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Research and Business Engagement

Researching with Impact

28 Jun 2021

Postgraduate Researchers’ Conference focuses on impact with top tips for academic writing, a career opportunities discussion and interactive workshops

The University’s Postgraduate Researchers’ Conference focused on ‘Researching with Impact’ and gave attendees the opportunity to hear from Professor Inger Mewburn, who discussed her top-tips for academic writing, as well as take part in a career opportunities discussion and attend interactive workshops.

Professor Colette Fagan, Vice President Research, opened the conference thanking our postgraduate research community for their hard work and dedication over the past year.

The conference’s keynote speaker, Professor Inger Mewburn discussed academic writing after COVID-19. One of Inger’s top tips for academic writing is “no sentence should be more than 50 words, including numbers and references.”

The Postgraduate Researchers Pathways Panel saw our University alumni talk about their different career paths and the variety of options available to PhD graduates. The panel shared advice on how they reached their roles, including:

  • Talk to as many people as possible about different career options
  • Do as much research as possible about potential careers
  • Be comfortable with moving (locations and areas of work) until you find the right job for you
  • Look at multiple places for roles, including Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
  • Showcase your transferrable skills in a clear way to non-academics and highlight the skills used in your PhD

A range of interactive workshops helped attendees enhance their online presence and use of social media, build on their leadership skills, impactful communication, personal effectiveness and entrepreneurial thinking.

They also watched the winning Three Minute Thesis competition videos:

  • 1st place: Nadine Mirza – Ensuring accurate dementia tests for everyone
  • 2nd place: Lorena Zuzic – Viruses and their Protein Pockets
  • 3rd place: Matthew Kibble - 3D Bioprinting the Intervertebral Disc

The conference celebrated the achievements of our PGR community. Professor Melissa Westwood, Associate Vice President Research, announced this year’s Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) Excellence Award winners:

  • Best Contribution to PGR Environment – Nicholas Matthews, Faculty of Humanities
  • Best Contribution to Society – Jason Chu, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
  • Best Contribution to Internationalisation – Elisa Manase Pallangyo, Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • Best Outstanding Output – Helena O’Flynn, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; Sidra Abbas Dar, Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • Supervisor of the Year – Dr Halina Dobrzynski, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health; Dr Jenna Mittelmeie, Faculty of Humanities; Callum Kidd, Faculty of Science and Engineering

Postgraduate Researchers can access a range of resources and training available via their Faculty teams:

Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health

Faculty of Humanities

Faculty of Science and Engineering

My Research Essentials