PhD Researcher Development Programme & Skills Points SystemDr Fryni PanayidouResearcher Development Adviser (PGRs)f.panayidou@qmul.ac.uk

www.qmul.ac.uk/queenmaryacademy/researcher-development/

What is a PhD?

• A deep, specific education in a discipline

• Research training leading to a professional research qualification

A “professional researcher”• Carries out research!

• Attends conferences• Networks and is part of the community• Presents their work• Writes papers/articles/books

What skills are we talking about?

• Research skills• To help you get your PhD• To make you an effective researcher• To help in a future research career• To help in any other career• For life in general!

Researcher Development Framework

What skills are we talking about?

www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf

Skills development How?

PhD – Research Activities

Ideas

SearchesExperiments

Field Work

Simulations

Thinking

AnalysisWriting

CritiquingLiterature

Argument

PhD – Other Related ActivitiesDemonstrating

Teaching

Mentoring

Conferences

PublicEngagement

Presenting

Getting funding

Researcher Development Courses & Workshops• Getting started with your PhD, Project / Time Management• Critical Thinking, Reading Analytically• Writing Abstracts / your Thesis• Presenting your Research / Poster• Introduction to Statistics and R / LaTeX• Assertive communication• Stress, Resilience and Strengths• …and many more

www.cpdbookings.qmul.ac.uk

www.cpdbookings.qmul.ac.uk

www.cpdbookings.qmul.ac.uk

Other Researcher Development support & events

Let’s Write!Online Writing Retreat

Other QMUL departments

• Research training in your School or Institute!• Doctoral College• Language Centre• Library• Careers• Centre for Public Engagement• Research Impact team

www.vitae.ac.uk

External events & courses

• Professional bodies• Other institutions• Other DTPs

www.bl.uk

Skills development – How?

• Research & related activities • Researcher Development workshops & events• Other QMUL departments• External events & courses• Teaching opportunities/training• Other...

Skills development – What’s expected?• 2 weeks (70 hours) per year

• Research Council & QM guidelines

• Keep a record of training & development• Needs to be included with reports• Online database to help with this (Skills Points System)

• Be responsible for your own development• But talk to your supervisor about it• Talk to me!

The Skills Points System (SPS)

• Web-based database: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/sps/

• Use QMUL ID to log in (eg abc123)

• Researcher Development & Doctoral College activities from booking system are uploaded automatically (eg Induction)

• You can claim all other activities

The Skills Points System (SPS)

• Target is 210 points by submission

• Will receive QM Diploma of Researcher Development

Domain AKnowledge and intellectual abilities: 60

Domain BPersonal effectiveness: 20

Domain CResearch governance and organisation: 15

Domain DEngagement, influenceand impact: 30

Total target: 210

Under Help on SPS:• step-by-step guide on claiming various types of activities

(‘How to use the SPS’)• a list of activities that are uploaded automatically with points

Further help with the SPS database

• Contact:spdsupport@qmul.ac.uk

• Researcher Development webpages (including link to database)

www.qmul.ac.uk/queenmaryacademy/researcher-development/

Fryni Panayidouf.panayidou@qmul.ac.uk

Any Questions?www.qmul.ac.uk/queenmaryacademy/researcher-development/

Queen Mary University of London

PhD Induction

Careers and Enterprise January 2021

Dedicated support for PhD researchers

Dr Tracy Bussoli Andrea Cox

Research

Why is it important to think about your career now?

Because……

Self Knowledge

Researching Roles/Sectors

Decision Making

Seeking and Securing

Opportunities

OptimismCuriosity

Flexibility

Risk Taking

TenacityProactivity

Career management takes time

- Concepts from planned happenstance careers theory

- Concepts from Bill Law’s DOTS model of career theory

PhDs work in a range of sectors 3 years after graduation

Vitae: What do Researchers do? Based on 2073 PhDs and 428 Masters Graduates – 3 years after graduation. Survey 2010

