Our second year PhD students and post-doctoral researcher Dr Simone Webb from the BRC’s Skin Disease, Oral Disease and Immunogenomics Theme shared their experiences as well as top tips to make the most out of the doctoral student journey.
The afternoon started with an introduction by the BRC’s Director Professor Avan Aihie Sayer and Academic Career Development Lead Dr Arthur Pratt who welcomed our new cohort to the BRC and to the NIHR, highlighting some of the key benefits of being a NIHR BRC funded student such as the NIHR career support infrastructure.
Dr Arthur Pratt, NIHR Newcastle BRC Academic Career Development Lead and Clinical Senior Lecturer & Honorary Rheumatology Consultant said:
“The BRC doctoral student welcome event is always an uplifting afternoon and, as well as an opportunity for first year students to meet members of the wider BRC and second year colleagues, it was great to see the diversity of projects getting underway, often across different BRC Research Themes – and to watch the NIHR Newcastle BRC training community coming together. Good luck to all our doctoral students”
Students heard presentations from BRC colleagues about research capacity development, equality, diversity and inclusion, public involvement and engagement, communications as well as essential operational aspects of their doctorate.
“I really enjoyed the BRC welcome event. It was a great way to meet colleagues and fellow PhD students and to learn about the work everyone is doing. The introductory talks and the insights/ advice from year 2 students and PhD graduates was very inspiring.” - Sinéad Smith, 1st year clinical PhD student “It was great to feel part of the wider BRC postgraduate research community. I enjoyed learning from the PhD students who are further along the road, and hope that I’ll be in a position to share my own journey in such a positive way when I get there! We were made to feel very welcome and included, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities to connect with my peers.” - Philippa Watts, 1st year biomedical PhD student "It was wonderful meeting everyone at the welcome event, and I really appreciated the opportunity to hear from current 2nd year PhD students and the helpful tips they shared. The event provided valuable insights into the support and opportunities available through the BRC, and I felt very welcomed into the community." - Nessrin Almaghtuf, 1st year biomedical PhD student
“I really enjoyed the BRC welcome event. It was a great way to meet colleagues and fellow PhD students and to learn about the work everyone is doing. The introductory talks and the insights/ advice from year 2 students and PhD graduates was very inspiring.” - Sinéad Smith, 1st year clinical PhD student
“It was great to feel part of the wider BRC postgraduate research community. I enjoyed learning from the PhD students who are further along the road, and hope that I’ll be in a position to share my own journey in such a positive way when I get there! We were made to feel very welcome and included, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities to connect with my peers.” - Philippa Watts, 1st year biomedical PhD student
"It was wonderful meeting everyone at the welcome event, and I really appreciated the opportunity to hear from current 2nd year PhD students and the helpful tips they shared. The event provided valuable insights into the support and opportunities available through the BRC, and I felt very welcomed into the community." - Nessrin Almaghtuf, 1st year biomedical PhD student
“The main output of a PhD is you. Yes, good science is important but you should build up your skills too. Make sure you protect time to read, to build your skills and go to conferences and meet ups. Don’t underestimate the smaller, more local meet ups too.” - Tiago Costa, 2nd year clinical PhD student "Remember you have a right to a balanced life. It will help you succeed without burnout and friends you see regularly will make it all worth it" - Amy Louise Robinson, 2nd year biomedical PhD student
“The main output of a PhD is you. Yes, good science is important but you should build up your skills too. Make sure you protect time to read, to build your skills and go to conferences and meet ups. Don’t underestimate the smaller, more local meet ups too.” - Tiago Costa, 2nd year clinical PhD student
"Remember you have a right to a balanced life. It will help you succeed without burnout and friends you see regularly will make it all worth it" - Amy Louise Robinson, 2nd year biomedical PhD student
The NIHR Newcastle BRC is delighted to welcome its cohort of diverse researchers who join us from different career stages and backgrounds. We look forward to sharing more stories as their research careers develop.