Welcome to this month's edition of Postgraduate Researcher Training and Development Bulletin.

We have a lot of brand-new courses coming up in the next few months, including:

• NEW: Academic Writing Workshop – Wednesday 7 May
• NEW: Preparing for a career in academia– Wednesday 7 May
• NEW: Archives and Research Insights and Potential (Penryn) – Tuesday 13 May
• NEW: The art of presenting: Tips & Tricks (online) – Wednesday 14 May
• NEW: The Imposter Syndrome: why successful people often feel like frauds (delivered by Hugh Kearns)– Thursday 5 June
• NEW: How to thrive in the final year of your postgraduate research studies– Tuesday 10 June
• NEW: Visual Literacy: How to read and construct images– Monday 23 June
   

You will also find other training and development opportunities across the University and beyond, including a workshop on academic writing skills. The date of the next bulletin will be Wednesday 4 June 2025.

Our full list of courses can be found on our upcoming training webpage.

Archives and Research: Insights and Potential (Tuesday 13 May, 13.30-15.30 in person on Penryn Campus in Exchange Courtyard 04)

This in-person session will introduce researchers to collections held at the Penryn Campus. It will focus on how these materials can support current and future research and how the collections teams can assist in research and bid development. There will also be the opportunity to tour the archive store of the respective campus.

Conducting a literature review Part 1- searching, reading and note-taking (Thursday 15 May, 11.00-12.30 via MS Teams)

Writing a literature review is an essential starting point of good research. A thorough literature review allows you to position your work within the wider academic field and articulate the need and value of your research. This session will help you get started. It offers practical strategies for searching, efficient reading and note-taking.

Please note that this workshop is the first of two focusing on literature reviews and will be followed by Conducting a literature review (Part 2): critiquing, structuring and writing. You are advised to attend both sessions.

Searching Smarter- Advanced Search Techniques (Wednesday 21 May, 10.30-12.00 via MS Teams)

Do you want to be able to search faster and more successfully for electronic resources for your research, learning or teaching? This session will cover advanced search techniques you can use for everything from Google Scholar to Web of Science.

An Introduction to NVivo (Wednesday 21 May, 13.00-15.00 in person in Old Library Training Room 4, Streatham Campus)

NVivo is a software program used for qualitative and mixed-methods research, to support the organisation and analysis of unstructured text, audio, video, and image data (e.g. commonly used for projects which involve analysing interviews, focus groups, in-depth qualitative surveys etc).

Conducting a literature review (Part 2): critiquing, structuring and writing (Thursday 22 May, 11.00-12.30 via MS Teams)

Writing a literature review is an essential starting point of good research. A thorough literature review allows you to position your work within the wider academic field and articulate the need and value of your research. This session will help you understand how to engage critically with your reading, identify a structure for your literature review and explore how to go about planning and writing. Please note that this workshop follows on from the Conducting a literature review (Part 1): searching, reading, note-taking. You are advised to attend both sessions.

How to thrive in the final year of your postgraduate research studies (Tuesday 10 June, 13.00-15.00 in person in Peter Lanyon Lecture Theatre 1, Penryn Campus)

This in-person workshop provides advice on how to thrive in the final year of your postgraduate research studies. It covers guidance on maintaining your progress, advice on overcoming writer's block, ideas on how to structure your thesis as well as demystifying the process of submitting your thesis and preparing for your viva voce examination.

Using AI in Academic Writing (Tuesday 17 June, 10.00-11.00 via MS Teams)

This interactive online session will explore how Generative AI (GenAI) can support academic work while maintaining integrity. It will cover the University's updated policy for use of AI in academic work (March 2025) whilst examining how AI tools like ChatGPT can best be utilised whilst adhering to this. A Q&A session will follow to address any questions. Please note that this is an introductory level workshop.

Questionnaire Design: a very basic introduction (Wednesday 25 June, 12.30-14.30 via MS Teams)

Dr Jonathan Doney will lead an interactive workshop on the basics of questionnaire design, drawing on over a decade of using questionnaires in a variety of settings. The workshop will focus on considering the key things to think about at the early stages of setting out on a questionnaire survey; it will be particularly appropriate for those who have no experience of questionnaire design.

This course is not bookable via iTrent; to find out more and register, please scan the QR code on your right or register via the Library events webpage.

Looking for ways to improve your academic writing? Join this in-person workshop, open to all PGRs, on Academic Writing for your Doctorate to discover how Advisers from the Study Zone and International Study Centre teams can support you with:

• Academic vocabulary & language
• Criticality
• Planning & structuring writing
• Editing & proofreading

This workshop takes place on Wednesday 7 May, 10.00-11.30 in person in Old Library Training Room 4, Old Library, Streatham Campus.

