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

• 2023 Researcher Led Initiative Awards
• Cost of Living Survey (Exeter-based students)
• Captivating New Display Showcases Breadth of University Research
• Paid Opportunity- Grand Challenge Group Facilitators
• Information for International Doctoral Students
• Paid Opportunity: Planning and delivering Widening Participation Events
• Training and Development
• 1-2-1 Careers Appointments
• Opportunities
• Wellbeing
• Enquiries

If you have a news story or an opportunity you would like to advertise in the next newsletter (6 February), please email: doctoral.college@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 1 February.

Up to 10 awards available, maximum of £2,000 per award to support development and cascading of personal, professional and career management skills. Apply now!

Closing date: Friday 27th January – 12 Noon

This survey is for students based in Exeter.

How have you been impacted by the Cost of Living Crisis?

The recent rise in basic living costs means that students across the country are feeling the impact of the Cost of Living Crisis in a big way, with postgraduate students being particularly affected.

In collaboration with other Russell Group institutions, your Students’ Guild are running a Cost of Living Survey to help us understand the impact that this is having on Exeter students. Your feedback will mean we can make better changes to improve your student experience.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and you could win one of 20 £100 vouchers.

Click here to take the survey and don’t forget to share it with your friends and colleagues too.

This Spring term the University of Exeter’s Queen’s Building (Streatham Campus) West Wing Foyer display space hosts 24 new photographs from the 'Images of Research of Competition 2022'. Available to view from 10 January - 29 March 2023.

In the Summer of 2022 Early Career Research staff were invited to submit images for the competition which showcase their research to a non-specialist audience. The competition entries were judged back in September 2022 by a panel of staff, including members of the Arts and Culture team, and three winning entries were picked.  The winning photographs have also exhibited in the Forum on the University’s Streatham campus and the Environment and Sustainability Institute on the Penryn campus.

Image copyright: Ines Lange

The Grand Challenges team is looking for postgraduate students to participate as enquiry group facilitators. Grand Challenges is a project week (5th-9th June 2023), in which students work in interdisciplinary groups to design innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

What’s in it for me?
• Work with top University researchers, renowned external experts and highly motivated students
• Develop your skills - training provided on how to motivate and support small groups
• Paid! Standard PTA rate (Occasional Teacher A) for approximately 40-45 hours of work
• Have a fun week being part of a unique exciting programme at the university

To apply, click here or contact: challenges@exeter.ac.uk

Application closing date: Friday 30 January

Doing a doctoral degree as an international student can be challenging- namely, writing and discussing your research in English (your second language) and learning the necessary academic ‘moves’ for success here in Exeter. Why not join our friendly community of doctoral students, from ALL colleges, studying ALL subjects and from ALL over the world? Apart from learning some vital English language skills and managing your research writing, you can make friends at some of our campus social and ‘writing together’ events (with homemade cake!).

Here are some useful links:

• Doing a Doctorate at Exeter – General information
• Doctoral Academic Writing Workshops  – Weekly workshops with handy tips/strategies

The Widening Participation (WP) team are looking to recruit PGRs from across the disciplines to develop and support the delivery of an eclectic range of face-to-face on-/off-campus and virtual events, all of which are designed to support students in making informed decisions about their future. This is an opportunity to earn £17.99 per hour for planning and delivering subject-specific content in line with our WP programme of activity throughout the academic year.

If you would like to be involved, please complete this form.

For further information, please contact Dr Teresa Sanders- T.J.Sanders@exeter.ac.uk.

NEW- Bystander Training

‘Exe-change the Norm’ is a new programme where you can learn to become an active bystander and skilfully intervene in any potentially harmful situations that you witness on or off campus. It equips you with different strategies to safely intervene, as well as embedding a deeper knowledge and understanding of gender and race. Sign up via email to bystander@exeter.ac.uk to speak to them directly.

The below sessions are now bookable via Inkpath and more will be added very soon! We are aiming to make as many sessions as possible hybrid (accessed online and in person, please check when booking).

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

• An introduction to publishing your research in journals (online) – 23/01/2023, 11:00-12:00
• Lego serious play for writer's block (online) – 25/01/2023, 11:00-13:00
• Publishing open access (online) – 25/01/2023, 11:00-11:45
• Maintaining momentum and focus after your upgrade (online) – 27/01/2023, 11:00-12:00
• Designing research posters (online) – 31/01/2023, 11:00-12:00
• Writing journal articles (online) – 02/02/2023, 11:00-12:00
• Kickstart your PhD with joy, clarity and ease (online) – 07/02/2023, 11:00-13:00

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

Thank you to everyone who attended our Researcher Development Spring/Summer 2022 Training and Development Programme, please note that all Spring/Summer webinars have been recorded and posted on to ELE.

