Workshops and events are now available to book for 2019-2020!
Category Archives: Research
New Graduate School Newsletters
The Graduate School have launched a new series of fortnightly newsletters, published every other Thursday. These replace the Word format Graduate School Notices document. The new update will have the same notices and updates but will feature more news, features and events, relating to Graduate School operations, researcher development, information for PGRs and Supervisors, research degree notices, seminars and events running across the university and call for papers.
The first newsletter was published on October 28th, with the second edition published on November 11th. The next newsletter is due out on Thursday 25th November. If you have any item you would like us to consider please send content and contact details to simone.apel@northampton.ac.uk by noon on the Tuesday before publication. Back copies can be found in the Files in Graduate School Yammer.
COVID-19 update: guidance on planned research and enterprise activities
**Updates: As the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, the default institutional expectation remains that research and enterprise activities should proceed in online or virtual formats. It is recognised that exceptions will exist, but until further notice, all face-to-face research/enterprise activities work can only proceed with the approval of the most relevant Dean or Deputy Dean (or for LLS/ILT – Head of LLS), following risk assessment in alignment with current University of Northampton guidelines. As a default position, research/enterprise work will not be allowed to proceed if:
- alternative, remote research methods could be used which will meet the objectives of the research in an ethical manner;
- the planned work involves UK or international travel;
- the planned activity can feasibly be postponed.
Further guidance, plus expectations about risk assessments and new resources for online research methods are outlined below.
Current position
The University of Northampton’s Situation Updates page is the primary source of information and updates for colleagues and researchers at the University of Northampton: https://www.northampton.ac.uk/about-us/situation-updates/
Given the exceptional, unprecedented situation which is ongoing as a result of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all researchers must reflect on their planned and ongoing activities: this may necessitate pausing, rescheduling or amending activities. Amendments to activities, or proposals for new research/enterprise activities, must be reviewed and approved by the University of Northampton’s Research Ethics Committee or Faculty Ethics Committees.
It is likely that COVID-19 will cause significant disruption for research activities, particularly where:
- proposed/ongoing research activities require face-to-face contact with participants, particularly those who are at-risk or require self-isolation as per the latest UK Government advice;
- researchers are themselves at-risk or require self-isolation;
- proposed research involves UK or international travel;
- planned research requires visits to settings which are closed or have restricted access as a result of COVID-19.
If you are concerned about the impacts of the current situation on your ongoing/planned research, support is available as follows:
Read the rest of this entryResearch Seminars that bridge gaps in our thinking!
Rapid Analysis of Environmental Mycobacteria Species in Water Samples using PCR
Speaker: Farzana Sultana
Monday 1st July 10am
Location Learning Hub 323
Speaker: Qiuling Bi
Critical Thinking Instruction Through Project-based Learning in Chinese EFL Classes: A Case Study in HE
Tuesday 2nd July 9-10am
Location: Senate 212
Teaching American Literature in the Age of Trump: An Uncanny Pedagogy
Speaker: Lawrence Phillips (Regents University)
Wednesday 3rd July 2:15pm
Location: Senate 405
Student Wellbeing in Higher Education: Sense-Making through Narrative Inquiry
Speaker: Sally Sharp (See poster for more information)
Monday 15th July 12-1pm
Location: Learning Hub 016
Showcasing the very best research at Waterside: UoN’s Annual Research Conference
20-21 June – Town Hall, Creative Hub, Waterside Campus
Our beautiful riverside setting provides the backdrop for this year’s Annual Research Conference. With over 100 abstracts received from Postgraduate Researchers and staff for research papers, posters, 3MT presentations and Bake your Research, this year promises to reflect the very best research that University of Northampton has to offer.
We are also lucky to be joined by three distinctive and vibrant keynote speakers. Professor Deborah Johnston from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) who considers Researching Nutrition and Decision-Making: Negotiating Ethical and Analytical Challenges as she opens the conference on the Thursday.
We have a Performative Plenary Provocation by Dr Kieran Fenby-Hulse at the end of the first day entitled ‘Difference and the Academy’.
While on the second day, Julia Reeve, Coordinator of East Midlands Writing Pad and Research ELT Officer from De Montfort University, invites us to think about the relationship between creativity and research.
At whatever stage you are in your research career, there really is something for everyone at this year’s conference. We launch our full conference brochure very soon, but for now, please do register your interest on Gateway for Day One, and Day Two. Everyone is welcome to attend the conference meal at the end of Day One, but please do sign up on Gateway for this too.
