David’s top tips for being productive at home
I’ve been having real difficulty concentrating whilst working at home. I find it hard to start tasks, my eyes are sore, a 5-day week feels daunting and I feel anxious when I don’t complete the tasks I planned to do. I miss going to work!
At the Graduate School Drop-In today, we talked to a PhD student about concentration and productivity. We came up with a few practical ideas that I thought I’d share with you: Read the rest of this entry
COVID-19 FAQs for PGRs and supervisors
This blog post is intended to provide specific information for PGRs and research degree supervisors about the impact of COVID-19. We will update it as advice changes and we will add new FAQs when it seems necessary.
Q: Where can I find out updates from the University about COVID-19 (‘Coronavirus’)?
A: 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/
Workshops for Research Degree Supervisors
We are running a series of workshops for research degree supervisors related to the stage that your pgr student has reached. These workshops will be a mix of information about the formal procedures with a discussion about how to support the student through this phase of their programme. The ‘early stages’ workshop is timed to coincide with student induction when you may have a student starting their research degree programme. All workshops are equally appropriate for those new to supervision and for those experienced supervisors who need a refresher. Read the rest of this entry
Annual Research Conference: Brochure Online
June 20 – 21st 2019
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone later this week at our Annual Research Conference. We have a host of treats in store for you including three distinguished keynote speakers, and our inaugural Bake your Research Competition! We also have research papers, and the famous 3MT too. The full conference brochure can be viewed here.

If you would like to book for Day One or Day Two just click the links to register your attendance. Please do join us for the conference meal too, by booking on Gateway.
Graduate School Update Day 2019: PGR Futures

This year’s Graduate School Update Day will be held on 26 June 2019. Update Day is open to all the university’s postgraduate researchers and research degree supervisors. The theme for this year’s Update Day is ‘PGR Futures‘. It will be facilitated by Dr Billy Bryan. You can sign up here.
Programme for Update Day 2019
Read the rest of this entrySupervisor Development Programme ~ 2019/20
The university runs a development programme for supervisors who are new to research degree supervision, co-ordinated by Professor Ian Livingstone. It is a validated university postgraduate course and it is delivered as two modules – Workshops and Observation. It is a requirement of our research degree regulations that everyone who is new to supervision takes the first module – the workshops. The second module is optional but if you complete both you are awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Degree Supervision which you can count as one completion when putting together supervisory teams. Even if you have previously supervised research students, there may be some elements of the programme that you would find useful.
In 2019/20 the workshops will be delivered on:
Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September 2019 at the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus.
You will need to attend on all three days of the programme.
There will also be a delivery of the programme in July 2020, probably on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th. Read the rest of this entry
Practical Tips to Effectively Improve your Writing Style (Part 2)
Friday 29th March 2.00 – 3.30pm (Room 404 in Senate Building)
Professor Tony Kay is running Part 2 of this popular session hosted by the FHS, Physical Activity and Life Sciences Research Centre.
It is ideal for those who attended Part 1 and is also open to anyone who would like to attend this second part.

Academic writing is an essential communication skill that is developed with practice and guidance. Regardless of the type of document (e.g. report, article, thesis), employing the appropriate writing style will enhance the clarity and impact of your work. This session will provide a guide to improve the clarify of your writing, examine some of the common mistakes, and provide examples of effective tips and a checklist to eliminate these mistakes and improve the quality and clarity of your writing.
To book your place please register on Gateway
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





