#DTAConnections2021

DTA provides PhD researchers with a nationwide peer-to-peer community that supports wellbeing at the same time as strengthening academic networks.

We set up the #DTAConnections2021 competition to encourage researchers to make the most of this community alongside the virtual 2021 Summer School. Check out the entries below to see DTA’s remote nationwide research community in action!

View entry on Twitter Tuan, Laura and Cristina (NTU)	View entry on Twitter Jelena and Srinidhi (Teesside)
View entry on Twitter Julia (NTU), Elisa (UCLan), Ruth (USW) and Katheryn Margaret (Ulster)	View entry on Twitter Elisa (UCLan), Cristina (NTU) and Marta (MMU)
View entry on Twitter Louise (Salford) and Emma (LJMU)	View entry on Twitter Kumar, Mahmoud and Muhammad (Herts)
View entry on Twitter Ben (SHU), Udit (UCLan), Gabriel (NTU) and Laura (NTU)	View entry on Twitter Ana (Brighton), Kyriacos (OU), Udit (UCLan), Christian (OU), Tuan (NTU), Elisa (UCLan), Spyridon (UCLan) and Laura (NTU)
View entry on Twitter Spyridon, Udit, Elisa and Mariana (UCLan)

Instructions to enter

*Entries to the DTAConnections2021 competition are now closed*

How well do you know the DTA cohort?

You are part of a nationwide network of around 150 PhD researchers. Even though you may not have had a chance to meet many of them in the past year, there are many shared research interests across the group, as well as shared experiences of the joys and struggles of doctoral research.

To help you make the most of these opportunities in the run up to Summer School, we’re running the DTA Researcher Connections campaign competition. This will enable you to:

Discover peers who share your research interests
Meet up with peers living in your local area – if you decide to meet in person, make sure you are following lockdown restrictions in your local area (England, Wales or Northern Ireland)
Get to know others with similar social interests or backgrounds

All entries will be put in a draw to win a prize to enjoy with your new DTA peer connection(s) – winners will get to choose between a book you both want to read or receiving an edible treat that will be posted to you to enjoy during a virtual meeting.

Well done to those who have already taken part! Check out these recent entries for some inspiration here and here.

Instructions:

1. Find out more about your DTA peers. We’ve developed a series of resources to help you identify peers with similar research or social interests to you.

DTA Peer Directories and Research Profiles* – information to get involved in a DTA Social groups (dedicated to LGBTQ+, PhD Parents and Women in Research), find out which DTA peers share your research interests and email contacts to find DTA peers at the same institution as you

*Please note that because these resources contain researchers’ contact details, you are only able to access them through the Programme Hub. Log in at the bottom of this page, enter the Programme Hub for your research strand (Biosciences, Energy or Social Policy) and select the Document ‘DTA Peer networking opportunities’. If you have any difficulties logging in, get in contact with Ellie (eleanor@unialliance.ac.uk).

2. Reach out to a peer or peers you would like to get to know. This can be daunting but most people will be delighted to hear from someone who shares their interests!

If you’re part of a DTA Social Group, any meetings you have can be entered – the whole group will have the chance to win the prize!

3. Schedule a meeting. This can either be in person (outside with local DTA peers, following local lockdown restrictions) or virtually. Let us know if you’d like us to set up a Zoom meeting for you, you can also use the DTA Discord server. During Summer School, you will also be able to schedule meeting in the coffee break area of Wonder Room – this will remain open throughout the week.

4. When you meet, make a visual record of your connection. This could be a photo/screenshot of the meeting, or a photo representing topics you talk about or shared interests.

5. Enter your connection for the prize draw by sharing the image. If you have Twitter or LinkedIn, share your image there with the hashtag #DTAconnections2021. Make sure you tag @UA_DTA, and drop us an email to confirm your entry. If you don’t have Twitter or LinkedIn, email me an image you’re happy for us to share ourselves on our channels.