Social Science59% in HE

Arts and Humanities46% in HE

Biomedical Science33% in HE

Physical Science30% in HE

So think of the skills you gain during your PhD and visualise them in a number of baskets not just the

academic one

The skills you will develop as a PhD Student

• Subject knowledge

• Research methods

• Languages

• Analysing data

• Synthesising data

• Critical thinking

• Problem solving

• Inquiring mind

• Intellectual insight

• Innovation

• Enthusiasm

• Self confidence

• Perseverance

• Responsibility

• Team management

• Responsiveness to change

• Project planning and delivery

• Communication – methods and media

• Team working

• People management

• Collaboration

• Influence and leadership

file:///C:/Users/csw017/Downloads/Employability-Lens-Vitae-Researcher-Development-Framework-RDF-May-2012%20(3).pdf

PhD Skills

Career action plan - suggestions

Year 1Listen to your school careers taster

webinar*

Set up a LinkedIn profile and other social media profiles (Twitter for

academia)

Follow companies and research groups of interest on social media to

keep up to date

Year 2Book a 121 careers slot with a CC to

talk about options and career planning

Do a professional development plan with your supervisor . Discuss career

options in academia

Think about skills gaps that you might need to fill and take on opportunities

that develop these skills

Year 3Write an academic and non-academic CV and get it checked with a Careers

Consultant

Reach out to relevant contacts on LinkedIn and talk to people in a range of sectors about their job – would this

job suit you?

Network with research groups you may want to work in, post PhD

*Dates and booking details on next slideLook for part-time work if this is feasible – up to 6 hours a week but depends on funder and visa

Careers Taster Sessions – Introduction to Researcher Careers Webinars

School Code Date

School of Geography (SoG) PHD-RC-106 26.01.2021

School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)

PHD-RC-012 26.01.2021

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS)

PHD-RC-013 02.02.2021

School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS)

PHD-RC-014 09.02.2021

School of History (SoH) PHD-RC-016 15.02.2021

School of Languages, Linguistics and Film (SLLF)

PHD-RC-017 22.02.2021

School of Physics and Astronomy (SPA)

PHD-RC-015 02.03.2021

Careers Taster Sessions – Introduction to Researcher Careers Webinar (this term – others TBC for next term)

• Listen live – Book here using code on previous slide: https://www.esdcourses.org.uk/listcourse.php

OR

• Listen to recording: https://qmplus.qmul.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5798

90 minute careers webinars designed for researchers

• Why do I feel like a fraud?

• Career options for roles beyond academia

• Planning for an academic career

• LinkedIn secrets for researchers

• Researchers! How to start your own business

• Networking for introverts

• CVs workshops – academic and beyond

Search ‘careers’ on www.cpdbookings.qmul.ac.uk

Dedicated career guidance and coaching for PhD researchers

One-to-one career coaching

• Explore career options

• Identify your strengths and gaps

• Plan A, B and Z

• Is self-employment for me?

• CV check

• Job and fellowship applications check

• Mock interview practice

Call 0207 882 8533 to book a 30 minute MS Teams Appointment

Insessional Programme

English Language and Study Skills

Language Centre, School of Languages Linguistics and Film

Dr Weronika Fernando

Lecturer and Insessional Programme Convenor

Dr Saima Sherazi

Senior Lecturer and Sessional Coordinator

Link to our website: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/language-centre/in-sessionals/

Insessional Programme • Academic Writing modules

• EAL4621/EAL4622 Principles of Academic Writing 1 and 2 (10 weeks)

• EAL4630 Structuring Arguments and Avoiding Plagiarism (10 weeks)

• EAL7620 Research Writing Workshop (10 weeks)

• EAL4610 The process of writing (5 weeks)

• EAL4800 Preparing for your first assignment (5 weeks)

• Reading for Writing modules

• EAL4710 Reading and Writing Critically (10 weeks)

• EAL4700 English through Literature (10 weeks)

• Grammar & Syntax

• EAL4731 Grammar in Context 1 and 2 (10 weeks)

• EAL4740 Proofreading and Editing (5 weeks

• EAL4720 Expand Your Vocabulary (5 weeks)

• Listening and Speaking in English

• EAL3671/2 English in Social Settings 1 and 2 (10 weeks)

• EAL4680 English Pronunciation Skills (5 weeks)

• EAL4650 Effective Presentation Skills (5 weeks)

• EAL4660 Effective Participation in Seminars (5 weeks)

• EAL4640 Academic Listening (5 weeks)

• Employability modules

• EAL6200 Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace (5 weeks)

