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Queen Mary University of London PhD Induction September 2020
Queen Mary University of London PhD Induction
September 2020
Why not just write?An introduction to researcher
development
Adrian Armstrong
Director, QMUL Doctoral College
Deputy Dean for Research (PGR), HSS
Why might we be suspicious of development?
It’s important to complete and submit within three years. Anything else is a distraction, unless it’s an opportunity to publish something or do some teaching.
My masters degree has already given me all the training I need. For anything else, my supervisor can give specialist advice.
I won’t need training for what I plan to do after my PhD.
I’ve done training courses before, and they’re a waste of time.
I can’t see anything that interests me in the list of courses.
Reasons not to be suspicious
Funding and regulatory bodies never see training/development as a distraction. On the contrary: they expect it (eg UKRI 210 hours – equivalent to two weeks per year for three years)
And they expect it for good reasons: They want PhD graduates to have the skills they need for their future
careers (academic and otherwise)
They want PhD programmes to be globally competitive
Masters-level study will enable you to begin your programme of research … but not to complete it successfully
Remember that a PhD has an apparent product and a realproduct
Specialist technical skills aren’t the only thing that you’ll need to function effectively, during or after your PhD The Researcher Development Framework covers four domains (> Fryni)
Flexibility and adaptability are important, even in academic careers
Training can take very varied forms – be alert to opportunities
Training helps you meet new people!
A story of development Doctoral work on the materiality of
French poetry, in the age of transition between manuscript and print Specialist training: working with
manuscripts etc. Largely provided by other disciplines: History, English, etc.
General training: IT skills etc.
Developing additional languages of scholarship: Dutch, Italian (self-study)
Lectureship in a Department of French Training for teaching purposes
More senior academic roles Ongoing professional development
Evolving research agenda Collaborative projects > further skills
Opening up new horizons
Dedicated support for PhD researchers
Dr Tracy Bussoli Andrea Cox
Research
Why is it important to think about your career now?
Because……
Self Knowledge Research
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 Webinar (others TBC for next term)
School Code Date
School of Economics and Finance (SEF) PHD-RC-100 12.10.2020
School of English and Drama (SED) PHD-RC-101 18.10.2020
School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) PHD-RC-102 3.11.2020
School of Business and Management (SBM)
PHD-RC-104 10.11.2020
School of Law PHD-RC-105 16.11.2020
School of Geography PHD-RC-106 23.11.2020
School of Engineering and Material Science
PHD-RC-103 1.12.2020
Careers Tater 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
• 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
• Interview practice
Call 0207 882 8533 to book a MS Teams Appointment
Meet the team!Zi Parker –[email protected] support enquires and questions.
Nancy Schumann–[email protected] enquiries
What does the Doctoral College do?
The Doctoral College oversees the admission, training and development, academic progression and award of degrees for all of Queen Mary’s PhD students
We are here to support you and help you make the most of the opportunities Queen Mary has to offer: making sure the wide range of activities that go in to successful research connect up
All QMUL PhD students are members of the Doctoral College, and we are here to support you to complete your PhD.
We work with facilities across the university to support your PhD journey:
Careers Research Degrees OfficeAcademic Development International OfficePublic Engagement Principal’s OfficeEducation Development Library ServicesStudent Services Advice and CounsellingQM Students Union Schools and InstitutesBusiness Development Equality & Diversity Team
Other Universities & Other People!
Information
• Emails and newsletters about events & training will be sent directly to students throughout their PhD.
• DCBlog – this is where we put information about all the events across London for PhD students!
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/about-us/blog/
• DC Twitter
@QMUL_DC
#QMULPhD
• Graduate Festival• March 2021 – a blended approach, online and in person
events organised by PhD students for PhD students.
• PhD Show Off • A comedy night (with training) for PhD students to talk about
their research!
• Cohort Events • Year 1 Cohort event on networking – June 2021
• PGTips• Tips and tricks for getting on in your PhD, an opportunity to
meet and chat – this online drop in will be run on Wednesdays starting in October.
Fun!
Get involved!
• Call for Graduate Festival Organising Committee – coming October 2020.
• Call for involvement in GradFest 2020 events – coming November 2020.
• GradFest/Doctoral College focus groups, looking at what we do and what more we can do to support students in the current environment – coming October 2020 and into 2021.
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 0 4 10 weeks
EAL4660 Effective Participation in Seminars 0 4 5 weeks
EAL4710 Reading and Writing Critically 0 4 10 weeks
EAL4720 Expand Your Vocabulary in English 0 4 5 weeks
EAL4731 Grammar in Context 1 0 4 10 weeks
EAL4760 Exploring Spoken English 15 4 10 weeks
EAL4791 Critical Thinking and Writing in Law: Literacy Development 0 6 10 weeks
EAL5600 Morphology of British Culture 15 5 10 weeks
EAL6200 Inter-cultural Communication for the Global Workplace 0 6 10 weeks
EAL6201 Professional Writing for the Global Workplace 0 6 10 weeks
EAL6207 Description of Language 15 6 10 weeks
EAL7620 Research Writing Workshop 0 7 10 weeks
EAL7801 Critical Thinking Writing for Global Health 0 7 10 weeks
EAL7821 Critical Thinking & Writing for Politics and International Relations 0 7 10 weeks
EAL7831 Critical Thinking & Writing for Applied Linguistics 0 7 10 weeks
EAL7881 Critical Thinking Writing for Dental Sciences 0 7 10 weeks
Semester 1 – 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
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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 on 25th January 2021 or 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: [email protected]
• Programme Convenor: [email protected]
