Originally posted on PLOS ECR by Jessica Brown What kind of mental image springs to mind upon reading the word ‘schizophrenia’? Many envisage an individual locked in a dark institution, constantly plagued by non-existent voices and vivid hallucinations. Even as a final year BSc Biology student with a neuroscience research placement under my belt, I … Continue reading Cognition in schizophrenia: a missing piece of the therapeutic puzzle
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
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
J.L. Sharpe* and J.A. Beswick, 2020 (*corresponding author) Hot cross buns are sweet, spiced buns studded with raisins and currants, traditionally eaten on Good Friday to mark the end of lent. The distinctive cross is said to signify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the spices inside represent the spices used to embalm the body… … Continue reading Raisins to be Cheerful: A Hot Cross Bun Report
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?
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?
By Jason Chu - @jchu0 Do something for a friend, colleague or stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Help a neighbour or community group. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding. Be kind to yourself and others. This is the mantra used by the University of Manchester … Continue reading Helping others, helps you
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
“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
By Jessica Stepanous @JStepanous Science is incremental, with every study – positive or negative – meant to contribute to a body of knowledge. Reviewing this body of knowledge is a key part of the process, to know what was done before and what still needs to be done. This is done as part of a … Continue reading The trials and tribulations of the systematic review
