Graduate School Bulletin

BulletinThe University of Nottingham Graduate School Newsletter

Postgraduate placementsStretch your skills, and get paid for it

Researcher Iraq

Graduate School and

International Office support

Iraq researcher development

Arts round-up

Opportunities for researchers

in the Arts, including student-led

initiatives

Be a viva survivor

Viva resources on iTunesU,

plus much more. It’s never too

early to think about your viva!

What’s inside

Contents

P3: Graduate School and International Office work with British Council to support Iraq universities

P4 Researcher IraqThe Graduate School and the InternationalOffice support the development ofresearch training in Iraqi universities.

P5 Arts round-upSocial media sessions and student-ledinitiatives

P6 Postgraduate placementsFancy undertaking a short, flexibleplacement with a local organisation?

P7 Online developmentsSupervisor Workspace, viva supportand more

P8 Meet the teamFeaturing Dr Victoria Sedman, ResearcherDevelopment Manager for Science andacting Medicine and Health SciencesGraduate Centre Manager

P2 WelcomeA warm welcome from the Head of theGraduate School

P2 Keeping you informedHow to keep informed about the latestdevelopments for postgraduates atNottingham

P9 OpportunitiesEnviro-Entrepreneur School and effectivebusiness networking event

P9 Careers in Focus: the creativeindustries: November 2010Are you considering the next steps in yourcareer? Do you have an active interest inthe creative industries?If the answer to these questions is yes,then this event could be for you.

Neil WalkerThe Graduate SchoolA18 Trent BuildingUniversity ParkNottingham, NG7 2RD

Email: [email protected]: 0115 846 7944Fax: 0115 846 7799Text: 07786209140

The Graduate School online at:www.nottingham.ac.uk/graduateschool

Picture credits:Christine K (this page)

Features Other stories Contact

2/PostgraduateBulletin/Winter 2010

Welcome

Welcome all new andreturning postgraduatesThe Postgraduate Welcome Weekwas again a great beginning to abrand new session, and we wouldlike to thank all those studentsand staff who participated andmade it such a success.

We had record numbers attending our welcomepresentation and we hope that new studentsfound it useful to discover some of the supportthat is available for postgraduates at Nottingham.Science students, in particular, will gain newfacilities as the Engineering Graduate Centrewelcomes Science postgraduates to participatein its activities. From September 2011 there will

be a new Engineering and Science GraduateCentre in the brand new Engineering and ScienceLearning Centre on University Park Campus.We would like to welcome Victoria Sedman asour new Researcher Development Manager forScience. Victoria is also acting as our Medicineand Health Sciences Graduate Centre Manager.You can find out more about Victoria in our Meetthe Team section.We will be introducing a lot of new onlineresources over the next few months, starting withour Viva FAQs on YouTube and iTunes and a newWorkspace for supervisors. You can read moreabout these developments and more in this issue.

Tessa PayneHead of the Graduate School

Keeping you informed

Monthly Digest

During term-time, the Graduate Schoolcirculates a monthly round-up of informationin the form of a HTML email. If you havesomething you would like to publicise, orsome news you think would be useful to yourfellow postgraduates, please contact:[email protected]

Twitter

The Graduate School maintains a Twitter feedfor spot announcements, new opportunitiesand occasional insights

To view our tweets, point your browser orTwitter client here:twitter.com/UoNgradschool

3/Postgraduate

Bulletin/Winter 2010

Feature

As a result of winning funding of £90k from the BritishCouncil and DelPHE-Iraq, the Graduate School and theInternational Office ran a series of workshops in Iraq thisOctober. The Graduate School’s researcherdevelopment team has worked with the Kurdish RegionalGovernment and the seven regional universities tosupport the development of research training in Iraqiuniversities. This two year project will also involve takingfuture research training leaders to experience ourcampus in Malaysia as well as bringing them to the UK.

DelPHE-Iraq supports partnerships between Iraqi highereducation institutions and those in other countries. Thescheme aims to help rebuild the Iraqi higher educationsector by reconnecting Iraq's higher educationinstitutions with their global counterparts and encourageknowledge-sharing on improved practice in HE teaching,learning and research.

www.britishcouncil.org/delphe-iraq.htm

Researcher IraqGraduate School andInternational Office helpsupport researcherdevelopment in Iraq

International House, Jubilee Campus


“I believe that to be strong in any field youdevelop your strength by continuouslyworking and sharing with others, not byholding others back. Iraqi and Kurdishacademics are enormously enthusiastic aboutthis DelPHE project and improving capacityfor research in Iraq will mean greateropportunities for all the partner nations”

Arts

PhD students and early career researchersinterested in using social media as part oftheir academic practices may like to attendtwo Social Media and Academic Practicetraining sessions, over two informative,informal and interactive sessions.

