Academic

Are you starting to wonder, “What else can I do with my PhD?” You’ve invested years in developing specialised expertise, but you’re curious about opportunities outside the traditional academic path. A PhD equips you with a unique combination of research skills, critical thinking abilities, and subject matter expertise that are highly valued across many industries. However, translating your academic experience into language that resonates with non-academic employers can be challenging. ...

Are you horrified by the thought of confronting your own work? Have you left it to the last minute, secretly hoping it’s better than you think? Although editing feels overwhelming, it’s much easier when you adopt a systematic approach and develop a structured plan. Through activities and tutorials, this interactive workshop provides you with a clear strategy for turning that messy draft into a structured piece of writing. With the help of an experienced facilitator, you’ll break the process down into more manageable chunks. You’ll also get the opportunity to apply the techniques to a piece of writing. ...

Narrative CVs are gaining popularity as a way for researchers to showcase a wider range of skills and experience in grant applications. This interactive workshop focuses on the practical skills of crafting compelling narrative CVs. Through targeted activities and examples relevant to your specific project or practice, you’ll develop strategies for presenting your research story effectively. By the end of the session, you’ll be able to: Identify and articulate your “invisible skills” and experience relevant to your specific project or practice area. Provide compelling evidence of your experience and expertise. Translate your experience into narrative CV structure and format. Describe your research and practice using clear, impactful language. Create both individual and team/group narrative CVs. Develop strategies for presenting practice-based work (exhibitions, artworks, curatorial activities) as legitimate research within academic frameworks. Begin crafting your own narrative CV with confidence. The session combines discussion, hands-on activities, and peer feedback opportunities. With an experienced facilitator, you’ll work on real examples from your own project or practice area, making the learning immediately applicable. You’ll leave with a clear action plan and draft content for your own narrative CV, whether for funding applications or academic career development. ...

As your research career progresses, you’ll increasingly find yourself managing teams, juggling multiple projects, and navigating complex relationships. This workshop is designed for researchers who are already comfortable with the fundamentals of project management and are ready to tackle the challenges of academic leadership roles. With the help of an experienced facilitator, you’ll explore the transition from individual contributor to research leader, developing your leadership style while building effective research teams. Through case studies and group discussions, you’ll learn to handle stakeholder demands and manage competing priorities that characterise complex academic projects. ...

Do you spend hours searching for relevant literature? Do you feel like you’re always playing catch-up? In this interactive session, you’ll explore tools and techniques designed to accelerate your research process. Learn how to harness the power of generative AI to find the most relevant material, save time, and make significant progress with your project. We’ll cover: Understanding and assessing AI-powered tools. Identifying and refining your research questions. Finding and evaluating literature. Synthesising and summarising literature. Considering the ethical implications of AI-powered research tools. You’ll also get the opportunity to try out the tools in a supportive environment. ...

If there’s one topic guaranteed to suck all the fun out of a writing workshop, it’s signposting. Signposts include descriptive headings, cross-references, and emphasis of argument. For the writer, these mechanisms feel clunky and dull; for the reader, though, these navigational aids make the text much more digestible — especially when it’s a long document like a thesis or a monograph. Your reader or examiner is probably reading your work alongside a whole heap of other research material. They’ll be dipping in and out over weeks — maybe even months — so need frequent reminders of what you’ve already told them and a roadmap of what’s coming next. With a clear structure and frequent signposts, they’re much less likely to miss something important. ...

It’s hard to get a sense of a big piece of writing, especially when Word keeps crashing. You’re scrolling endlessly, trying to hold thousands of words in your tired brain. You need to step away from the screen. In this blog post, I’ll explain how you can map your book or thesis. This technique helps you impose order on a baggy draft. Even better, it provides an excuse to buy stationery. ...

Even when we start out with a clear plan, it’s easy to end up with rambling draft. We know there’s an argument lurking within, but we’re darned if we can find it. While every writer is different, nearly everyone benefits from the technique of reverse outlining. I think it’s the best way to improve the flow of your argument and produce a coherent manuscript or thesis. There are many different approaches to this technique and there’s no right way of doing it. I’ll share my approach with you, which you can then adapt. ...

When Apple create a new iPhone, they don’t spent years perfecting it. They’re not busily anticipating the needs of all their customers, hoping everyone will love it immediately. Instead, they create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and get it to market as soon as possible. They know there are thousands of people who’ll queue overnight outside the Apple Store and spend a month’s salary on a slightly flawed product. Those early adopters will give them almost immediate feedback on what the developers need to do to bring it up to scratch. Apple make those improvements, then release an updated version. ...

At a recent business networking event, I met no fewer than three people who’d quit their PhD. Although they believed it was the right decision, they still felt a sense of failure or defeat. Estimates vary, but it’s likely that around 40% of PhD students leave. The figures are much higher for part-time students and stratospheric for those pursuing professional doctorates. Because universities are squeamish about sharing the true figures, people who struggle think they’re in a tiny minority. The reasons for quitting will come as no surprise: mental health problems, job insecurity, financial worries, and supervisory conflict are just a few. For valuable insights and discussion on these reasons, hop over to The Thesis Whisperer. ...