Hello, I hope you are all well during this difficult time and are accessing ANU resources to assist your research and Wellbeing, as required.

As you are probably aware the ANU is planning a safe return to campus over the next few months. From 18 May a number of HDR students returned to carry out research that can only occur on campus. However, the majority of us will return gradually – see here for up-to-date information. The decision about safe return will be made by College Deans for each local area. You will not be able to return to campus until your area has been approved to return. We will continue to provide remote resources and opportunities to support you to continue your research.

Join me for another Higher Degree Research Candidate Update on 10 June @ 3 pm – this is your opportunity to hear about development in the HDR space, as well as being able to ask questions and provide feedback. 

A FAQ webpage has been developed to assist HDR Candidates to understand the details of administrative support in response to campus closures and travel restrictions related to COVID-19. Eligible HDR Candidates can now apply for the COVID-19 HDR Onshore Program Extension Fee Waiver. Further information and the application form is available on the HDR Administrative support FAQ webpage.

ANU has approved an oral exam pilot to go ahead in 2020. We have an exciting opportunity for our HDR candidates to be involved in developing training and support for oral examinations with the ANU Researcher development team. You can express interest in participating here. 

The July 2020 Conferring of Awards Graduation Ceremony will be postponed, however, this will not affect students who still wish to graduate. You will be invited to confer your award in absentia, so you can use your well-earned Dr title, and will be eligible to return to an ANU graduation event in the future. Further details will be provided to eligible students, via email, in mid-late June.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Dean HDR via odhdr@anu.edu.au.

Professor Ann Evans

Dean, Higher Degree Research

ANU Researcher Development coordinates and facilitates workshops, events, and competitions to develop your skills even further. All of the sessions below are offered to you online. Click on one to find out more:

JUNE
 1 June | Expressions of Interest for Get #SoMe, Social Media for Researchers close today!*
2 June | Resilient Researcher: Creating career opportunities
2 June | Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis webinar
3 June | Resilient Researcher: Stress survival kit
3 June | RSES HDR: Presenting your research*
3 June | RSES HDR: Developing effective posters*
3 June | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
3 June | APR.Intern: Innovating in a Time of Crisis, CSIRO
4 June | SPSS introduction webinar
4 June | Managing your milestones, or why researchers run out of time
9 June | Resilient Researcher: Becoming a resilient researcher
9 June | Lecture: so you're graduating your PhD in a pandemic... what next?
9 June | Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together webinar
10 June | Dean, Higher Degree Research Candidate Update
10 June | Library research webinar
10 June | Resilient Researcher: Riding the emotional roller coaster
10 June | Top tips for working with your supervisor
11 June | Visual design basics for academic purposes*
11 June | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them
11 June | Pomodoro Break course: Post-PhD employment: what are you good at?
11 June | SPSS advanced significance testing webinar
16 June | Visual storytelling: Using semiotic principles and creative thinking*
16 June | Influencing others with your research with a place in Media Boot Camp*
16 June | EndNote advanced webinar
17 June | Digital research webinar
17 June | Resilient Researcher: Managing difficult conversations
17 June | NVivo introduction workshop ($95)
18 June | Resilient Researcher: The emotionally intelligent (EI) researcher
22 June | How to write: logically connected sentences
23 June | Creative approaches to reporting on research*
24 June | NVivo advanced webinar ($95)
25 June | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
25 June | Branding for Academics*
30 June | Conference poster production using PowerPoint webinar*
30 June | Creative approaches to presenting research findings*

JULY
1 July | 

 with a place in Media Boot Camp*
8 July | 

 with a place in Media Boot Camp*
9 July | 

10 July | 

10 July | 

10 July | 

14 July | 

14 July | 

 with a place in Media Boot Camp*
16 July | 

16 July | 

16 July | 

16 July | 

21 July | 

Updates from our research community and opportunities for you this month.

Register for training and get a place in our free Media Bootcamp

Media Bootcamp is offered free (RRP $899) to ANU HDR candidates who are engaging with Get #SoMe course, #ANU3MT 3 Minute Thesis and Visualise your Thesis competitions. Participate in an RD 3MT or VYT workshop and you get free registration for this career-changing course. More information here. Places are limited.

Last Chance: Get #SoMe expressions of interest close 1 June!

Researchers are being told that social media is critical to career success – but there is a lot of confusion about how best to make use of these tools. Join the @thesiswhisperer for a five-week masterclass to learn how to use social media to further your research career. Including a fire-side chat with Dr Mark Carrigan, University of Cambridge author of Social Media for Academics. More information, and expression of interest details here.

Are you in need of some writing company and motivation?

Have you found it hard to keep up your research momentum off-campus? Get back in the rhythm with us!

The Researcher Development team currently offers Shut Up and Write sessions four times a week virtually using Zoom. Monday and Wednesday, 10 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm, you can join one or all sessions. These sessions are open to all researchers keen to participate. More information can be found here. Please note the zoom session password is: 2601. Follow us on Twitter for reminders.

Post-PhD employment: what are you good at?

Rest assured - you have heaps to offer! But sometimes it takes practice to work out how to translate what you know into language that can be understood outside academia. We will work through a range of areas; by the end of the week, you'll be able to translate your skills for all kinds of employers. When is it? The course will run over a week, 15-19 June 2020. Please register your interest by 5 pm Thursday 11 June.

Is your PhD or MPhil primarily about China?

If so, then you are warmly invited to become a Centre on China in the World Member! CIW PhD Members will all be listed on the CIW website, as a way of showcasing to the rest of the world all of the fascinating China research being undertaken at ANU. We also hope to offer other opportunities for members in the future. For interested members of the HDR community, please send your name, School/College, high-res headshot, link to your preferred research/webpage, and 100-200 word bio to ciw@anu.edu.au.

Oral exam pilot training program

Opportunities for climate change and energy HDR students to increase their impact

If your research touches on climate change and/or energy change, you’re invited to join the ANU Climate Change Institute and/or ANU Energy Change Institute as a student member.  Benefits include:

• Profiling of your research activities via our programs, networks, website, media engagement, social media and events
• Opportunities to engage in wider research collaborations within the University through a community of practice
• Access to our network of key stakeholders in the industry, research agencies, state and federal governments and NGOs

New Online Statistic Courses

From the Thesis Whisperer

A warm congratulations to these students who have been recently approved to graduate from their PhD or MPhil. Well done all!