LeRoy Hill and Andy Coverdale, PhD studentsfrom the School of Education, demystify socialmedia, by focusing on the social, participatoryand collaborative qualities of key social media(Web 2.0) technologies, and discussing howthey can support and promote academic andresearch practices and professionaldevelopment.

Session 1 (3 November 2010)Introduction to social media - key conceptsand core values, blogging and Twitter,managing and sharing content online, socialbookmarking and referencing.

Session 2 (24 November 2010)Social networking and collaboration, managingsocial media - aggregation and syndication,digital identities, issues of copyright andattribution.

Arts round-up

Student-led activities in the Faculty of Arts

Mind the Skills GapA series of workshops promoting entrepreneurship in theArts has the following seminars coming up in the next fewweeks:

� Workshop 3: Marketing in the artsFriday 5 November (9.30am-1pm)

� Self-employment and careers inconsultancy and networking for successWednesday 10 November (10am-5pm)

� Forging careers in creative industriesand leadership skillsWednesday 17 November (10.15am-4.15pm)

These courses are extremely popular. To register pleaseemail Rachel Middlemass ASAP:[email protected]

Academic literacies in the university and theworkplace: perspectives from research and practiceFriday 5 November 2010 (9.30am-3.00pm)

This one-day seminar aims to provide researchers,lecturers and professionals with a forum for the discussionand exchange of ideas on academic literacies, the politicsof publishing in English, the link between university andindustry, and graduate employability. If you would like topresent your work or attend the seminar, please send JulioGimenez ([email protected]) or JulietThondhlana ([email protected]) an email.

5/Postgraduate


PostgraduateplacementsFancy undertaking a short,flexible placement with alocal organisation?

Working with local organisations you will have theopportunity to:

� develop transferable skills and improve your CV� enhance your employability prospects� make professional contacts� earn up to £1,200� make an impact on the performance of an external

organisation� gain experience of different workplaces helping you to

decide which career or employer is right for you� take a unique approach to organisational research

What's on offer?

Funded by a grant from the European RegionalDevelopment Fund, The University of Nottingham andNottingham Trent University are working with local publicand private sector organisations, giving postgraduatesthe chance to complete a variety of work-based projects.The projects last 8-12 weeks and typically only demand6-10 hours per week.To find out more and to register to receive updates,go to: https://notts-pg-placements.co.uk

Feature

6/

“One of the great benefits of takinga postgraduate student to workwith us is that of the fresh thinkingthat they bring to the project.”

Feature

Onlinedevelopments

7/

Workspace for researchsupervisors

The Graduate School has been developing a Workspace forresearch supervisors. This is intended as a convenientresource for experienced, new and aspiring supervisors.Whether you need quick access to doctoral regulations,want to further your professional development, or are new tosupervision and don't know where to start, we hope you'llfind the relevant information within these pages.

The space will launch at the end of October 2010 and wewill send out an email notification when the site is live.

For further information, please contact: Eleanor Forward,Web Project Manager, Graduate School:[email protected]

Finding more supportfor your viva

Many new postgraduate research students start their studiesat the same time as others, but all research studentscomplete their doctoral vivas at different times. By the timethey sit their viva, some students have already started in newjobs or are located far from Nottingham. As a result,students can be left feeling extremely time constrained andisolated from a common experience. This means thatproviding appropriate and accessible support for studentsabout to undertake their viva is both important andlogistically challenging.

The Graduate School’s new Viva Survivor web page bringstogether details of the extensive range of viva support forstudents. Some provision is of the traditional workshop style,other, such as the YouTube and iTunesU Examiner FAQS, isweb-based. As they come to the end of their student life atNottingham our students will still be able to access supportfrom the Graduate School and advice from experiencedexaminers, wherever they are in the world:www.nottingham.ac.uk/gradschool/VivaSurvivor

The Graduate School will be launching a newwebsite in time for next semester. It has been builtwith the help of postgraduate interns and promisesmuch easier navigation to the important postgraduateinfo that you need. If you have suggestions for newcontent, or would be interested in user-testing the siteprior to it launching, please contact Neil Walker:[email protected]

I am a member of the Graduate School’sResearcher Development Team where I have jointresponsibility for delivering skills training to bothpostgraduate students and research staff withinthe Science Faculty. I also manage the Medicineand Health Sciences Graduate Centre in theMedical School. The Graduate Centre isa great communal space just for postgraduatesand research staff, and a perfect place to meetfellow researchers from the Faculty. The GraduateCentre hosts faculty-specific training and varioussocial events - I always welcome new suggestionsfor provisions and events, so pop in for a chat or acup of tea!