Join us for a fabulous showcase of our university’s finest research. For further information on the event, please contact Dr Melanie Petch.
Research Poster Competition, June 2019
Wednesday 15th May, 10:45-14:00pm
Exhibition Space, First Floor, Creative Hub
Late entries still being accepted!
last year’s poster experience
If you’d like to give the Research Poster Competition a go this year, do get in touch with Melanie.Petch@northampton.ac.uk. It’s a great opportunity to meet other PGRs and to gain valuable feedback on your work. Please see the Entry Guidelines for more inspiration and if you’re tempted, fill in the Entry Form.
The Research Poster Competition is available for everyone to view, so do drop by and see for yourselves the exciting research going on at Waterside.
Alongside the poster competition, we’ll also be announcing the winners of the Images of Research Competition we launched late last year. We have two very impressive winners this year, so do join us as we celebrate their successes too.
14th Annual Research Poster Competition: call for entries
Wednesday 15th May, 10.45am – 2.00pm
First Floor Exhibition Space, Creative Hub, Waterside Campus
The Graduate School is launching its 14th Annual Research Competition for all PGRs this week. The aim of the event is for PGRs to create an A1 poster (in landscape format) that explains their research to a mixed audience of non-subject specialists. At whatever stage in the research process you are, and whether you are based on or off campus, do take this opportunity to share your work with others and gain valuable feedback. For further information on the rules of entry, please see the Guidelines.
For those new to producing a research poster, there will be a Producing a Research Poster workshop on Tuesday 26th March to support you with your entry. Please see Gateway for further details. An online version of the workshop will also be available for off-site students – if you are interested in attending, please contact Melanie.Petch@northampton.ac.uk
To enter, please complete the entry form and email to Melanie Petch.
The closing date for the submission of the entry form is Monday 29th April.
All the best with your entry!
The Graduate School launches its Sixth ‘Images of Research’ competition.
Viewers at the launch of our 2019 digital exhibition this evening cast their votes from a series of stunning entries.
If you missed the opportunity to attend the event, please do browse the full exhibition catalogue here.
Once you’ve viewed all fourteen images and accompanying text, keep a note of your favourite three entries and their numbers. You can then use our online poll to submit your vote.
The winners will be announced on 15th May 2019 at our Research Poster Competition (more details to follow shortly) There will be two winners. The ‘People’s Choice’ voted for by you! We will also have a special prize chosen by our expert judge, Ben Thomas, editor of All Things Business.
For further information on how to vote or information on the Images of Research competition, please contact Dr Melanie Petch Melanie.Petch@northampton.ac.uk
Images of Research Launch on Monday. Everyone welcome!
Images of Research Launch – Monday 4th March 5-6pm
Exhibition Area, First Floor, Creative Hub, Waterside Campus
Join us for wine and nibbles as we view the very finest images of research at University of Northampton at our first-fully digital exhibition. On the night, you will be able to vote for your top three images. The exhibition will be displayed on the plasma screens around campus until 4th April with the winners announced on 15th May 2019. A full exhibition catalogue will also be posted online after the launch. We look forward to seeing you there! For further information, contact Melanie Petch – Melanie.Petch@northampton.ac.uk
Call for papers and entries: University of Northampton’s Annual Research Conference
Thursday 20 – Friday 21 June, 2019
The University of Northampton’s Annual Research Conference provides an ideal development opportunity for all researchers to present their research and to discuss and share good practice with others in a supportive environment. This year, we are offering some exciting, new ways of presenting research and are looking for researchers who are keen to submit one, or all, of the following:
- Research papers: presentations should be 15 minutes long, with 10 minutes allocated for questions after each presentation.
- Research posters: exhibit an A1 poster (landscape only) that explains your research to a mixed audience of non-subject specialists. Entrants can re-submit the same poster already entered into the Graduate School Research Poster Competition 2018 or for planned entry into the competition in May 2019.
- Thesis in Three Minutes: outline your thesis in a three-minute presentation and one slide! See the guidelines for further information.
- Bake your Research Competition: bake your research as a cake (or other baked goodies) in this tasty new competition! Please read the guidelines for further information.
If you are a UoN researcher and are interested in submitting your research in one, or all, of these formats, please complete a separate Register your Interest Form for each entry where you will be asked to upload an abstract for each one. Closing date for submission is: Friday 29th March 2019.
Please direct any questions to Melanie.Petch@northampton.ac.uk.
If you don’t wish to present but would like to be part of the conference selection panel, be a chair, or help out on the day, then please get in touch with Melanie.
UON Graduate School Blog 