Welcome to this fortnight's issue of the Doctoral College Newsletter. In the following sections you will find:

• Research Showcase, Three Minute Thesis Competition: invite to join us!
• Research Showcase: Tweet Your Thesis Competition Opens 5th June!
• Registration Open: PGR Coffee, Cake and Conversation
• Early completion of your PhD and your visa
• Exeter Students’ Guild PGR Summer Soiree
• Cumulative Absence: Applications due by 30th June 2023
• Domestic Abuse support
• Responsible Metrics
• Training Needs Analysis
• PGR Shut Up and Write Group
• Training and Development
• 1-2-1 Careers Appointments
• Opportunities
• Reminders
• Wellbeing
• Enquiries

If you have a news story or an opportunity you would like to advertise in the next newsletter (12 June), please email: doctoral.college@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 7th June.

We are hosting our Research Showcase Three Minute Thesis competition on Tuesday 13 June 2023, 12:00 - 14:00 on Streatham Campus, Exeter in Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre.

You are invited to join us in the audience to support our PGRs taking part in the competition and have the opportunity to engage in our brilliant PGR community. We will be including a People's Choice vote so we would love to have you to celebrate our fantastic PGRs who are taking part. Please let us know you will join us by filling in this simple form here.

The form will close on Friday 9 June at 12:00 midday.

As part of our Research Showcase, we are challenging our PGRs to communicate their research to a public audience – in 280 characters. Our Tweet Your Thesis/Tweet Your Research competition is inspired by the #tweetyourthesis hashtag, and the British Library’s #ShareMyThesis competition.

Our Tweet Your Thesis competition 2023 will run from 9am on Monday 5 June until 5pm on Friday 9 June. To enter, you must tweet during these times using the #tweetyourthesis and tagging @ExeterDoctoral. Failure to add both in your tweet will be automatic disqualification from the competition.

The prizes for this year's competition are as follows:

1st prize £100 voucher
2nd prize £75 voucher
3rd prize £50 voucher

Read the full rules on our Tweet Your Thesis webpage.

The next PGR Coffee, Cake and Conversation event will take place on Tuesday 27th June, 10.30am-12pm.

These structured events take place on a monthly basis in Old Library Training Room 4, and are comprised of guest speakers, skills development and the opportunity to meet fellow PhD students in person and share coffee, cake and conversation. Each event is centred around a different theme; the topic for this session is Shut Up and Write. Shut Up and Write is an online co-working space run by PGRs for PGRs! It offers facilitated sessions to help you focus and provides support and friendship to PGRs at all stages of their doctoral studies.

Register for the event here.

As there are limited spaces, if you have signed up and are no longer able to attend please inform Researcher Development team as soon as possible so that we can offer the space to someone on the waiting list.

PhD students on Tier 4/Student visas should be aware that the University is required to inform UK Visas and Immigration if you complete your PhD earlier than the original completion date on your visa. Your visa will then be shortened to the date you completed your PhD plus the period of time you were originally granted at the end of your studies. If you would like to discuss this further contact International Student Support.

Come and join us at The Terrace in Devonshire House on Wednesday 21 June, 18:00 – 22:00 for a fun filled evening with dinner, drinks, and a chance to network with PGR students.

Tickets are £12.85 and include a two-course meal and welcome drink. Tickets are on sale until Thursday 8 June, so make sure to get yours now! Book here.

Deadline: Thursday 8th June

The PGR Student Absence Policy allows PGRs who have taken short absences (less than one month) for medical reasons to request ‘cumulative absence’ by way of a programme extension. 

A cumulative absence may be requested when a student has had multiple short-term absences (not recorded as interruptions) which total a month or more* in duration and are supported by medical evidence or an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The period of study will be extended by the equivalent duration. Funding may be extended for any absences taken for medical reasons during the funding period (further details about eligibility for funding extensions).

