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

• In our News section, we announce the recipients of the Dean of PGRs' Commendations for PGR Academic Citizenship and the Dean of PGRs' Commendations for Excellence in Supervision
• In our Events section, find out about Emotionally Challenging Research Group's session on journalling
• Check out our Reminders session for full details of PGR Study Space Coordinator vacancy- deadline 12.00 (noon) on Wednesday 25 June. 

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

Reminders

Careers Support and Sessions

Wellbeing Support and Sessions

Enquiries

Our next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 8 July 2025. If you have a news story or opportunity you would like to advertise, please email ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 25 June 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 2 July.

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Dean of PGRs' Commendations for Academic Citizenship. The Academic Citizenship Commendation recognises PGRs who contribute to a supportive and inclusive research community.

We have included departments and research affiliations where specified by the individual.

The following PGRs were awarded the Dean of PGR’s Commendations for Academic Citizenship:
• Heidi Affi (HASS, Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies: Middle East Politics)
• Aseel Ali (ESE, Department of Computer Science)
• Kiara Brooksby (ESE)
• Marcus G. Hibbeln (HASS, Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies)
• Ranadheer (Ranu) Malla (HASS, Centre for Climate Communication & Data Science (C3DS))
• Michelle Louise Michelsen (HLS)
• Dorcas Nduakoh (ESE, Department of Finance and Accounting)
• Felix Pym (ESE)
• Charlie Wilson (ESE)
• Cuihong Xie (HLS, Academy of Nursing, Health and Social Care Professions)
• Minlin (Minny) Zou (HASS, School of Education)

Congratulations to all our recipients for the work they do to support our postgraduate research community.

 

We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Dean of PGR’s Commendations for Excellence in Supervision. This new award celebrates supervisors who go above and beyond basic role requirements.

We have included departments and research affiliations where specified by the individual.

The following supervisors were awarded the Dean of PGR’s Commendations For Excellence in Supervision:

• Professor Sergio Catignani (HASS, School of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology)
• Professor Travis G. Coan (HASS, SPSA)
• Associate Professor Andrew Cunliffe (ESE, Terrestrial Ecosystems Science and Services (TESS) Lab group, Department of Geography)
• Professor Stephen Disney (ESE, Centre for Simulation, Analytics and Modelling in the Business School)
• Honorary Associate Professor Sharon Dixon (HLS)
• Professor David B. Dose (ESE, University of Exeter Business School)
• Professor Judith Green (HASS, Centre for Cultures & Environments of Health)
• Professor Danielle Hipkins (HASS)
• Professor Daniel Kattnig (ESE, Department of Physics, Living Systems Institute)
• Dr Anke Lange (HLS)
• Professor Joasia Luzak (HASS, University of Exeter Law School)
• Professor Jane Milling (HASS, Communications, Drama & Film)
• Dr William Seviour (ESE, Department of Mathematics, Statistics, Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics Group)
• Professor Konstantinos Thomaidis (HASS, Communications, Drama & Film)
• Professor Andrea Wallace (HASS, University of Exeter Law School)
• Dr Xingchen Zhang (ESE, Fusion Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Computer Science)

Congratulations to all our recipients for the work they do to support our postgraduate researchers.

Date: Friday 27 June
Time: 12.30-13.30
Venue: Online via MS Teams

Join the Emotionally Challenging Research Group for this session, offering individuals a chance to share their challenges encountered on their PhD journey so far.  We will discuss our experiences and look at ways to support each other with a focus, this time, on journalling:

• Have you used it, if so how did you find it?
• Have you been recommended it but are a little unsure?
• Practicalities involved journaling.
• Using it as a reflexive tool.

Join the meeting online- please see MS Teams information below:
Meeting ID: 381 149 267 697 8
Passcode: e8Jb2yy3

Contact Kirsty McCann with any queries: kc575@exeter.ac.uk

Please note, the below opportunity is only open to students in the final year of their research degree (as well as research staff).

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) has launched the 2025 call for its Research Development Fund (RDF), which offers grants of up to £10,000 to support international research collaborations among academic staff at WUN member institutions.

Proposals should align with WUN’s focus on sustainable development and demonstrate the added value of working across borders and contexts, themes such as:
• social justice and inequality.
• urbanization, energy, food, and water security;
• mental, maternal, and ageing-related health.
• the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

There is an Internal Application Process to shortlist up to two Exeter-led proposals; deadline is Thursday 11 September 2025.

Please contact Emma Clarke via GP-Funding@exeter.ac.uk for more information.

Our Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme is conducting a survey around housing and finance for international students. This survey will assist in the University's understanding of problems and barriers international students may face and will feed into building solutions through the University's International Student Strategy.

The survey will take around ten minutes to complete and you can enter a prize draw to win one of two £50 Amazon vouchers, or one of two £10 Amazon vouchers. The survey will close on Sunday 6 July 2025.

If you have any further questions regarding the survey please contact fli-cohort@exeter.ac.uk

Apply here by 12.00 (12 noon) on Wednesday 25 June; please read the full details of the role below before application.

We are looking to appoint someone to coordinate the running of the PGR Study Space. PGR Study Space is an online space to work alongside other PGRs, run by PGRs for PGRs, to help PGRs focus on tasks by running facilitated sessions using the Pomodoro technique – 25-50 minutes of time writing, then a short break. As well as being a useful method for productivity, it is also a valuable opportunity for PGRs to meet other PGRs from other 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 PTA rate (currently £20.95 per hour)

If you would like to discuss this casual role before applying, please contact the current coordinator Jo Sutherst (js1187@exeter.ac.uk) or the Researcher Development Managers (PGRs) Kathryn Coombes/Gabby Davies (rdpgr@exeter.ac.uk).

 

The Doctoral College is working with the Career Zone on an “Inspiring Future Researchers” project to encourage students from *underrepresented groups to consider research as an achievable career choice.

We’re looking for Postgraduate Researchers (PGR’s) and postdoctoral researchers (ECR’s) from similar underrepresented backgrounds to share their stories (the highs and the challenges!) to illustrate that research is an attainable goal.

We’ll be using various channels to share stories including online profiles and prerecorded podcasts. If you’d like to find out more and get involved in the project, please complete the short registration of interest form.

*Underrepresented groups include those students who identify with at least one of the following indicators as defined by the University of Exeter’s Access and Participation plan 2025-29: socio-economically disadvantaged background, 1st generation in family to access Higher Education, Bursary recipient, mature, Disabled (physical, mental health condition, social and communication or multiple disabilities), ethnic minority, care experienced or estranged from family.

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.

The Exeter Wellbeing Network is a social group for staff and PGRs, 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.

 

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.

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.

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.