Researcher Development Programme 2025/26
Welcome to the Researcher Development Programme 2025/26.
Below you will find our latest offerings of trainings/workshops for postgraduate research students and staff. Research Services are using Gecko to keep a record of trainings and attendees so please use the Gecko form to sign up for trainings and workshops. For further information about the course itself, please reach out directly to the facilitator listed.
Online meeting links and room numbers will be provided in due course after you have signed up. Please ensure you have signed up so we can reach out to you with these details. We hope to record some sessions in the event you are not able to attend.
We are excited about the upcoming academic term and look forward to working with you. If there are course offerings you do not see, but wish to see, please contact research@stmarys.ac.uk.
We are also subscribed to University of East Anglia (UEA) Online Training Series' which offers research and professional skills training for Postgraduate Research Students (PGRs). You can find information and book the trainings on the UEA website.
MRes Taught Courses
- Date and time: Tuesdays, 30th September 2025 - 9th December 2025, on campus, SHE7008 - (2-4pm) SHE7007 (4-6pm)
- Host: Elisabetta Canetta and Mark Glaister
- For postgraduate research students.
SHE7007 (Skills for Researchers):
This module will provide training in research skills for postgraduate students regardless of their subject specialty. It is designed to equip students with a critical appreciation of the research principles and research skills required for well-structured research and the successful completion of a research project. The module will equip students with a deep understanding of the complexities of research design, research management, dissemination, and the extent to which these issues influence the meaning and value of evidence. The module will aim to increase students’ research skills and understanding of the various aspects of the research process and, ultimately, their independence as a researcher.
SHE7008 (Advanced Research Methods):
The module will focus on the statistical methods (quantitative and qualitative) that are widely used for the analysis and interpretation of data in all fields of research. The students will gain advanced knowledge with regards to the selection and justification of appropriate tests/methods and illustrations for describing/analysing different data. They will also learn about the complexities associated with robust experimental design in terms of statistical power, randomisation strategies and analysis techniques. The module will teach the students the effective use of statistical software package SPSS to analyse, present and, interpret data.
Postgraduate research student induction
- Date and time: Wednesday 15th October 2025, 2-4pm, hybrid
- Host: Doctoral School.
Join us for a welcome session where you’ll meet your PhD supervisory teams, student reps, and research leads, get an overview of the doctoral programme, and hear from Student and Careers Services. We’ll wrap up with a Q&A, networking, and refreshments.
Postgraduate research introduction to teaching
- Date and time: Thursdays, 16th, 23rd and 30th 12-2pm, on campus
- Host: Colleen McKenna.
This workshop will give you the chance to build your confidence and skills in teaching and learning in higher education. You’ll connect your own experiences with useful theory and practice, explore ways to create inclusive and engaging classrooms, and take a student-focused approach to teaching. It’s also a great opportunity to reflect on your own style and keep developing as you go.
Research integrity and ethics
- Date and time: Wednesday 29th October 2025, 2pm, hybrid
- Host: Matt James
- For postgraduate research students and academic staff.
Research Integrity refers to the standards and conduct expected of members of the University engaged in research. At St Mary’s we are committed to protecting the health, safety, rights, and academic freedom of researchers and the reputation of the University as a centre for properly conducted, high quality research. We recommend all postgraduate research students and researchers to attend this session.
The University is committed to ensuring that we act at all times in accordance with the principles outlined in the Concordat to Support Research Integrity launched in July 2012 by Universities UK. The Concordat outlines what is expected of researchers and their employers to ensure the highest standards of research.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be familiar with the principles of the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, understand what good practice in research looks like, know the steps to take if issues arise, and have a clear understanding of the ethical approval process at St Mary’s.
Additional resources
What should a Literature Review do?
Writing effectiviely
Academic publishing
Writing and structuring an effective thesis
Research professional end-user training
- Date and time:Thursday 6th November 2025, 1pm, online
- Host: A Stenfeldt-Jurgensen
- For postgraduate research students and staff.
This session will present a guide to navigating ResearchProfessional.com - a website that makes finding research funding opportunities easy.
Supervisor training
- Date and time: Wednesday 12th November 2025, 2pm, on campus
- Host: Mark Glaister.
This workshop is for all supervisors, regardless of experience. We will look at the programme expectations at St Mary’s as well as the support available from UKCGE and literature. Experienced supervisors will share useful strategies and scenarios will be provided for discussion.
