate Research and Doctoral College) will share advice on what to expect in the first year of your postgraduate research degree. This event is happening at Streatham Campus in Old Library 136 on Tuesday 11 November, 13.30-15.30, with separate St Luke's and Penryn events in 2026. You can ask questions on any topic and all year groups are welcome.
Help master your work-life balance and action planning with the return of an old favourite, PGR Skills Development and Network Building, on Wednesday 12 November, 10.00-12.00 at Streatham Campus in Old Library Training Room 4. This structured skills development session includes some time to mingle with other PGRs, with cake, fruit and refreshments.
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Sustainable Labs Induction – Mandatory Training for all lab users
The Sustainable Labs team has developed a new Sustainable Labs Induction, now available via PowerApps. This training is part of our commitment to embedding sustainable practices across our laboratories and aligns with wider faculty and institutional sustainability goals.
They are asking all staff working in laboratories to complete this induction as part of their mandatory training. The induction includes interactive content, guidance on sustainable lab practices, and a short quiz. It takes around 20–30 minutes to complete, and users must score at least 75% to pass.
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PGR/ECR Wellbeing Workshop: Sound Bath & Meditation
When: Thursday 30 October, 14.30 – 15:30
Where: Sports Centre Studio, Penryn Campus
Take time out from your day to enjoy an hour of calm and stillness. Participants will sit or lie down while traditional instruments are used to create soothing sounds and vibrations that mimic brainwave frequencies known to induce a state of calm.
This session will be led by Molly Hurford, owner of Soothing Sounds Falmouth. Molly trained in Integral Sound Healing with the Sound Healing Academy and is also a qualified counsellor.
Spaces are limited, please sign up using the button below. Queries to Postgraduate Peer Group at pgpg@exeter.ac.uk.
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Join on Wednesday 5 November, 09:00 to 17:00 for Jam with PartyRock, an exciting AI-themed Idea Jam (hackathon-style event) where you can design, prototype, and showcase creative AI solutions.
The event will take place simultaneously in Streatham and Penryn- please book on via the below links, where you can also find more information about the event:
With mentor support and tools like PartyRock (no-code AI) or Bedrock (developer tools), teams will tackle real-world challenges linked to Strategy 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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Exeter Health Analytics Network Early Career Researcher Event
Join the next Exeter Health Analytics Network Early Career Researcher (ECR) event on Wednesday 12 November 2025, 13.00-16.00 in Newman Purple Lecture Theatre, Peter Chalk Centre, Streatham Campus. This afternoon offers ECRs a chance to showcase research, explore collaborations, and connect across disciplines. You don’t need to be a current network member to attend—ECRs from all health-related disciplines are welcome.
We’re delighted to welcome guest speaker Dr Laura Güdemann, who will share insights into her work with causal inference methodologies and her career journey. If you’d like to present (5–10 mins), please indicate this on the registration form.
Registration is required for all attendees (presenting or not) to help us plan and cater. Please register by Wednesday 29 October using the form below. Refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Help shape our Digital Research Infrastructure
All PGRs are invited to some interactive workshops in coming weeks. All your research interacts with our digital systems in some way, from the storage of data of all forms, to large-scale computation. The Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) project team wants your help to co-design a modern and sustainable DRI. This will make our computational equipment, data storage, and support work better for you. Find out more online, come along to a workshop (register online) or give your views informally on the site.
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New Episode of Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast: How to make the most of a conference
In the second episode of our Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast series, PGR Aileen Kimuhu chats with our Dean of Postgraduate Research and Doctoral College, Professor Stacey Hynd, about how to make the most of a conference- whether you are attending or presenting. They also discuss the best ways of networking to help you make valuable connections.
Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast is a PGR podcast, by PGRs for PGRs, and this series is a mix of personal experience and practical advice. All our presenters are current PGRs and their guests are a mix of current PGRs, Exeter staff and Exeter alumni, delving into the subjects that interest you- from sharing perspectives as mature students to a panel discussion with alumni working in industry and academia
Follow us on Spotify, Amazon Music and Podbean for the latest updates; you'll also be able to access the episodes on our Essentials webpage.
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Visiting Research Student Fellowships with Université Paris-Saclay, France
The University of Exeter is offering two funded Fellowships for doctoral research students (MPhil, PhD, Professional Doctorates) to undertake a short research project (2 – 8 weeks) with the Université Paris-Saclay, France. Each Fellowship is worth up to £3,300 with the funds available to support travel, accommodation, living expenses and other costs. This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience in an international and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The application deadline is Monday 10 November 2025 with Fellowships expected to be undertaken between January 2026 and 31 July 2026. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/globalpartnerships/funding/ and choose the ‘Exeter-Paris-Saclay Visiting Research Fellowship programme’ dropdown.
Deadline: Monday 10 November 2025
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Visting Research Student Fellowships with the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), Canada
As part of the Exeter-UBCO Sustainability and Resilience Partnership the University of Exeter is offering at least two funded Fellowships for doctoral research students to undertake a short research project (2 – 8 weeks) with the University of British Columbia Okanagan (Canada). We welcome project proposals in the focus areas of: Adaptation to Climate and Ecological Change, Innovative Health Initiatives, and Enhancing Social Justice. Each Fellowship is worth up to £4,000 with the funds available to support travel, accommodation, living expenses and other costs. This is an exciting opportunity to gain research experience in an international and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The application deadline is Wednesday 12 November 2025 with Fellowships to be undertaken between 1 January 2026 and 31 July 2026.
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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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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, Volleyball, 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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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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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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PAFS: Parent and Family Support
Parent and Family Support (PAFs) is a community of university wide student parents that currently has 100 registered members from the University of Exeter, with individuals choosing to attend inclusive events that best fit their schedules and family responsibilities. The group has expanded to support a wider community, as well as ‘mature-mature’ students with or without children, and postdoctoral researchers, at the University of Exeter who were drawn to our inclusive community.
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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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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 10.00 – 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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