We are asking PGRs to submit their requests for an extension due to cumulative short-term absences by 30th June 2023. To qualify, you need to meet the following criteria:
•         All short-term absences recorded in the PGR Personal Absence Certificate  
•         All absences must be supported by medical evidence or an ILP which supports absence from study.
•         The total of the absences should amount to a minimum of one month or more*. Students whose absences do not add to a total of one month at the time of application will have their cumulative absences rolled over to the next academic year*. 
(*) If your period of study will end before 31 May 2024, you may apply for an extension shorter than one month, but you need to make this clear in the application.

To apply, you will need to send the following information to your PGR Support Team by 30th June 2023:
•         The subject of the email should be “First Name, SURNAME, Student Number – Cumulative Absence Request”
•         Total duration of sickness recorded in the PGR Personal Absence Certificate and not already mitigated by interruption 
•         An email from your supervisor confirming that they are aware of and support your request
•         Details of funding 
•         Current completion deadline

If you have any questions, please contact your PGR Support Team who will be happy to help.

The University of Exeter is a member of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse, a leading national charity in this field, whom we have worked with on our website guidance. We also have a network of trained 'Domestic Abuse Awareness Champions' available for colleagues to approach confidentially. If this is happening to you, please do confide in your pastoral tutor, who can signpost you towards the appropriate University team/webpages.

There is also support via a dedicated external Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) at First Light. Please do explore our website for all information and support available, including the domestic abuse hand signal (pictured- hold hand up with palm facing the other person, tuck thumb into palm, fold finger down over thumb). Please remember you are not alone.

A journal’s Impact Factor tells me how good someone’s research is. Right?

In short, wrong!

We advocate the responsible use of metrics at the University of Exeter – and what’s more – failing to do so could breach our commitments to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment.

But why does this matter? Responsible metrics is about ensuring fair research assessment and selecting indicators which provide a balanced view. Failing do to so has ramifications from the choice of research pursued to failed career progression.

Watch our short animation or visit exeter.ac.uk/responsiblemetrics to find out more.

All PGR students are required to complete a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) form every academic year. Prior to completing the form, you should discuss your training needs with your supervisors. You can view a list of questions asked in the Training Needs Analysis here so that you can prepare prior to filling out the form.

We have a Training Needs Analysis webpage which includes more information and frequently asked questions. 

Please aim to complete your form as soon as possible.

Did you know that we have a daily online writing group run by PGRs for PGRs?

The Exeter Shut Up and Write group runs 365 days a year, 8am-10.30pm each day. Some sessions are facilitated, and some are not.

Always keen to have new people join us – everyone is welcome!

If you would like to join Shut Up and Write, join the Teams group or email Jo Sutherst.

Introduction to Text Analysis in Python (in-person) - Fridays 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd June, from 10AM-1PM

The demand for high-level numeracy skills and knowledge of statistical and computational methods is ever increasing. This 12-hour course will provide you the foundations to understand, execute and communicate text data analysis in a widely recognised software platform that was built for data analysis.

This Introduction to Text Analysis in Python course is designed to acquaint you with approaches to analysing text as data using Python programming language. Over four sessions, you will learn how to preprocess text data, summarize its contents, visualize textual information, and run more complex types of analysis using Python via Jupyter Notebooks. You will gain valuable skills that you can market to employers, gain confidence in your ability to work with data, and create a knowledge base that you can build on for years to come. All courses are completely free and funded by the European Social Fund as part of the SMART skills project.

To register your interest, you must fill out this Microsoft form.

The below sessions are now bookable via Inkpath and more will be added very soon!

Please carefully check the delivery mode of your session as some of our new sessions are in-person only.

You can access Inkpath through your web browser, and by downloading the Inkpath app.

