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Doctoral College Newsletter - 15 April 2025
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Wecome to this fortnight's edition of Doctoral College Newsletter; here are just some of the highlights this week:
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Take a look at our Events section to find out about a series of workshops at Penryn Campus run by Professor Stacey Hynd (Dean of Postgraduate Research and of the Doctoral College)
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Check out our Opportunities section to learn more about an exciting job opportunity for students at the Cornwall campuses
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Visit our Reminders section to read about actions taken in response to past Postgraduate Research Experience Surveys.
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
Upcoming Events
Opportunities
Community
Reminders
Careers Support and Sessions
Wellbeing Support and Sessions
Enquiries
Our next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 29 April 2025. If you have a news story or opportunity you would like to advertise, please email ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 23 April 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 14 May.
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Coming soon- PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of a new group on Viva Engage: PGR Community Hub. This is a collaborative online space for you and other PGRs to share and discuss ideas with each other, ask each other questions and keep up-to-date with the latest PGR activities and events- so make the most of it! Staff who work with PGRs (e.g. PGR Support, Researcher Development etc.) will post interesting opportunities and events where relevant, but the main purpose of this Viva Engage group is to enable you to build connections with fellow PGRs and build research networks.
All PGRs are added automatically but you can opt-out by contacting us at researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk or by leaving on Viva Engage itself.
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New Courses taking place in person at Penryn Campus
Professor Stacey Hynd, Dean of Postgraduate Research and of the Doctoral College, will be visiting the Penryn Campus to deliver two exciting new in-person courses:
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Preparing for a career in academia– Wednesday 7 May, 13.00-15.00 in person in Peter Lanyon Lecture Theatre 1, Penryn Campus
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How to thrive in the final year of your postgraduate research studies– Tuesday 10 June, 13.00-15.00 in person in Daphne Du Maurier Masters Suite Seminar Room 1 and 2, Penryn Campus
You can find both courses by searching in iTrent.
Spaces are limited so don't miss the chance to attend a brand new course and meet our Dean of Postgraduate Research and of the Doctoral College in person.
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Visit to Penryn – Mathematics & Data Science Exchange
Institute of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI) is partnering with Exeter Centre for the Mathematical Sciences (ExCMS) and Project ADA for a special visit to Penryn campus on Monday 16 June. The aim is to build new research connections in Mathematics and Data Science, and to spark conversations that span disciplinary boundaries. This
event is open to all faculties.
Whether you're a member of academic staff, an Early Career Researcher, or a PhD student, we’re curating a day of engaging talks, poster presentations, and interactive discussion groups – all designed to promote the exchange of ideas across the Mathematical Sciences, Data Science, and other related disciplines.
Transport will be provided for colleagues attending based at Exeter campuses.
If you would like to sign up to attend please complete this short MS Form by Friday 16 May.
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Job Vacancy: Postgraduate Research Officer (University of Exeter, Cornwall) at Falmouth & Exeter Students' Union
Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union are currently recruiting for a Postgraduate Research Officer (University of Exeter in Cornwall) to be the key voice for PGR students at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campuses. In this paid role, you’ll work closely with students, The SU, and the University to ensure PGRs are effectively represented and supported. You'll be working closely with the President Exeter via a Students as Change Agents (SACA) project to shape this role, drawing on reflective practices to continuously develop your skills and understanding of what the PGR Academic Representation experience should look like.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Saranna Chipper-Keating, Head of Advocacy, at saranna.chipperkeating@thesu.org.uk.
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Showcase your research at the Gender equality showcases in May (Penryn, St Luke's, and Streatham)
Are you involved in research, projects, networks or activities focused on gender equality? You're invited to showcase your work to students and staff in-person at:
• Penryn: Tuesday 20 May, 12.00-14.00
• St Luke’s: Tuesday 20 May, 11.30-12.30
• Streatham: Wednesday 21 May: 12.00-14.00
If you’re interested in showcasing, please complete this short form before Tuesday 22 April. If you’d like to attend, the Gender Equality Conference website has more information on how to register to attend.
The showcases will be relaxed/informal (with free cake and refreshments!) so you can join for all or some of the time.
For any questions, please contact Sandip (s.samra@exeter.ac.uk).
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Research Study for PGRs living in a country neighbouring Lake Chad
Are you from Chad, Cameroon, Niger or Nigeria? Or do you have any experience living or working near or with Lake Chad? If so, there’s a research project that needs you! You will need to be available for online workshops taking place from 10.00-12.00 on Tuesday 29 April and 10.00-11.00 on the Wednesday 30 April. Please contact Polly Gregson on pdg203@exeter.ac.uk for more information and to sign up.
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Expressions of Interest: Get involved with FUTURES Festival 2025
We are now looking for University of Exeter researchers for FUTURES Festival of Discovery 2025. Hosted at Exeter Phoenix, with our Pop-Up Shop and associated activities on Sunday 12 October, this event is run in tandem with Universities across the south west, and connects researchers to their local communities. We are looking for researchers at any career stage interested in bringing their work to the public through interactive, family-friendly activities. For more details, including a link to our sign-up form, click the button below, and contact per@exeter.ac.uk with any further questions!
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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.
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Penryn Campus Community Choir
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.
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You Said, We Did - how past Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) responses have changed the postgraduate experience
Thank you to all of our PGRs who have filled out Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) so far; the closing date (Monday 28 April) is fast approaching.
Not sure that your voice will make an impact?
Check out the full details on our You Said, We Did webpage but here are just some of the areas where your responses to past Postgraduate Research Experience Surveys helped shape both the Doctoral College and Faculty PGR action plans and contributed to key changes:
• Induction
• PGR Support
• Researcher Development
• Wellbeing
Filling out PRES is a valuable opportunity to have your say on your experience as a postgraduate researcher and make a difference so don’t miss out! To complete it, search 'PRES' in your inbox to find your unique URL to the survey.
Deadline: Monday 28 April 2025.
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Careers Support and Sessions
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1-2-1 Careers Appointments
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.
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Wellbeing Support and Sessions
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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. 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.
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Nurture-U: Are you feeling worried about your thesis or other PhD work?
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.
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Free Mindfulness Sessions for Wellbeing
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.
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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 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 10.00am – 2.00pm 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.
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