I have been at The University of Nottingham foreight years now having originally come toNottingham to undertake a Masters degree at theSutton Bonington campus. I then moved to theSchool of Pharmacy where I completed my PhDand worked as a postdoc research fellow studyingsmall biological molecules that can assemble intonano-sized structures, which have a range ofpotential applications in the development of novelpharmaceutics, tissue engineering and medicaldevices.

Meet the teamDr Victoria Sedman,Researcher DevelopmentManager for Science andMedicine and HealthSciences GraduateCentre Manager


Where are you from originally?I’m a Yorkshire lass and grew up inHull (Kingston upon Hull to give itit’s full title or ‘Ull if you’re a local)

Favourite book?My inner geek wants to sayStryer’s Biochemistry. However,The Shardlake Chronicles by C.J.Sansom are a definite favourite too.

Favourite TV program?That’s easy, Spaced - Old school!

Where did you last go on holiday?My last holiday was to the Lake District on my mini-honeymoon. It’s an old favourite haunt and without a doubtthe most beautiful part of England.

What couldn't you live without?My family, friends and a vegetable patch.

Feature

Location of the Medicine and HealthSciences Graduate Centre

Victoria Sedman

9/Postgraduate


News

Enviro-Entrepreneur SchoolBioCity Nottingham: 10 - 12 November 2010

Recruitment is now underway for the Enviro-EntrepreneurSchool which aims to encourage and nurtureentrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business in theLow Carbon and Environmental Goods and ServicesSector.

This three day ‘boot camp’ will kick start yourentrepreneurial career in this fast growing marketplace bytaking you through an intense three-day programmedelivered by seasoned entrepreneurs, businessconsultants and investors.

Over half of the 40 places at the school are fully fundedby our sponsors and will be allocated to the bestapplicants.

Sponsors include: Nottingham Science City, Pera, No 1.Nottingham Science Park, QED, BioCity Nottingham.For more details www.enviroentrepreneur.co.uk

Effective business networkingSir Colin Campbell Building, Jubilee Campus:11 November 2010

How can you become a more confident and effectivenetworker?

In today’s highly competitive world, being a confident andeffective networker sets you apart from the crowd. Youbecome more visible and you will always create moreopportunities than the average person. However, manyresearchers dread this vital activity or feel that they couldperform better.

Learn the basic principles of networking, how to work aroom and leave with important contact details and how tofollow up potential opportunities.

The workshop will also teach you how to get the best outof the business networking tool Linked. During theafternoon, you will be shown how you can get started,build your personal profile, start building your network, getlots of testimonials and raise your own profile.

This workshop is offered to postgraduate researchstudents and research staff only. Only 40 places areoffered, so please book early to avoid disappointment

Book a place at www.nottingham.ac.uk/cscby entering the keyword GSTIN1.

Opportunities

Are you considering the next steps in your career?

Do you have an active interest in the creative industries?If the answer to these questions is yes, then this eventcould be for you.

Vitae is collaborating with the AHRC to run a new eventfocusing on Arts and Humanities and the creativeindustries. This follows on from successful ‘Careers infocus’ events in Investment Banking, Academia andProfessional Services.

The aim of this one day event is to meet key employersand explore the breadth of exciting career opportunitiesavailable to you.

You will have the opportunity to:

� network with key employers � find out what skills and expertise employers are

looking for in applicants � ask questions about the options available � start to make an informed decision about your

career or build on the areas that you have alreadybeen considering

Book your place now:www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/296531/Careers-in-focus-creative-industries-booking-form.html

Featured employers:

BBCThe Southbank CentreThe Design CouncilSkillset

Careers inFocus:the creativeindustries:November 2010

Professor Claire O’MalleyDean of the Graduate Schoole: [email protected]

Tessa PayneHead of the Graduate Schoolt: +44 (0)115 846 8493e: [email protected]

Kathleen FennemorePA to the Head of the Graduate Schooland Dean of the Graduate Schoolt: +44 (0)115 846 6946e: [email protected]

Dr Jane WellensHead of Researcher Developmentt: +44 (0)115 846 7944e:[email protected]

Steven HardyBusiness Development Officert: +44 (0)115 846 8582e: [email protected]

Claire PalmerPostgraduate Funding Managert: +44 (0)115 846 6347e: [email protected]

Tammy GreenoEvents Managert: +44 (0)115 846 7243e: [email protected]

Neil WalkerWeb & Communications Officert: +44 (0)115 846 7974e: [email protected]

Jennifer SteeplesAdmin Team Leadert: +44 (0)115 846 6945e: [email protected]

For general queriest: +44 (0)115 846 8400e: [email protected]

Contacts

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