The NIHR doctoral training camp is an annual event which provides guidance and practical experience. At the event PhD students and early postdocs within NIHR Infrastructure, Schools, and Incubators gain guidance and practical experience to learn how to put together a successful application for funding.

BRC PhD students Nana Yaw Aboagye and Georgia Graham reflect on their experience, key takeaways and what they have learnt during the 3 day face to face event.

What was your overall experience of the training camp? 

Georgia: The camp was a challenging yet incredibly helpful event. The three days were jam-packed and extremely well prepared, and I found that the organisers, public contributors, and mentors wanted nothing more than to educate and support everyone attending. The talks were full of uniquely helpful information, while the grant application process was a safe, judgment-free way to experience grant writing for the first time, both of which you are unlikely to receive anywhere else. However intense the week felt, it flew by - everyone was happy, making jokes, uplifting and supporting one another.

Overall, it was clear that the NIHR strives to educate and support the next generation of researchers, and if anyone has the opportunity to go, they will leave feeling more confident and better informed for the future.

Nana: Attending the NIHR Doctoral Camp was a rewarding and inspiring experience. One of the highlights was being part of a diverse group of doctoral researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, allied health professions, and other research fields. Working alongside people with different backgrounds and perspectives encouraged meaningful discussions and broadened my understanding of how interdisciplinary collaboration can strengthen research.

I also enjoyed the team-based activities, where we worked together to develop a research proposal. This challenged us to combine our expertise, communicate our ideas clearly, and find practical solutions as a group. It was a valuable opportunity to experience the collaborative nature of research funding and project development.

What has been the most valuable thing you learned?  

Georgia: A particularly valuable lesson was broadening my perspective on the many disciplines that collaborate to translate research into meaningful improvements for patients, including the involvement of patients themselves in shaping NIHR research specifically.

As a PhD student, it is easy to become absorbed in our own project and disheartened when things do not go according to plan. However, hearing experienced researchers speak openly about setbacks and challenges was both inspiring and reassuring. It reinforced the idea that research is rarely a linear process and that resilience, adaptability, and collaboration are just as fundamental to success.

Nana: The camp provided practical knowledge that I will carry forward into my future research career. I gained a much clearer understanding of how to develop competitive grant applications, including the importance of defining clear objectives, ensuring that proposed work is realistic and achievable, and developing a feasible project timeline.

I also learned the value of multidisciplinary collaboration. Working with researchers from different professional backgrounds demonstrated how diverse expertise can improve the quality and impact of research. The experience reinforced the importance of effective communication, teamwork, and considering different perspectives when designing research projects.

What will you do as a result of attending the training camp? 

Georgia: I plan to apply the knowledge and skills I gained throughout the rest of my PhD and in future postdoctoral roles. I will revisit the session materials and slides to support my research development and inform future grant applications. I also intend to maintain the connections I established during the camp and use the networking experience and multidisciplinary approach to strengthen collaborations with others throughout my PhD and beyond.

Nana: The lessons from the camp will directly influence how I approach my future research. I will apply the grant-writing principles I learned by setting clear objectives, developing realistic work plans, and ensuring my research proposals have a strong and achievable impact. I also intend to actively seek opportunities to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines, as these partnerships can generate more innovative ideas and produce stronger research outcomes. Overall, the camp has given me practical skills and greater confidence that I will continue to build on throughout my academic career.