Author Archives: Simone Apel
Part-Time Research students: Are you 18 months away (or less) from submitting?
If so, you may be interested in a Part-Time Researcher Finishing Workshop, which will take place on September 30th.
A joint workshop by the Universities of Birmingham and Northampton, it will be hosted here in Northampton in the TPod, Rockingham Library, Park Campus. Sessions will include Editing & Finishing your Thesis, Preparing for the Viva, Careers talks with advisers via Skype from the University of Birmingham and a session on Getting Published.
For more information please see the booking page. Please note there are few places left on the workshop, as it has been open to regional universities, so get in quick if you are interested! Please note this is only for part-time students and those with less than 18 months to thesis submission.
Get out your cameras… or pencils! Images of Research is back
Some images from IoR 2013
Images of Research is back! So charge up your cameras, or dust off your sketchbooks, and come up with an image which captures the essence of your research in a visual, artistic or photographic way.
This years IoR will be a ‘gentle’ competition, where viewers can vote for their top three favourites – a people’s choice you might say! Entries for IoR 2014 must be submitted by November 6th 2014.
The Graduate School PGR and ECR Skills Development Programme 2014-15
This Hub Post is a permanent link to the 2014-15 Generic Skills Development Programme. This year the Programme has been designed for Postgraduate Research Students (PGRs) and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and is available via the links below.
This year we have over 40 workshops, one Development Day every month and six events to take part in. Many thanks for all the feedback we had on last year’s programme.
Some additional workshops may be added, along with some inevitable changes to the programme, so do make sure you come back here regularly for the most up-to-date information. Workshops and events will be advertised via UN email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and on NILE RES001. Do email me for further information or if you have any questions.
Graduate School generic workshops list 2014-15 (updated May 19th 2015, previous update April 20th 2015)
Also available is the Workshop brochure 2014-5 (updated May 19th 2015) which includes general information on the development programme, how to book or cancel your place on workshops, booking etiquette, workshop descriptions and alignment with Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework.
“Research Diversity” takes to the stage.
On Thursday 26th June, The Graduate School held their 2014 PGR Conference, where Postgraduate Research Students and Early Career Researchers had an opportunity to practice and hone their presentation skills in front of an audience comprised of the University of Northampton research community; staff and students.
Emma Clarke, presenter (left), and Anna Crouch (Chair).
Research Diversity was a perfectly fitting title! After an introduction by Professor Jon Stobart, research student Emma Clarke (pictured) kicked off the day with a very amusing presentation on how it feels being at the start of her ‘journey’, asking “Am I a proper researcher?” She was followed, throughout the morning, by papers on pollinators, a World Bank case study, cyborgs, families and British drug treatment. Read the rest of this entry
PhD peer support lunch on Thursday 3rd July @12:30
There will be another PhD lunch this Thursday 3rd July, at 12:30 in Avenue restaurant. Bring your sandwiches, pasta and chocolate bars and meet us there for a peer support chat!
Based in the Schools, research student communities often feel fragmented, not having a central place to gather and talk outside of their disciplines. These lunch breaks attempt to counterbalance this by offering a ‘place’ for students to gather. It is hoped that further down the line other socials might include meals and seminars with social time after. If you are interested in organising anything please contact Simone Apel. All doctoral research students, from all disciplines, are welcome.
Postgraduate Researcher Conference on June 26th: Book now!
The University of Northampton Graduate School presents
Research Diversity
The 2014 Postgraduate Researcher Conference.
This year’s conference showcases the diverse range of research activity within the University of Northampton and will provide an excellent opportunity for research students to practice their presentation skills to an equally diverse audience. Why not come along and support our research students and early career researchers? Book your place here – you don’t have to attend all day. Read the rest of this entry
Do you know how to argue?!
Argument mapping (AM) is an innovative technique for visualizing arguments. AM helps individuals and groups to reach better decisions. AM can also be used in educational settings to promote a deeper understanding of complex arguments and to develop critical thinking skills.
Dr Graham Smith is running an AM workshop for University of Northampton doctoral research students on Monday, 23 June 2014 from 16:00 to 18:00 in MY120, Avenue Research Centre, Avenue Campus. To book, or for more information, see the Eventbrite booking page.
Calling all part-time doctoral research students!
Are you a research degree student studying part-time? If so, why not come along to the Graduate School’s second Part-Time Researcher Development Day on Tuesday 8th July.
Originally developed through Vitae, the Programme is a day-long series of discussions and workshops, offering part-time research students the time and space to share and discuss issues which directly affect their research degree study.
During the day there will be a number of development sessions. A facilitated discussion on the ethos and problems of part-time research will be tackled throughout the day, with a problem solving session later on. Additionally, the programme offers a valuable opportunity for students to meet and chat with fellow part-timers to share experiences and solutions.
The programme will be advertised to all part-time research students from the regional Midlands Universities. For more information and to book a place see the Eventbrite booking page. http://ptresearcher14.eventbrite.co.uk/.
PhD peer support lunch on Thursday 12th June @12:30
Our Research Students are holding a PhD lunch on Thursday, 12th June, at 12.30, in the Avenue restaurant. Bring your drinks and food and join us for some procrastination and peer support!
Based in the Schools, research student communities often feel fragmented, not having a central place to gather and talk outside of their disciplines. These lunch breaks hope to counterbalance this by offering a ‘place’ for students to gather. It is hoped that further down the line other socials might include meals and seminars with social time after. If you are interested in organising anything please contact Simone Apel. All doctoral research students, from all disciplines, are welcome.
Feature researcher – Emily Howard-Williams
Emily Howard-Williams, Postgraduate Research Student
Second prize winner in the 2014 UN Graduate School poster competition
On the 7th May, at our Annual Poster Competition, Emily won a second prize for her poster “Why did the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) cross the road?” Emily is a postgraduate researcher in the school of Science & Technology and is based at Moulton College. Emily graduated from Napier University (Edinburgh) with an MSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, here she carried out research looking at the behavioural effects of enclosure size, naturalness and complexity on captive orangutan populations. Read the rest of this entry
UON Graduate School Blog 