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

In the bulletin, you will find some of our courses which are coming up soon, divided into four key areas of researcher development as per the Vitae Researcher Development Framework:

• Knowledge and intellectual abilities
• Personal effectiveness
• Research governance and organisation
• Engagement, influence and impact

You will also find other training and development opportunities across the University and beyond, including the opening of applications for Career Mentor Scheme. The date of the next bulletin will be Wednesday 9 April 2025.

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

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.

Advanced EndNote (Tuesday 18 March, 10.00-11.30 in person, in Old Library Training Room 4, Streatham Campus)

This in-person workshop will explore some of the advanced features and functionality in EndNote including organising your library, PDF handling and merging theses chapters.

Copyright for Researchers (Wednesday 26 March, 10.00-12.30 in person in Old Library Training Room 4, Streatham Campus)

Would you like to feel more knowledgeable about copyright matters? This in-person session takes a playful approach to copyright training through the use of a card game. You will work as part of a team to think about and discuss a number of common copyright scenarios. Concepts covered will include copyright works, usages, licences, and legal exceptions.

Writing your data management plan (Wednesday 2 April, 10.00-11.00 via MS Teams)

All good data management strategies start by planning ahead, and as such, a Data Management Plan (DMP) is an integral component of any research project. This virtual webinar will provide you with an introduction to DMPs, explaining what they are, why they are important, and ensure you have the knowledge and support to write your own DMP. The webinar will also explore DMPonline, a tool that will help guide you through the process of writing a DMP.

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).

Success at Interviews (Thursday 20 March, 13.30-15.00 via MS Teams)

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.

PGR Skills Development & Network building (Tuesday 25 March, 11.00-12.30, in person, in Daphne Du Maurier Masters Suite Seminar Rooms 1 and 2, Penryn Campus)

The aim of this in-person session is to develop your communication and networking skills and to get to know some of your fellow Postgraduate Research Students (PGRs) in a welcoming and supportive environment. Undertaking a PhD can sometimes be a lonely experience, so this is an opportunity to connect with others who are on their own doctoral journey and to build up your community of peer-support, all while having fun and learning something new along the way. The theme of this session is the VITAE Researcher Development Framework and Action Planning.

Postdoctoral Fellowship & Grant Applications (Wednesday 2 April, 11.00-12.30 in person in Old Library Training Room 4)

This workshop is for researchers coming to the end of their doctoral studies. It introduces some of the key types of fellowship and research grant opportunities for post-doctoral research, and highlights the timetable for preparing your applications to these schemes. It explains the different elements of fellowship and grant application schemes. It shares advice on developing ideas for your next research projects and moving from the doctoral to post-doctoral stage of a research career.

Applying for non-academic jobs (Wednesday 30 April, 13.00-14.30 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.

Opening Doors - Tips on Creating your own Opportunities (Thursday 1 May, 13.00-13.30 in person in Penryn Campus, Daphne du Maurier Seminar Room M)

This interactive session will foster open discussion on taking initiative for career advancement. Participants will explore strategies for identifying and pursuing employment and funding opportunities, including those not publicly advertised. The session will also delve into ways to initiate research stays, placements, and collaborations. Through real-world examples of successful and unsuccessful attempts to create career opportunities, the course will provide practical guidance while encouraging participants to share their experiences and insights in an open environment.

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.

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.

Public speaking and presentation skills (Wednesday 19 March, 10.00-12.00 via Zoom)

Crafting engaging content only makes for one half of a successful presentation. Delivering and presenting that content clearly and effectively is what will make a presentation stick, leave a strong impression and truly engage an audience.This workshop covers the physical and oral components of delivering effective and impactful presentations. It offers alternative ways of approaching public speaking and developing/practising oral communication skills so that speakers can step up to the podium with more confidence and ease, and less performance anxiety.

Designing research posters (Tuesday 1 April, 11.00-12.30 via MS Teams)

Designing a large format poster can present both technical and communication challenges. In this workshop we will consider how best to overcome both these challenges and produce posters that are both attractive, informative and get your research noticed.

Presentation skills for researchers (Thursday 3 April, 13.30-15.00 via MS Teams)

For many postgraduate researchers the idea of standing up and presenting their research to other members of their research community can be rather daunting. However, giving presentations is a key process in the dissemination of research, and for many will be required throughout their future careers. This course will encourage you to consider different presentation styles and will highlight the importance of considering your audience when planning how you will get your key message across.

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.

The Career Mentor Scheme applications are OPEN.  Join one of the UK’s largest employability programs, to have the opportunity to be partnered with an experienced mentor in your chosen sector. You can:
• Receive tailored 1:1 career advice
• Gain insights to make informed career decisions
• Get support with CVs and job interviews
• Build valuable professional connections through networking opportunities

The scheme runs from June-November 2025 and we have 300 opportunities available on Handshake, that are allocated on a first-come first-serve basis.

If you have any questions, please contact us at careermentorscheme@exeter.ac.uk.

Don’t miss your chance to gain expert career support —APPLY NOW!

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 initiative continues with a packed programme for 2025. Click on the below links for further information and registration details for our March and April courses. All workshops planned for the coming term are now listed on our Workshop Schedule and Sign-up page. allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration closes a week prior to the course.

• Introduction to Regression with R - In-person only (1 session, 10.00-13.00, Friday 28 March, Streatham Campus)

Regression analysis is a fundamental statistical technique used to model the relationship between multiple variables. Aimed at those with prior experience of using R, this session covers how to fit a range of regression models with R, how to interpret the output, and the link between regression and other common statistical tools.

• Working with Data in R - In-person only (2 sessions, 10.00-13.00, Tuesday 1 & 8 April, Streatham Campus)

Over two sessions, learn how to use the Tidyverse to work with data in R. The Tidyverse is a collection of R packages designed to help manipulate, clean and analyse data. This course introduces the functionality and conventions of several key packages. This is an intermediate course for those confident in using R.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Coding for Reproducible Research initiative 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.