Taking ownership of your PhD

The LDC Development programme offers specific workshops and webinars to help those at the start of their PhD begin the essential planning for the PhD journey and to help them develop into a confident, effective researcher.

Narration‌

Further details are outlined in the sections below:

• Workshops

  

  The following full day workshop is highly recommended for all new Postgraduate researchers. This also offers useful networking opportunities to meet other new researchers.

  • Taking ownership of your PhD  A one day workshop that will help you plan your own PhD, learn to make the most of the supervisory relationship and to recognise your own needs in professional development.
    
    In 2018-19 this workshop will be offered on the 8th October, 6th November 21st November and the 13th March, including both the Postgraduate Researcher Weeks. Details for registration will be published in the Timetable in September 2018.

  The following workshops are also particularly relevant for new researchers to help you manage specific aspects of the PhD process (follow the links for further information):

  • Gaining Confidence as a Researcher
  • Setting Goals for 2019
  • Improving your Social Wellbeing during the PhD
  • Making Meaningful Impact during your PhD
  • Project Management

• Webinars

  

  The programme offers a series of hour long webinars, for all postgraduate researchers, both on and off campus. The following webinar is recommended for all new postgraduate researchers:

  • Effectively Using the PGR Toolbox Webinar  - This webinar helps newly registered PGRs make effective use of the PGR Toolbox in Liverpool Life.

  The following webinars are specifically part of the programme for new researchers:

  • What to expect and what to do early in the PhD - which offers guidance and reassurance for those just starting their research degree.
  • Support for international researchers managing language and culture barriers - further guidance for international researchers who have moved to another country for their degree.
  • After the DNA now what? Creating your own plan of professional development - which outlines the steps to create a successful plan for your professional development.

   The webinar programme covers a wide range of topics on essential research skills,  including Research Writing, Presentations, Time Management, Project Management. For a list of the titles, see our Webinars descriptions.

  The webinars are offered over the course of the academic year, with some of the most popular titles repeated in Spring 2019. See the Timetable for full details.

  Note that further webinars are added to the timetable during the year, some presented by postgraduates researchers who can share their experience, and these dates will be advertised in the LDC Newsletter, sent monthly, and in the LDC Development team blog, PGR News @Liverpool, for which the titles appear in the PGR Toolbox section of Liverpool Life.

• Online provision

  

  The LDC Development team support a collection of online resources, web based and with videos, to support researchers, which are accessible to all PhD students at Liverpool, including:

  • Online support for the Liverpool PGR Toolbox   - guides to the software itself and how to use it effectively to support your research and your own professional development.
  • Introduction to the RDF  - A guide to the Researcher Developer Framework (RDF), a nationally established framework for the skills and attributes of a successful researcher.
    

   See our Online Resources webpage for full access to all our online resources.

  Communicating research online: from writing to publication - This online  course will help you  share your research, network with other researchers and prepare for early experience of publishing, through regular short weekly commitments. Starts 4th Feb 2019.

• Wider University support:

  

  Those new to the PhD may find some of the following sources relevant:

  • University wide training - A further list of training offered across the University for postgraduate researchers, and particularly those in their first year.
  • Liverpool Doctoral College - information for postgraduate researchers at Liverpool - training information (Intranet site - UoL password required).
  • PGR student Team - for advice on generic administrative procedures and institutional regulations, including the LDC Handbook.
  • Student Support - including the International Support team, Disability support, Mental Health and counselling.