1-2-1 careers appointments with our dedicated PGR careers coach, Kenneth Howgill, are available to book throughout the Spring 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.

Staff Life- New Role Playing Games (D&D) Social Group

Do you find yourself daydreaming during your lunch break? Are you sick of the same old sandwiches? How about spending your lunch hour on fantastic adventures, telling stories and playing games with like-minded people? Dungeons and Dragons is one of the fastest-growing hobbies and probably the world’s biggest role-playing game. A brand new group is starting up in January 2023 and hope the group will meet in person a few times a month during lunchtime at Streatham, potentially online if there is sufficient demand.

There will be a drop-in session on Tuesday 24th January, 12-13.30pm in Forum Seminar Room 3 to find out more and meet colleagues.

If you are interested in joining in please contact Pete Offord via this short online form by Monday 6 February or email Pete after that.

Online Seminar: Transdisciplinary Pedagogy - What capabilities are needed for transdisciplinary learning and work?

Taking place on Wednesday 8th February 2023, 8.30-10am UK time, this seminar, co-hosted by The Transdisciplinary HE Pedagogy Network (University of Exeter) and The Transdisciplinary School (University of Technology Sydney) will look at key questions around how we define and practice transdisciplinary pedagogy in HE. It will take the format of an open dialogue, with digital resources shared in advance to allow space for discussion in the seminar. The UoE Network and TD School Sydney will begin by offering their understandings in relation to the questions:

• What is transdisciplinary pedagogy?
• What capabilities are needed for transdisciplinary learning and work?
 

A space for participants to dialogue around these questions and responses will then be opened up. We invite all interested colleagues to attend whether you have expertise in this area or are simply curious.
 

Please RSVP to k.a.chappell@exeter.ac.uk for the Zoom link.

Join the Institute for Data Science and AI’s Early Career Researcher Network (IDSAI-ECRN)

We warmly invite you to join us for the first ever gathering of the IDSAI-ECRN at 4pm on the 9th of February in the XFI Building Atrium – there will be drinks and pizza. No matter your background, the IDSAI-ECRN aims to provide opportunities for PGRs and ECRs from across the university with an interest in data science to meet, exchange ideas, and develop as a community. Get involved! For more information contact idsai@exeter.ac.uk.

British Library PhD Placement Scheme

Current PhD students are invited to apply to the British Library PhD Placement Scheme. Placement projects are offered from a variety of areas across the Library for 3 months or part-time equivalent, to be undertaken from June 2023 onwards. Many of the projects are suitable for partial or full remote working.

A list of all available placement projects and full details of how to apply are available on our website

Closing date: Monday 20 February by 5pm

Call for Speakers- Soapbox Science

Soapbox Science is coming to Exeter on Saturday 10 June at the Pizza Terracina on the Exeter Quayside.

For more information and how to apply, click here. 

Closing date: Tuesday 28 February

British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) Annual Academic Doctoral Awards 2023 - NOW OPEN

The competition from British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) Academic Awards for women doctoral students is now open. For further information see their website or email awardsqueries@bfwg.org.uk.

Closing date: Friday 3 March by 5pm

British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) Research Presentations Day

This one-day meeting in London, on Saturday 13th May 2023, is a good opportunity for postgraduate doctoral students to present their work to a general audience with a small prize offered for the best presentation.

For further information see their website or email rpd@bfwg.org.uk.

Closing date: Friday 31 March

Participants needed for PGR research project

Do you find yourself being harsh towards yourself?

If yes, would you like to contribute to a new research project?

The project is investigating the relationship between our social experiences and its influence on self-perception and emotions in individuals who feel they are highly critical towards themselves

Eligibility to participate:
(1) Self-identify as experiencing high levels of self-criticism
(2) Above 18 years of age
(3) Comprehend and respond to statements in English
(4) Meet further eligibility requirements based on an online screening questionnaire

If eligible, you will receive course credits or receive remuneration for your time. Please contact Pranati Misurya if you would like to participate or have any queries.

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, Cathryn Baker 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.