• Maintaining momentum and focus after your upgrade – 02/06/2023, 11:00-12:00
• Exe-Change the Norm: Bystander Training (in person) – 07/06/2023, 10:00-12:00
• Introduction to Software Development for Research – 09/06/2023, 13:00-15:00 (Part 1) and 16/06/2023, 13:00-15:00 (Part 2). This is a two-part course; you must attend both parts.
• Perfectly imperfect writing practices for your thesis – 21/06/2023, 11:00-12:30
• NEW- Develop a Winning CV (for Academic and Non Academic roles) – 21/06/2023, 13:30-15:00
• Academic Writing for PGRs – 23/06/2023, 11:00-12:30
• Questionnaire: a very basic introduction – 27/06/2023, 14:30-16:00
• Writing journal articles – 11/07/2023, 14:00-15:00

Please note all of our events have limited spaces; if you cannot attend, kindly remove your booking.

To learn more about Inkpath and to get started with your account please watch the following introductory content:

    Continuous tutorial video
    Individual section tutorials

Video Passwords: exeterinkpath2021

You can find all of our sessions on Inkpath under 'Activities.' If you have any technical questions/difficulties using Inkpath please email the helpdesk, info@inkpath.co.uk. If you have any questions about the training programme please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk

1-2-1 careers appointments with our dedicated PGR careers coach, Kenneth Howgill, are available to book throughout the Summer term on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. 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 and can be booked via Inkpath.

Inclusivity Matters Seminar: Race & Decolonisation on Friday 2nd June

We would like to invite you to an upcoming event which is part of our Inclusivity Matters! seminar series, which aims to improve awareness of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) on campus and more broadly.

The second seminar on the topic of Race & Decolonisation will be held on Friday 2nd June between 1pm and 3pm in the Daphne Du Maurier Lecture Theatre A, Penryn. This will include a talk from our guest speaker, Tinashe Verhaeghe, on ways in which a Decolonised University impacts people, planet and profit beyond being a ‘nice thing to do.’ The talk will be followed by a panel discussion composed of the speaker and members of our campus who are relevant to the discussion and whose perspectives tend to be underrepresented.

This is a hybrid event, so you will be able to join in person or via Teams. Everyone is welcome to attend this event. The venue will be wheelchair accessible, and refreshments and a quiet space will also be provided for those attending in person. 

Please sign up via EventBrite for a free ticket. Please contact InclusivityMatters@exeter.ac.uk if you have any queries.
 

The PhD Life Raft 'Month of Mondays' on Sunday 4th, Monday 5th, Monday 12th, Monday 19th and Monday 20th June

Are you ready to make the most of your summer and take significant strides in your doctoral journey? Look no further! The PhD Life Raft is thrilled to introduce the 'Month of Mondays' programme, designed to help doctoral students like you set sail towards a highly productive summer.

Throughout June they will be hosting a series of live events that will offer invaluable insights and practical strategies to enhance your productivity, maintain focus, and make significant progress towards your research goals.

Imagine the satisfaction of entering the new academic year with significant progress made and a renewed sense of purpose! Join the PhD Life Raft ‘Month of Mondays’ - it’s free! - and let us help get you there! 

Save your seat here.

Insessional Conversation Cafes on Tuesday 6th June and Tuesday 13th June

Come and practise your social English in a relaxed atmosphere with people who are happy to answer any questions you may have, and chat over free refreshments with people who live in Exeter.
When: 1600 - 1730
Where: INTO Building, Room 1.02
Dates: Tuesday 6th June and 13th June

For further information and any queries, please contact Jo Hughes.

ISDAI Research Seminar: A capability approach to AI ethics on Tuesday 7th June

In this hybrid seminar (Kolade Teaching Room, Building One (Streatham Campus) and online), 7th June, 2-3pm BST, Dr Emanuele Ratti (University of Bristol) will be giving a talk on 'A capability approach to AI ethics', using ethics-based auditing.

Click here to find out more and to register. Whilst the seminar will be delivered hybrid, we would encourage you to attend in person where there will be tea and coffee and a chance to catch up with colleagues. If you have any queries, please contact IDSAI.

Contemporary Women’s Writing in World Literature and Relational Thinking In Person Conference on Thursday 8th June

This conference, which will take place in person, Thursday 8th June 13:30-18:00 in Queens MR2-3, focuses on the urgent need to (re)think the links and connections across women’s writing in world literature from a relational perspective. In the course of the afternoon, speakers will offer critical reflections on texts written by women writers from various locations, considering the limits and possibilities that a relational thinking may bring to the discussion.

