Welcome to the Doctoral College February 2022 update on training, events and opportunities for postgraduate researchers from around the University and beyond.
To keep up with changes and developments, please continue to refer to the main University webpages for a list of general FAQs and specific ones for PGRs. Please also ensure you are aware of local level updates for your College, Graduate School, Deanery or Institute.
December Town Hall Event for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Edinburgh
On the 14th of December 2021, the Vice-Principal Students, Professor Colm Harmon, hosted a Teams Live event for PGRs. The event recording is available here.
February training and events for postgraduate researchers from around the University
The Institute for Academic Development (IAD) 2021/22 brochure sets out the workshops available and useful information for planning your development. You can find out which workshops are running this month in the at a glance list. In February there is a busy schedule of workshops on various topics, including writing skills, critical thinking, networking, viva survivor and lots more...
If you have just recently started your degree, IAD run a 3-week long online course called 'Getting Started with Postgraduate Research'. It starts on the 7th of February. More information below.
Digital Skills offer a range of training courses, a digital skills framework and digital skills toolkits, which you can work through to earn digital badges.Workshops in February are listed in the Semester Two programme.
Edinburgh Innovations is the University of Edinburgh's commercialisation service and it offers many opportunities, resources and workshops for students. Live events for February can be found via the link below. This includes the Power her up programme of events for those who identify as female.
The Careers Service offers a range of ways of getting in touch, via chat, drop-ins, appointments and workshops. There are also dedicated web pages for postgraduate researchers.
The Research Data Service runs training on research data and research data management. This includes self-paced online courses.
The Research Training Centre, based in the School of Social and Political Science, runs workshops and events on research methods.
Focus on postgraduate researcher voice
- University Pulse survey
The Pulse survey runs every two months. This is a short University-wide survey of all students. There are specific questions for PGRs. Please look for a link in your email when it opens on the 8th of February. Please do take a few minutes to complete it, the results are discussed at University-level and College committees and do have a real impact on helping to shape support, communications and policy.
- PGR representatives
Did you know that in 2021 the Students' Association changed its policy to allow for separate posts for PGR student representatives (in the past there were postgraduate representative posts which covered postgraduate taught and research students). There is also a University-wide PGR rep, this year it is Marie-Louise Wohrle. Find out who represents you locally here.
If you are a representative, or run a society, group or anything which involves leading and working with other PGRs, you may find the IAD's resources for leadership useful. These have been specifically written for those in representative roles.
Other opportunities and events from around the University
The Chaplaincy runs a range of events, including a PhD bookclub, Mindful doodling and yoga.
The Counselling service provides links to the Togetherall app, the Feeling Good app and Silvercloud, all of which are available free of charge to UofE students and staff. It also runs regular sessions on managing stress and other skills.
More information on the range of Health and Wellbeing services at the University can be found here.
The Centre for Data, Culture and Society (CDCS) run a variety of events relevant to researchers, a list can be found here.
The College of Science and Engineering have a weekly digest of public engagement opportunities, many of interest to a wider audience.
MUSIC.OLOGY.ECA - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR OUR THIRD ISSUE Open from 24 January - 25 March 2022 MUSIC.OLOGY.ECA is a student-run journal dedicated to showcasing interdisciplinary music research across all departments of Edinburgh University. We are looking for articles (up to 3000 words), audiovisual essays and audio recordings (up to 15 minutes), and reviews (up to 1000 words) that demonstrate contemporary relevance across a variety of areas within music research today. We welcome submissions from any discipline of music-related research. For past submissions and style requirements, refer to our website Send inquiries to co-editors at music.ology.eca@gmail.com. Send submissions to http://journals.ed.ac.uk/music-ology-eca/about/submissions.
External opportunities and events
Una Europa have various activities and events which may be of interest to students from member institutions. They also have a PhD network which you can join. Click on the link to find out more.
The Brilliant Club is a national organisation which runs the Scholars Programme. It recruits, trains and places PhD tutors in schools to deliver programmes of university-style tutorials. They hold regular information sessions for researchers who want to find out more about the opportunities available.
The Alan Turing Institute, the national institute for data science and artificial intelligence, hosts a number of events and activities open to PhD students.
Research Innovation Scotland (RIS) is running a programme of interdisciplinary activities which aim to target the immediate challenges posed both by the need for economic and social recovery from COVID-19 and the longer-term development of sustainable and resilient societies. These events include talks and coffee meetings.
The UK parliament runs training for researchers at different stages. Recording of past events and information on upcoming events can be found on the web pages.
The British Library has a series of Doctoral Open Days running in February and March.
The Stirling Interdisciplinary Research Network is a network open to all early career researchers with an interest in working across disciplines.
Virtual Writing Retreat (VWR) was formed by a group of postgraduate researchers in Scotland to help facilitate productivity and effectiveness. They run a series of writing retreats for a small charge.
Doctoral College : further information
The Doctoral College web pages provide links to Colleges, Schools and services at the University. You can also follow on Twitter @UoE_Doc
If you are a new student, and you missed our welcome event in September, here is a link.
Through July and August 2021 the Doctoral College ran a mini-series on Teaching Matters which showcased some of the initiatives at the University for and by postgraduate researchers.
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