September 29, 2022, by Lisa Chin
Graduate School Newsletter, October 2022
Nucleus Issue 04/22 (48)
The needs of the postgraduate and early career researcher community are at the heart of what we do at the Graduate School.
Read on for all the latest news from us.
News and guidance
Vote for our 3MT® winner at U21 Final!
Our very own Chen Hui Ling from the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences recently bagged top spot, edging out other Nottingham campus winners, at the tri-campus round of the Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT®). She won with a presentation of her PhD thesis Microplastics – The invisible hazard which aims at minimising the ecological and human health risks of microplastics – tiny plastic pieces that are abundantly present in the environment.
Hui Ling now represents the entire Nottingham network at the Universitas 21 (U21) Final. The U21 3MT® pits the winning presenters from U21 member universities against one another where they will now be judged by an international panel of industry and academic professionals.
You can watch Hui Ling’s winning presentation, along with the winners of other universities, and vote for the People’s Choice award. Hurry and vote now before voting ends on Monday 3 October 2022.
Events and activities
Postgraduate Showcase Live!
Wednesday 19 October 2022, 10am, H1B11
*This event is open to all staff and students
Join us at our Postgraduate Showcase Live! to support our postgraduate research students and hear about how their research matters to us. Using only a poster, they will present their research in an engaging way and compete for the top prizes.
Postgraduate Induction
Friday 28 October 2022, 2.30pm, H1B13
Our postgraduate induction features welcome talk by our Associate Dean of Graduate School and introductory presentations by our staff members on a range of support services and development opportunities for postgraduate students. This session will provide you with the essential information to help you make a successful start to your research degree.
Research Supervisor Series
The University is committed to developing and maintaining the highest standards in doctoral supervision. This series of seminars and talks is aimed at University staff involved in research supervision of masters and doctoral students. They cover topics that are essential for Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) requirements* and also have been highlighted by supervisors as areas where they would like more advice and practice-sharing opportunities.
*All postgraduate research (PGR) supervisors (main and co) are expected to attend at least two supervisory training offered by the Graduate School.
Managing postgraduate research students’ progression
Friday 28 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, online via MS Teams
by Professor Pau-Loke Show, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
At the University of Nottingham, all research students follow a series of monitoring and assessment throughout their period of supervised study to ensure acceptable performance. The university requirements (i.e. supervision reporting, annual review) are common to all research students and all years of registration, while external funder requirements (i.e. milestones and reports) are determined on a case-by-case basis set out in the Memorandum of Agreement. This session aims to share information on your role in meeting the university requirements and project management requirements to ensure satisfactory progression and completion of research projects. Case studies involving common scenarios will also be highlighted and discussed.
Training and development
In light of the University’s full resumption of face-to-face learning, we at the Graduate School are reverting fully to physical sessions on campus for all our training provisions for postgraduate students, with effect from October 2022.
Our postgraduate students, including international students, are expected to make the necessary arrangements to attend our training courses on campus. With the full resumption of face-to-face learning, we will continue to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment in which our postgraduate community can advance and thrive.
Researcher Development Programme (RDP)
New: Research methodology
This is a compulsory module for all PGR students who registered from 2021 onwards. Composed of the following five workshops, the module is designed to meet the generic requirements of research with the aim to support postgraduate students in developing your research project and assist you in defining your mode of inquiry.
1. Introduction to research methodology
Monday 3 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
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Introduction to the course
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The nature of research
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Research philosophies
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Definition of research
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Types of research
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8 stages of research
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2. Strategies for academic writing
Tuesday 4 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
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Practise the necessary methods, tactics and approaches to present research effectively in writing
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Present academic work in appropriate format and style suitable for postgraduate level
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Communicate research question, methodology and conclusions effectively for an academic audience
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3. Research ethics and integrity
Wednesday 5 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
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Why do you need ethics approval?
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How can you get ethics approval?
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4. Research development
Thursday 6 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
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Conceptual and theoretical framework
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Research problem – Constructing research question
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Analysis and interpretation
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5. Postgraduate life cycle (previously known as Nature of the PhD and the supervision process)
Friday 7 October 2022, 10am – 12nn, H1B13
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Summarise the purpose and nature of postgraduate research
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Identify the responsibilities of students and supervisors
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List a realistic set of expectations for building a good relationship with supervisors
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Presentation skills: Building your confidence
Tuesday 18 October 2022, 10am – 4pm, H1B13
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This course will consider and discuss the skills of preparing an effective presentation. It will also provide a friendly platform to practise and improve the skills of delivering an effective presentation.
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Other support
Writing consultation sessions
The Centre of English Language and Foundation Education (CELFE) is now offering one-to-one writing consultation service exclusively for our postgraduate students. These sessions, schedule by appointment only, provide personalised task-specific writing support with the goal of helping our postgraduate students to navigate the expectations of academic writing at the tertiary level.
You may bring in a writing task that you are currently working on — no matter what stage the writing is at — and we will work on specific areas of concern that you have for the piece of writing, including responding to previous comments received for the piece of work.
Each session is 45-minute long with the possibility of signing up for multiple sessions provided that the sessions are at least a week apart. These sessions are not meant to “fix” your work but to help you acquire the necessary academic writing skills and develop as an academic writer, with the goal of equipping you with the ability to do this on your own in the future. For this semester, you have the option of attending the consultation virtually or physically.
Find out more and make an appointment
Community
On other blog
Starting the PhD
Setting goals
In this post by Professor Pat Thomson, find out why you need goals that are not only practical and achievable, but also adjustable and flexible when you start your PhD.
“… You’ll continue to work on goals throughout your doctorate. But it’s well worth getting your head around the timescales and shape of the years to come right now.”
Route recalculation
In another post by Professor Thomson, find out why you need an open and optimistic mindset where you would not be surprised, devastated or unable to respond if something unexpected and untoward does happen during your PhD.
“… Research troubles happen to most of us, a lot of the time. It’s okay. It’s part of the process. Researchers are problem solvers, trouble shooters, inventive as well as resourceful when the road gets rocky. We expect the unexpected and aren’t thrown off course when it happens.”
PhD Comics
The research cycle
Empowering your postgraduate and research ambition
#unmgraduateschool
Look out for our next issue of newsletter next month!
Don’t forget you can get in touch with us via Facebook or by email at graduateschool@nottingham.edu.my.
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