Booking is not required. Prospective attendees can contact Clément Laurelli if they have any queries. 

ReproducibiliTea Exeter - Statistical Control Requires Causal Justification on Tuesday 13th June

On Tuesday 13th June 4pm – 5pm BST, Anna Wysocki (UC Davis) will present her paper 'Statistical Control Requires Causal Justification', which overviews (a) the ramifications of choosing inappropriate control variables and (b) how to choose appropriate ones by proposing a causal structure. We will hear about key concepts in causal inference (e.g., directed acyclic graphs) and how they inform the variables we include in our statistical models. In particular, the session will focus on the problems that can arise when inappropriately controlling for variables in our statistical models and provide practical recommendations to avoid inappropriate statistical control.

This session will be held online; please book via Eventbrite. For any queries, please contact Xinran Du.

This activity is a Researcher-led Initiative that has been funded by the University of Exeter Researcher Development and Research Culture team.

Researcher Careers Event on Health and Wellbeing on Wednesday 14th June

On Wednesday 14th June (2.00pm - 3.30pm) there will be an online careers event for Postgraduate Researchers and Early Career Researchers on the theme of health and wellbeing, organised by the University of Exeter in partnership with GW4 (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter).

This is a unique opportunity to hear first hand from researchers in the South West about current developments and the new career landscape in the field of health care and well-being.

There will be time to ask questions with an open Q & A session.

Career coaches from all four partner universities will also be in attendance to answer general questions on career progression for researchers.

For more information and to book your place go to the Eventbrite webpage. If you have any questions about the event please email the organiser, Kenneth Howgill, Postgraduate Researcher Career Coach.

Deadline Wednesday 14th June- Research Proposal Feedback Session

Are you a PGR student looking to apply to a funded Post Doc position?  Would you like advice with your interdisciplinary research proposal?

The Societies and Cultures Institute (SCI) wants to hear from you!

SCI can offer you the chance to pitch your research proposal to friendly colleagues to gain feedback.

If this could benefit you, please reply to societiesandcultures@exeter.ac.uk by 14th June

Deadline: Wednesday 14th June.

Deadline Friday 23rd June- Call for Submissions to Excursions journal

Excursions is an interdisciplinary journal run by PhD students at University of Sussex, which offers a chance to publish papers, peer reviewed by experts in any field, under any discipline relating to a given theme. This year, the theme is In/Stability.

All papers which are published are free to access online. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the type of submissions accepted, whether that be experimental papers, literature reviews, poems, photographic analyses – anything you can think of!

If you are interested in submitting to Excursions, please submit a 500-word abstract detailing your submission by the 23rd of June 2023. These will then be reviewed by the editorial team, and submissions which are exemplary and fit within the theme of the journal will be selected for publication. Successful applications will be contacted and given a deadline for submission of the full piece.

If you have any questions about the submission and publication process, please don’t hesitate to contact excursions-journal@sussex.ac.uk.

Deadline: Friday 23rd June

Justice and Violence Studies Internal Meeting on Thursday 29th June

The Justice and Violence Studies Network will be running an internal (hybrid) event on Streatham in Amory C417 from 1 until 3 PM; it will be an informal meeting to promote the Network and to facilitate further discussions and research. There will be tea and cake!

The Justice and Violence Studies Network aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 16 to ‘promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions.’ Using their expertise in qualitative, quantitative and evaluative methods, and the experience (including lived experience) of others as appropriate, network members assess and evaluate policies and practices to better understand how and why people are subject to violence and injustice and the most effective methods for combatting these issues.

If you wish to join the internal event, then please register here.  Please email Will King if you have any queries. Thank you.

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.

Wellbeing Centre
If you would like to speak to our PGR Support Advisor 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.

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 and 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: doctoral.college@exeter.ac.uk.

To view previous versions of the newsletter, you can do so here.