Literature Review
- Date and time: Friday 14th November 2025, 2pm, online
- Host: Michelle Paull
- For postgraduate research students.
In this session, we will cover what a literature review is as part of a PhD thesis, how it differs from regular literature reviews that you might have written as part of your BA or MA studies, why the literature review is so essential, and how you achieve the right balance between presenting and critically discussing current scholarship in your area.
Confirmation Review Event (CRE) and Transfer Review Event (TRE) processes
- Date and time: Friday 21st November 2025, 10-11am, online, for supervisors
- Date and time: Friday 21st November 2025, 11am-12pm, online, for postgraduate research students
- Host: Kyriaki Myrissa.
These sessions will guide you through the Confirmation/Transfer Review process, including its purpose, possible outcomes, key steps, forms, and deadlines, to help you feel confident and prepared.
Student wellbeing
- Date and time: Thursday 27th November 2025, 10-10.45am, on campus for postgraduate research students
- Date and time: Thursday 27th November 2025, 11.15am-12pm, on campus for supervisors
- Host: Helen Duncan and Matthew James.
A Comparison of Qualitative Methods
Qualitative Interviewing
Analysing Qualitative Data
Using NVivo for Qualitative Research
What Should a Literature Review Do?
A Comparison of Qualitative Methods
Writing Effectively
Academic Publishing
Qualitative Interviewing
Writing & Structuring an Effective Thesis
Analysing Qualitative Data
Using NVivo for Qualitative Research
Supervisor training
- Date and time: Thursday 29th January 2026, 2pm, on campus
- Host: Mark Glaister.
This workshop is for all supervisors, regardless of experience. We will look at the programme expectations at St Mary’s as well as the support available from UKCGE and literature. Experienced supervisors will share useful strategies and scenarios will be provided for discussion.
Postgraduate research student induction
- Date and time: Wednesday 11th February 2026,11am, hybrid
- Host: Doctoral School.
Join us for a welcome session where you’ll meet your PhD supervisory teams, student reps, and research leads, get an overview of the doctoral programme, and hear from Student and Careers Services. We’ll wrap up with a Q&A, networking, and refreshments.
Qualitative Representation
- Date and time: Wednesday 18th March 2026, 1pm, hybrid
- Host: Ross Wadey
- For postgraduate research students.
This session will introduce students to a range of qualitative representational forms, such as comics, videos, infographics, and poems, that can be used to engage and influence different audiences, including the NHS, UK Sport, and the military. Through a variety of examples, students will explore these approaches and will be encouraged to experiment with a novel form of representation themselves.
Research integrity and ethics
- Date and time: tbc, 2pm, hybrid
- Host: Matt James
- For postgraduate research students and academic staff.
Publishing in journals
- Date and time: Friday 8th May 2026, 2pm, hybrid
- Host: Jacob Johanssen
- For postgraduate research students.
Publishing your work and sharing your findings is a key component of a successful research career. With over 30,000 journals to choose from and various publishing models to consider, researchers will need to be aware of which option will work best for them.
Annual Monitoring Review (AMR) process (TBC)
These sessions cover the purpose and protocols for the postgraduate research students’ AMRs. Sessions are particularly useful for all new students and supervisors. We cover the expectations of St Mary’s in terms of the documentation for the AMR, the possible outcomes, and the University’s review process.
Posters and Presentations
- Date and Time: Friday 5th June 2026, 10-11:30am, on campus
- Host: Mark Glaister
- For postgraduate research students and academic staff.
Dr Mark Glaister from the School of Sport, Health and Applied Science will deliver a session on presentation skills for postgraduate researchers. The session will focus on dos and don'ts of oral and poster presentations, providing examples of each, and strategies for improving presentation skills.
What to expect at the viva
- Date and Time: Friday 19th June 2026, 4-5pm, online
- Host: Gherardo Girardi
- For postgraduate research students and supervisors.
The last hurdle in your PhD journey - your viva examination!
What will it be like? What will the examiners ask? How can you prepare for it?
This workshop aims to provide you with an insight into the process, and helps you understand what to expect within a doctoral degree viva. We will explore the viva's purpose and issues relating to the conduct of the viva (typical processes and procedures, who is there and what they do, and so on). We will discuss the type and nature of questions which are most likely to be posed by examiners during viva examinations.