• EAL6201 Professional Writing for the Global Workplace (5 weeks)

Coming in 2022

• Technical Writing in the Global Workplace

• Data Driven Vocabulary Building

Module Code Module Title Credit Value Level Duration

EAL4610 The Process of Writing 0 4 5 weeks

EAL4621 Principles of Academic Writing 1 ad 20 4 10 weeks

EAL4660 Effective Participation in Seminars0 4 5 weeks

EAL4710 Reading and Writing Critically0 4 10 weeks

EAL4720 Expand Your Vocabulary in English0 4 5 weeks

EAL4731 Grammar in Context 1 and 20 4 10 weeks

EAL4760 Exploring Spoken English15 4 10 weeks

EAL4791 Critical Thinking and Writing in Law: Literacy Development0 6 10 weeks

EAL5600 Morphology of British Culture15 5 10 weeks

EAL6200 Inter-cultural Communication for the Global Workplace0 6 10 weeks

EAL6201 Professional Writing for the Global Workplace0 6 10 weeks

EAL6207 Description of Language15 6 10 weeks

EAL7620 Research Writing Workshop0 7 10 weeks

EAL7801 Critical Thinking Writing for Global Health0 7 10 weeks

EAL7821 Critical Thinking & Writing for Politics and International Relations0 7 10 weeks

EAL7831 Critical Thinking & Writing for Applied Linguistics0 7 10 weeks

EAL7881 Critical Thinking Writing for Dental Sciences0 7 10 weeks

Semester 1 &2 – 2020/21

Skills Points from Insessional Modules: More information available on the Doctoral college website

Code Title Total points A B C D

EAL4621 Principles of Academic Writing 1 20 14 3 3

EAL4622 Principles of Academic Writing 2 20 14 3 3

EAL4720 Expand your Vocabulary in English 10 7 3

EAL4710 Reading and Writing Critically 20 20

EAL4630 Structuring arguments and Avoiding plagiarism 20 12 3 3 2

EAL4610 The Process of Writing 10 3 4 3

EAL7620 Research Writing Workshop 20 14 3 3

EAL3671 English in Social Settings 1 20 4 12 4

EAL3672 English in Social Settings 2 20 4 12 4

EAL4640 Academic Listening 10 6 2 2

EAL4650 Effective Presentation Skills 10 2 4 4

EAL4660 Effective Participation in Seminars 10 2 4 4

EAL4690 From Reading to Writing 20 10 5 5

EAL4700 English through Literature 20 10 5 5

EAL4731 Grammar in Context 1 20 10 5 5

EAL4732 Grammar in Context 2 20 10 5 5

EAL4740 Proofreading and Editing Skills 10 5 2.5 2.5

25

EAL7620 Research Writing Workshop

• Class is devoted to aspects of writing and awareness building of the process of writing a thesis / dissertation

• This is a 10 week module

• Starts in the second week of the semester

• Class meets every week for 2 hours

• Class schedule:

• Weeks 1-5: classes

• Week 6-9: tutorials

• Week 10: final session

Semester 1

HSS group - Monday 12:00-2:00pm

SE and SMD group - Wednesday 11:00-1:00pm

Semester 2

HSS group – Monday

SMD group – Tuesday

SE group – Friday

Physics group – Wednesday

Important information

• Semester 1 - Enrolment begins in the first week of term 21st September 2020

• Classes commence in the 2nd week of the term in the w/c 28th September for 10 weeks

• Semester 2 - You can enrol around 1st December 2020 and registration will resume after the holidays on 6th January 2021

• Classes commence in w/c 1st February and continue for ten weeks, omitting Reading Week

• Classes are free of charge to the students

• Registration through MySiS

• Early registration is highly recommended as the courses are very popular and become fully booked soon!

