Philippa Carter (HMS MPhil Manager) and Sophia Syddall (HMS MPhil Administrator) 

The purpose of this session is to allow students to meet each other and some of the staff they will encounter during the year, as well as to provide orientation regarding the course. 

 

Wednesday 9 October 2024, 11am–12noon, Seminar Room 2
Dániel Margócsy (Part II Manager)

 

Hasok Chang (Head of Department) and Francesca Anthony (Departmental Administrator) Nick Hopwood (Director of Postgraduate Education) 

This is a general introductory meeting for new PhD students, HPSM MPhil, HMS MPhil and Part III students, new postdocs and academic staff, visiting students and visiting scholars. It will include information about the Whipple Museum and Whipple Library.

Wednesday 9 October 2024, 3–4pm, Board Room
Nick Hopwood (Director of Postgraduate Education) 

In the first half, the Director of Postgraduate Education (Mary Brazelton) will explain the basic structure of the PhD programme (including the annual reviews and the log book), give advice on how to establish a working routine with the supervisor, and explain the support structures in the Department, the School and the University. In the second half, there will be detailed advice on how to start researching for your PhD project and how to build the background knowledge and expertise to support that research. This will include a detailed introduction to the rest of the postgraduate and postdoc training programme, and other ongoing teaching, research and training programmes in the Department and elsewhere in the University.

Wednesday 9 October 2024, 3–5pm, Seminar Room 2 (3–4pm is joint with Part III students)
Anna Alexandrova, Charu Singh, and Richard Staley (HPSM MPhil Managers) 

Basic course structure and routines will be explained, and initial guidance will be given on how to get on with the first essay: choosing a topic, choosing and working with a supervisor, doing the research, and writing. There will be some specific guidance given the first essay. Initial advice will also be given for those who are interested in applying for a PhD in Cambridge or elsewhere, to be followed up by an hour-long advice session later in the term. A brief introduction to the rest of the postgraduate and postdoc training programme will also be given. (This induction session will be followed, at a later date, by individual meetings with the MPhil Managers. Later in the year, look out for the advice session on dissertation-writing.)

Wednesday 9 October 2024, 3–4pm in Seminar Room 2 and 4–5pm in Seminar Room 1
Richard Staley (Part III Manager)

Basic course structure and routines will be explained, and initial guidance will be given on how to get on with the first essay: choosing a topic, choosing and working with a supervisor, doing the research, and writing. There will be some specific guidance given on Research Paper 1. Initial advice will also be given for those who are interested in applying for a PhD in Cambridge or elsewhere, to be followed up by an hour-long advice session later in the term. A brief introduction to the rest of the postgraduate and postdoc training programme will also be given. (This induction session will be followed, at a later date, by individual meetings with the Part III Manager. Later in the year, look out for the advice session on dissertation-writing.)

 

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Friday 11th October 2024

Friday 11 October 2024, 1.30–2.30pm, Seminar Room 2
Marta Halina (Postgraduate Training Officer) and Nick Hopwood (Director of Postgraduate Education)  

This induction is for continuing PhD students and postdocs. You've got a PhD to finish, Department life to participate in, and a future to think about. How do you juggle all your balls and make the best of your time? We will provide a broad range of guidance on managing the mid-stage of the PhD and maintaining the momentum of research and writing. Some preliminary advice will be given on aspects of career development, such as the building-up of teaching experience, giving a research talk, and how to make the most of conferences. We will also touch on managing the final stage of the PhD, the process of applying for academic jobs or developing non-academic career paths, and applying for research grants.