By Marina Gardasevic@MarinaGNeuro I’m sitting in a theatre, my coat squashed under me, staring up at powerpoint slides. I’m standing in a hot, humid conference room, paper plate in hand, staring at a poster. The person presenting this data is clearly very smart; their work sure looks complicated. They’re talking about Figure 4 now, should … Continue reading Figuring out your Presentation Figures
Category: PhD Experience
Top tips for working from home
By Olivia M Our homes have become our offices and our offices have become our homes. With this blurring of physical boundaries brought about by a global pandemic, it’s no wonder we’re all struggling with our productivity. Once we’ve cleared the food cupboards of all snacks and have exhausted all other forms of procrastination, that … Continue reading Top tips for working from home
Len Johnson: A Legend Denied
Leonard "Len" Benker Johnson was born on the 22nd of October 1902. He grew up in working class Clayton as the son of William Benker "Bill" Johnson, a Sierra Leonean merchant seaman, and Margaret Maher, his proudly Irish Mancunian Mother. He grew up in a multi-cultural childhood with fellow immigrants of Jewish, Irish, Italian, and … Continue reading Len Johnson: A Legend Denied
Tips on how to overcome the lockdown blues
Tarnjit Sidhu@TarnjitSidhu Lack of control and unpredictability = high stress Research shows that stress levels rise when predictability and control over a situation are low. Lockdown is the perfect example of this –we have no control over the current situation, and there is great unpredictability around when lockdown will end. On top of this – … Continue reading Tips on how to overcome the lockdown blues
An Instagram a day… Boosting the impact of your research with social media
By Nadine Mirza Where sci comm and social media meet is an intersection of opposing and loud opinions. There are academics who prefer not to engage with the public, believing it takes us away from our labs where “real science” happens. Millennials, with our filters and emojis, are a threat to serious science. And Instagram … Continue reading An Instagram a day… Boosting the impact of your research with social media
Lockdown Vivas – Experiences from both sides of the camera
A viva can feel a very daunting experience. Aside from the first year continuation viva, most of us have never undertaken an oral academic examination. So there is an element of the ‘unknown’. It may be the first time you have met your examiner, an eminent person in your field. It is the culmination of … Continue reading Lockdown Vivas – Experiences from both sides of the camera
Marie Kondo and Metacognitive Therapy: what life-changing magic do ‘spark joy’ and ‘leave it alone’ have in common?
Have you noticed that people are weirdly enthused about the Kon Mari method of de-cluttering? Maybe you yourself are a convert? I hate tidying. So I thought the Netflix series seemed vaguely absurd. But I was quickly drawn in. I read the book - just out of curiosity too. And I think I’ve started to … Continue reading Marie Kondo and Metacognitive Therapy: what life-changing magic do ‘spark joy’ and ‘leave it alone’ have in common?
What do you do all day?
There are over 4,000 postgraduate research students at the University of Manchester, each with their own story to tell. Sharing knowledge and experience can be important professionally – whether it’s collaborating on a multidisciplinary project, or getting a unique perspective from outside your own bubble. There are also important benefits of social connectedness for our … Continue reading What do you do all day?
How to manage stress as a PGR student
By Tarnjit Sidhu @TarnjitSidhu Starting university as a postgraduate student can be a difficult time for many people. After finishing university for the first time around, you probably feel established and have a routine in place. So starting a new degree can be a daunting time. Where is my timetable? Why is no-one checking if … Continue reading How to manage stress as a PGR student
Perfectionism and Me
“What is your biggest flaw?” .. “Oh, well I am just SUCH a perfectionist!” Undeniably one of the most cliché and eye-roll inducing answers to this classic interview question, declaring yourself a perfectionist is often viewed as a humble brag. Most people think perfectionism is just admitting everything you do has to be just right, … Continue reading Perfectionism and Me
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