More information

• Language Centre’s Website:http://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/language-centre/

• Insessionals web page: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/language-centre/in-sessionals/

• Leaflets and Brochures from Arts One Room 1.40

• Emails: sllf-progadmin@qmul.ac.uk

• Programme Convenor: w.fernando@qmul.ac.uk

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Advice and Counselling ServiceQueen Mary, University of London

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Advice and Counselling Servicewww.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

• Emotional

• Personal

• Psychological

• Financial

• Welfare

• Legal

Specialist, professional,

confidential support

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Welfare Advice and advocacy

• Fee status and fee payment problems

• Eligibility for funding

• Planning a budget or financial problems

• Applying for Hardship Funds

• Immigration Law for students

• Rights in the UK e.g. working

• Interruption of studyRights of EEA and Swiss students

• We can explain your options so you can decide how to proceed

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welfare.qmul.ac.uk/eu-eea/

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International students

• Travel and re-entering the UK

• Changes to study

• Changes to personal circs

• Family members

• Lost documents

• Working

• Police registration

www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/

qmulintadvice.wordpress.com/

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International students

Covid-19 and immigration

welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration-and-

covid-19-coronavirus

Advice

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Advice

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Counselling

• Relationship problems• Difficult decisions• Identity and sexuality• Discrimination• Depression• Anxiety• Academic stress• Isolation• Family problems• Bullying and harrassment

Advice

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ACS Counselling

• Initial meeting – what might help?

• Short term counselling

• Short term Cognitive Behavioural informed therapies

• Group Therapy – up to a year

• Referral/signposting

• Consultant Psychiatrists – weekly clinic

• PhD Support Group

www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/counselling

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Service Information

• Self-referral

• Confidential

• Email enquiries via website www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

• Book in advance appointments

• Online international drop in

• Ground floor, Geography building, Mile End campus

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Lots of support at QM!

• A-Z of QM Support Services:

welfare.qmul.ac.uk/student-advice-guides

www.dds.qmul.ac.uk

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Stay up-to-date…www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

@QMUL_ACS

facebook.com/QMACS

Staying well during your PhD

Dr Fryni PanayidouResearcher Development Adviser f.panayidou@qmul.ac.uk

(in the midst of a pandemic!)

• Introduce yourself

• What School/Institute you’re from

• One thing that you enjoy doing (non-academic!)

• Share some of your worries or concerns about starting a PhD

• You have 7 minutes!

• (if you’ve got time left, you can briefly talk about what your research is on)

In groups...

Breakout Groups

Common PhD issues:

• Moving from structured to unstructured study• Anxiety, lack of motivation, self-doubt / imposter

• Isolation / Homesickness / Culture shock

• Overworking/Work-life balance

• Uncertainty caused by the pandemic...

The importance of your wellbeing

Step 1: Acknowledge what you’re feeling or experiencing

Step 2: Make changes / seek support to help remedy (or prevent) these feelings

Coping with these challenges

• You’re not meant to know everything, this is why you have supervisors!

• Research isn’t about perfection. Set realistic standards

• Expect setbacks – they are a natural part of research

• If you’re not motivated or you procrastinate: set short-term deadlines and start with what’s easy

Feeling lost / Anxiety around progress

Try to connect with others:

• Make the most of the online environment

• Attend research seminars, reading groups, training (we always try to get you to talk to each other!)

• Other PhD students are going through very similar challenges

• Talk to your friends and family

Isolation/ homesickness / culture shock

• 35 hours a week (Full Time)

• Take GUILT-FREEbreaks / annual leave

• Do things other than just your PhD: exercise, games, dancing, singing, cooking, learning a language, films

Overworking & work-life balance

Experiencing a moment of happiness, the grad student is immediately consumed with guilt.

- Lego Grad Student

• Living With Worry And Anxiety Amidst Global Uncertainty –practical guide, translated into several languages

• Student Minds – Coronavirus Resources

• Mental Health Foundation – Coronavirus Resources

Anxiety and worries around Covid-19

• Training:• Stress, Resilience and Strengths• Managing stress as a Researcher• Wellbeing techniques for working remotely• Why Do I Feel Like a Fraud? Tackling Impostor Phenomenon

• PhD Support Group: Talk to others who are going though similar experiences as you in a safe and confidential space.

• Advice and Counselling Service: emotional and psychological support

• Mental Health team: mentoring and practical support for students with long-term mental health conditions

• Wellbeing resources on Researcher Development webpages and QMplus

Seek support when you need it!

• Write down 3 things that can help support you during this first stage of your PhD journey – make a commitment

• Put a reminder in your diary for 3 months’ time to check whether you’ve been doing these things

Your homework...

Questions?

Fryni Panayidou f.panayidou@qmul.ac.uk