…ions, preventing disease and managing outbreaks, and this application of research to real-world problems is something Arantza wants to work on. She says the ability to work with an organisation like Pirbright is one of the main advantages of the DTA programme; “The most beneficial element of the programme is that students are encouraged to do placements. This means you learn new things and meet more people- people who can help you in your future c…
…All the entries were amazing, and I loved learning about each and every research conducted my fellow DTA researchers. “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. Presenting my work at WinterWind 2020 was one of the biggest milestones for my research and receiving an award that is connected to that experience makes it all even more special. I would further like to thank the DTA team for organising this competition and providing us with a pla…
…ng back students with a blended learning approach (a mix of online and face-to-face teaching). For Alliance universities this approach is nothing new, with digital learning opportunities existing long before the pandemic. But our recent experience has taken this one step further. Alliance universities have now amassed a wealth of evidence about the benefits of blended teaching and learning, and have a good understanding of the challenges of delive…
…as also struck by the interdisciplinary nature of the event. As a central precept of the MSCA and the DTA, encouraging researchers to look beyond their disciplines was a hugely important element of the Spring School. Doctoral researchers attended from each of the DTA’s three core research areas, Applied Biosciences for Health, Energy and Social Policy, and topics varied as widely as Alzheimer’s and night club culture. And yet, through networking s…
…socialising, which supports motivation while promoting solidarity and peer-to-peer support. One of the key benefits I have gained from my role on the DTA Rep Committee, is developing intimate knowledge of the complexities and challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey we distributed was effective in illustrating its far-reaching negative consequences for our PhD researchers. These include concerns about the continuation of fundi…
…also marked the launch of our ‘Expert Bank’, which has launched on our website and is hosted by one of our campaign partners ExpertFile. From this, journalists and other media representatives can search for their chosen topic and select UA specialists from the field for comment. The bank holds the profiles of over 60 academics, who will be available for media comment. The online panel discussion event included introductions from campaign coordina…
…central to the hope that this country’s recovery will be driven by cutting-edge research and innovation. Through our focus on applied research, knowledge exchange and innovation, we are working towards ensuring a fairer, greener, healthier, more prosperous, and resilient UK. Alliance universities are home to some of the most talented, dedicated, and innovative researchers in the country, and many are already working to respond to the immediate an…
…ved it has provided us the chance to interact and collaborate with other researchers from different countries and research areas across different universities. The various training programs, workshops and summer/winter/autumn schools conducted by DTA had always encouraged and facilitated such interactions. Also, being a part of H2020 program means all the projects are directly addressing the major societal challenges. The programme constantly work…
…ugh these they can then create the informal connections to receive the peer-to-peer support that may become vital for their wellbeing. Develop strong representation systems While it is great that Student Unions (SUs) cover postgraduate representation, I know from my own experience that undergraduate-focused SUs are not the best place for PhD issues to be actively listened to. PhD students need dedicated representation systems and the issues they r…
…projects in more depth. We had the choice to share our work as oral, Pecha-Kucha-style or poster presentations, and the themes – how our research relates to the world outside the university and the interdisciplinary element of our projects – helped reveal shared interests and methods across our projects. The interactive poster session in WonderRoom was particularly fun. We learnt a lot about the work of peers outside of our disciplinary cohorts,…
