To assist you in planning for a career either within or outside of academia, the Graduate School has produced a new guide that provides an overview of career and development opportunities offered by University-wide units and services.
Areas covered in the guide include:

Reading Researcher Development Programme (RRDP)

Find out more about the careers-focused sessions offered through the RRDP. These include finding your first academic job, getting your first Post-doc position (NEW), CV workshops and interview skills sessions.

University Careers, Placement and Experience Centre

This is not just for undergraduates! The Centre provides advice on preparing for interviews, psychometric testing and sessions on career options in a range of sectors and industries.
http://www.reading.ac.uk/careers/

Online training

The Graduate School has just installed 17 revised and updated online training courses onto Blackboard including:

• Career planning in the sciences
• Career planning in the arts, humanities and social sciences
• Academic entrepreneurship: An introduction
• Entrepreneurial opportunities: Recognition and evaluation
• Entrepreneurial resources: People, teams and finance
• Getting published in the sciences
• Getting published in the arts

http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/Developmentopportunities/Online_skills_training.aspx

Outreach and volunteering

The booklet also highlights the numerous volunteering and outreach activities you can get involved in through the University and RUSU. These include Student tutors and STEM ambassadors.

Download your copy of ‘Career and Development Opportunities 2013-14’ at the Developmental Opportunities section of the Graduate School webpages: http://www.reading.ac.uk/gs-developmenthome.aspx

On 1 July 2014 the Graduate School will be holding its annual Doctoral Research Conference. The conference is a great opportunity to find out about the diversity of research taking place across the University and to meet with researchers from different Schools and Departments.  It also provides doctoral researchers with a chance to highlight their own work through participating in one (or more!) of the following three conference competitions…

Three Minute Thesis Competition – Deadline 7 March 2014
For many who attended last year’s conference, this event was the highlight. Twelve students from a variety of Schools and Departments presented their doctoral research in three minutes or less, using just one PowerPoint slide.  If you think you can summarize your PhD into an engaging and entertaining three minute talk, then why not enter this year’s competition?  A juding panel will select an overall winner, whilst conference delegates will also be able to vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ winner. Full details and an application form can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/gs-threeminutethesis.aspx If you need some inspiration, why not watch last year’s winning presentation by Jessica Sage (English Literature) at the above web link.

Research Poster Competition – Deadline 14 March 2014
Last year’s competition attracted 27 entrants and this year we hope to receive many more.  Shortlisted entries will be on display in the ground floor of the Palmer building for conference delegates to view and a judging panel comprising University of Reading staff will select an overall winner. For further details go to: http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/events/gs-postercompetition.aspx

Research Image Competition – Deadline 21 March 2014
In addition to the Poster Competition, this year’s conference will also feature the Research Image Competition, which the Graduate School first held in 2012.  Entrants need to submit an image that reflects their doctoral research work, accompanied by a short abstract. A judging panel will select an overall winner, whilst conference delegates will be able to vote for the ‘People’s Choice’ winner from the shortlisted images on display. For full details and an application form go to: http://www.reading.ac.uk/graduateschool/events/gs-imagecompetition.aspx

All the above competitions are open to doctoral researchers from all University of Reading faculties and year groups, including those undertaking professional doctorates. First Prize winners of the conference competitions each receive £100.

Doctoral Researchers who would like to attend the conference can request a place via the RISIS web portal.  Please note that attending the conference counts towards your RRDP training requirement.

The conference also features the four Faculty finalists of the PhD Researcher of the Year Award. Students are nominated for this competition by their School; they cannot directly enter. In 2013 PhD Researcher of the Year was awarded to Katherine Livingstone, from the School of Agriculture, Policy & Development.

Last year’s Conference competition winners (L-R) Jessica Sage, Jennifer Wickens and Katherine Livingstone with the VC, Sir David Bell; Pro-VC, Professor Christine Williams and Dean for PGR Studies, Professor Dianne Berry.

 The Graduate School would like to welcome doctoral researchers both new and continuing, and to highlight some of the events taking place over the coming weeks…

Welcome event for all new doctoral researchers (January 2014 starters)
Tuesday 21 January, 10.00-11.00
Graduate School (Old Whiteknights House) G09

An essential event for new doctoral research students, this will provide you with an introduction to what you need to know about academic life during your time at Reading, including information on:

• What you can expect from the University Graduate School and what we will expect from you
• Training requirements (RRDP)
• Personal development events

This is also an opportunity for you to meet other new doctoral researchers and refreshments will be provided.
Attendance is highly recommended. Please email gradschool@reading.ac.uk if you are planning to attend.

Breakfast club
Wednesday 12 February, 9.00-10.00 am
Graduate School (Old Whiteknights House)

Sometimes doing a PhD can get a little lonely, so put the books aside for an hour and come and meet others in the same boat as you! (Coffee, pastries and fruit provided.)

Free to attend, but so we know how many croissants to buy, please email gradschool@reading.ac.uk

Graduate School Doctoral Research Conference
This year’s Doctoral Research Conference will take place on 1 July 2014. There will be three associated competitions:
Three Minute Thesis Competition
Research Poster Competition
Research Image Competition

All current doctoral researchers are eligible to enter, provided you have not graduated before 1 June 2014. Full details of the competitions and the Doctoral Research Conference will posted on the Graduate School webpages soon.