Did you know that as a PGR at the University of Exeter, you can access the Consortium for the Advancement of Research Methods and Analysis (CARMA) though our institutional account for free? This gives you access to lots of online research methods webinars and resources. Sign up here using your University of Exeter email account (scroll down the page to ‘Find Out More’, then expand the arrow for CARMA (Consortium for the Advancement of Research Methods & Analysis) and follow the registration/sign up instructions).

Preparing for a career in academia (Wednesday 7 May, 13.00-15.00 in person in Daphne Du Maurier Masters Suite Seminar Rooms 1+2, Penryn Campus)

This in-person workshop is for researchers nearing the end of their doctoral studies who may be considering a career in academia. It offers insights from the Dean of the Doctoral College into what it is like working as an academic, as well as introducing some of the key types of fellowship and research grant opportunities available for post-doctoral research. It explains the different elements of fellowship and grant application schemes and shares advice on developing ideas for your next research projects and moving from the doctoral to post-doctoral stage of a research career. It will also cover advice on preparing for academic job interviews, providing information  on the variety of formats that job interviews can take at different universities, and the stages involved. It provides advice on how to prepare for the variety of tasks and questions you may face, and for managing the stress of the job hunting process.

How to manage your career (Thursday 8 May, 10.30-12.00 via MS Teams)

A practical and interactive career management course for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and early career researchers (ECRs). The tools and techniques introduced in this session will be applicable to managing a career within research, but also to those participants wishing to investigate a broader career path outside academia.

Academic job interviews: what to expect (Tuesday 13 May, 12.00-13.30 via MS Teams)

This workshop offers advice on preparing for academic job interviews. It outlines the variety of formats that job interviews can take at different universities, and the stages involved. It provides advice on how to prepare for the variety of tasks and questions you may face, and for managing the stress of the job hunting process. Group work will involve responding to common interview questions.

Mapping and Marketing Your Skills (Thursday 22 May, 14.00-15.30 via MS Teams)

This course will provide you with the tools to successfully apply for positions when you finish your research degree. Mapping your experience, skills, competencies & attributes will enable you to write CVs and personal statements, and market yourself and answer questions effectively in interviews.

Preparing for your viva (Wednesday 4 June, 10.00-11.30 via MS Teams)

The viva examination can feel like the most daunting part of the research degree process. What does the viva test? What will it be like? What can you do to prepare? This session will help to `demystify` the viva, talking you through everything from choosing your external examiner to what to expect on the day.

LinkedIn for Researchers: Developing and Using Your Profile (Wednesday 4 June, 14.00-15.15 via MS Teams)

A practical and interactive professional social media course for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and Early Career Researchers (ECRs).

The tools and techniques introduced in this session will be applicable to all those who wish to develop their LinkedIn profile and be proactive in developing online relationships with the wider professional and research community.

The Imposter Syndrome: why successful people often feel like frauds (Thursday 5 June, 10.00-12.00 via Zoom)

How can it be that so many clever, competent and capable people can feel that they are just one step away from being exposed as a complete fraud? 

The session will explain why high performing people often doubt their abilities and find it hard to enjoy their successes. It will also show the links to perfectionism and self-handicapping strategies such as procrastination, avoidance and over-commitment.

Applying for academic jobs (Thursday 19 June, 13.30-15.00 via MS Teams)

This course will enable you to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the process of applying for positions in the academic job market. We'll explore what academic recruiters are looking for, where to source vacancies and explore the different stages of the recruitment process. There will be a particular focus on how to write effective CVs, cover letters, application forms and perform well at interviews.

Success at Interviews (Thursday 26 June, 14.30-16.00 via MS Teams)

A practical and interactive interview preparation course for postgraduate researchers (PGRs). The tools and techniques introduced in this session will be applicable to all those who wish to develop their skills and knowledge of how interviews are used in the recruitment process for roles within and outside of academia.

There will be information provided and opportunities for Q and A as well as live input from former PhD researchers who have been successful in securing both post-doc roles and industry/public sector opportunities.

Applying for non-academic jobs (Wednesday 9 July, 10.00-11.30 via MS Teams)

Applying for jobs beyond academia? Need help navigating the recruitment process? This interactive course will support you in enhancing your knowledge and understanding of the process of applying for positions in the job market beyond academia.

There will be a particular focus on how to write effective CVs, cover letters, application forms, LinkedIn profiles and how to perform well at interviews.

Postgraduate research can be challenging at times, but the Wellbeing Services team are available throughout the year, to offer support if you need it. Check out the services available here.

The Wellbeing Thesis offers all sorts of useful resources to help you on your doctoral journey.

An introduction to research ethics review (Wednesday 14 May, 13.00-15.00 via MS Teams)

The course is an introduction to the main principles of ethics review to assist researchers with little or no experience of applying to a Research Ethics Committee.

Sharing your research data (Thursday 15 May, 12.30-13.30 via MS Teams)

Sharing research data is a critical part of the open data environment, and it has many benefits for both the researchers sharing the data and the wider research community. This webinar will introduce the open data environment and explain why you should be thinking about sharing your research data. It will also cover the different options available when it comes to sharing your data, and help you determine which is the most appropriate approach for your data.

