Exploring the epic legacy: a journey into the Ancient Greek world

Hello there! My name is Abigail Spanner, and I am currently a second-year PhD student at the University of Nottingham, studying Classics. My overall thesis is on the theme of blindness (literal and metaphorical) in Quintus Smyrnaeus’ Posthomerica (a 14-book Greek epic poem from roughly AD 200-300). For my first year I was completely self-funded …

A passion for cybersecurity

Binitha John, a researcher in the School of Computer Science, tells us about her  placement project at DataMango. I first learned about the Researcher Academy’s Postgraduate Placements during one of the social events organised by the science department for PGT students. Upon speaking with a representative, I discovered that I had already signed up to …

3 reasons not to go on an overseas institutional visit

Jennifer Norris, School of Education, University of Nottingham I went on a 3 month research visit to Uppsala, Sweden in the spring of 2023. It was fantastic but also challenging. I know others have shared some of the many benefits of an overseas visit on this blog, so I thought I would balance things out …

The UoN DTP PhD – the lives behind the acronyms 10 years later!

Harriet Day looks back on her experience of the BBSRC DTP and how it shaped her cohort of peers. In September 2013 I, along with approximately 30 others, embarked upon our PhD journeys at the university of Nottingham. Specifically, we were all doing a “unique” kind of PhD: a doctoral training partnership, or DTP. Being …

New Chair of Research Staff Group: Leading a Positive Culture of Change

This month we want to highlight some of the activities and policies that the University of Nottingham are engaged in to help support and develop our Research Staff across the university. In this article we’re going to hear from Dr Alan Chamberlain, the Chair of the Research Staff Group, a Senior Research Fellow in Computer …

My experience of the Researcher Academy’s Innovation and KE training programme

Dr. Tharwat Hassan on his experience of the Researcher Academy’s Innovation and KE training programme. I graduated from the University of Nottingham in July 2023 with a PhD in Chemistry. During my PhD journey, I used to receive regular emails from the Researcher Academy offering the available and upcoming short courses and training. I took …

Evaluation of business support programmes? No problem!

Sanjana Hiremath shares her experience of a Researcher Academy postgraduate placement. When you get a chance to work with academics at three universities, you take it! I’ve always been interested to know more about how large institutions handle their funds and ensure the governance and integrity of their support programmes. A Researcher Academy postgraduate placement …

Challenging one’s comfort zones

Aleena Raja on her experience of a Researcher Academy Placement at Runo Franchising. Challenging one’s comfort zones and having the vigour to explore and learn are certainly major determinants of success. Such has been my journey of working as a project marketing strategist with Runo Franchising – a student placement that came my way via …

Embracing opportunities

Sharon Gadde, a NUBS postgraduate, on her Researcher Academy placement at Maber Architects. I first heard about the Researcher Academy’s Postgraduate Placements from the university’s career department before I physically joined the university. They urged me to make the most of my time in Nottingham by seizing all the chances to grow personally and acquire …

Coffee, Cake and Crystal Maze

Mandy Gill, BBSRC Dtp Project Officer, and Donna Palmer, ESRC and NERC Dtp Manager, talk about their experience of representing the UoN Researcher Academy at the 2023 UKCGE (UK Council for Graduate Education) annual conference. Recently we travelled up to Edinburgh for the UKCGE (UK Council for Graduate Education) annual conference. We submitted a workshop …