Check out researcherdevelopment.co.uk and PGR Training & Development Resources SharePoint site for useful resources on this topic area.

Research governance and organisation covers areas such as Research Ethics and Health and Safety.

The art of presenting: tips and tricks- short course (online) (Wednesday 14 May, 10.00-11.00 via MS Teams)

Northcott Creative Director Martin Berry has spent 26 years coaching people to speak and present with confidence. Using simple accessible techniques from the theatre world, these enjoyable workshops designed for all skill levels is a great chance to gain confidence in public speaking through discussion, simple exercises and fun. Everyone of all abilities is welcome.

The art of presenting: tips and tricks- long course (in person) (Monday 19 May, 12.00-14.30 in person in Old Library Training Room 2, Old Library, Streatham Campus)

This in-person workshop is a longer version of the online course where participants will have a chance, if they wish, to speak in front of the group and receive tailored feedback.

Writing conference abstracts (Thursday 19 June, 10.00-11.30 via MS Teams)

Conferences are the cornerstone of research dissemination whether you are presenting a talk, a research poster, or contributing to a panel. Writing conference abstracts is therefore a fundamental skill you will need to develop to ensure your research is communicated widely. This webinar will introduce you to the process of writing conference abstracts, including key tips and tricks to ensure that your abstract has the highest chance of being accepted, and encouraging delegates to attend your talk, poster or panel.

Visual Literacy: How to read and construct images (Monday 23 June, 10.30-12.00 via MS Teams

We carry cameras with us everywhere, and nearly 5 billion photos are taken daily. But how many of those photos are well constructed and tell a great story? Visual literacy is a skill that helps us to not only interpret imagery in our everyday environment, but to help us build our own images and effectively communicate ideas and narratives to others. This session will introduce you to the basics of how images are structured, drawing on historical artworks and contemporary advertising, and then offer practical guidance on strengthening the communication impact of your own images.

Bored of working on your own? Finding it difficult to concentrate? Looking for other people to co-work with online? Then why not join PGR Study Space, which is a welcoming and supportive environment run by PGRs for PGRs. Sign up here.

Did you know the Library runs its own training programme to help with library skills? It includes events such as:

• library research cafés where you can ask the library staff how to make the most of the Library Search service, identify and use academic databases, and build your online search skills so that you can quickly and easily find research materials to support your studies and research;
• sessions on academic writing and academic listening from English Language Skills Development Team;
• other relevant courses to familiarise yourself with key library skills.

Some courses are discipline-specific or may be aimed at undergraduates/postgraduate-taught students so don't forget to check the details before booking on.

Any questions? Click the 'Ask Us' button on the library webpages to start an online chat or email them at library@exeter.ac.uk.

Our PGR Training & Development Resources SharePoint site was launched at the beginning of this year. It's the place to go for slides and other resources from courses on our training programme. Refresh your knowledge from courses you have already attended or explore new topics, this resource can be referred to throughout your degree.

The Coding for Reproducible Research training programme is available to view on our Workshop Schedule and Sign-up page. Further information and registration links for our upcoming courses can be found below.

30 spaces are available for each workshop, which will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration closes one week prior to the course.

• Introduction to Python (2 sessions, Tuesday 13 & Tuesday 20 May, 13.00-16.00, In person on St Luke’s Campus only)

In this course, participants will learn the basics of one of the most popular general-purpose programming languages used in a wide range of applications, from machine learning and web development to data analysis and automation.

• Introduction to R (3 sessions, Wednesday 14, Wednesday 21 & Wednesday 28 May, 13.00 - 16.00, In person on Penryn Campus only)

R is a programming language and software environment primarily focused on performing statistics, data analysis and visualisation. This course will provide an all-purpose introduction to the R programming language and may provide an accessible entry to computer programming in general.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Coding for Reproducible Research team via CodingForReproducibleResearch@exeter.ac.uk.

Why not check out some of the numerous training and development resources available through Vitae? They focus specifically on professional development for researchers and you can register for free using your University of Exeter account. Register here and then head here for general advice on various aspects of doing a doctorate and how to access further support, and guidance at all stages of your studies.

As a postgraduate researcher, you will have many demands on your time. Before booking onto a course it is important that you read the course description fully and consider:

• Does this course cover what you expected from the title?
• Is it relevant for you at this stage in your studies?
• Is it relevant for your discipline?
• Which courses should I prioritise (your supervisor might be able to help advise on this)?
• Can I attend the date, time and venue (the majority of our courses are online but some are in person)?

All our courses have limited spaces so it is important that you book onto the courses that are suited for your specific needs.

We appreciate that unexpected things come up and you may no longer be able to attend, or you may find that a course you have booked onto is no longer relevant to you. Please don't forget to cancel via iTrent so that someone else can book on, as our courses are in high demand.