Topic: 4.1 Communication
#AcWriMo: a supervisor’s perspective on work-in-progress writing
How can you make your work-in-progress writing more useful? Professor Michael Hand from the School of Education explains why early drafts matter and shares practical advice on experimenting with ideas, writing clearly, and using feedback to strengthen your work.
PGR WSS 2026: timeout to reflect, network with colleagues, and recharge
A dedicated space to write is valuable, but the connections made along the way can be just as important. Reflecting on this year’s PGR Writing Summer School, Aline Nixon, a PGR in the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, shares how conversations with fellow researchers and sessions on thesis writing and publishing helped her gain fresh perspectives and renewed momentum.
Building your online profile as a postgraduate researcher
From ORCID to LinkedIn, a strong online presence can help researchers raise their profile and connect with wider audiences. Laura Johnson, Research Skills Officer in Libraries and Learning Resources, highlights key platforms for PGRs and offers practical tips on curating profiles to showcase research, build networks, and ensure work is discoverable and credited.
Publishing in The Conversation
In this post, Yuxuan Wu, a recently completed PGR from Birmingham Business School, reflects on publishing in The Conversation after success in the 3MT competition. She outlines pitching ideas, collaborating with editors, and adapting research for public audiences, highlighting the challenges and rewards of sharing accessible, impactful research beyond academia.
Planning a Summer of Writing (When Writing Still Feels a Bit Terrifying)
Planning a summer of writing can feel both exciting and overwhelming. This post from Elizabeth O’Connor, prize-winning novelist and UoB staff member, offers practical, realistic ways to build a writing routine that works for you. Discover how small, steady steps, supportive habits, and manageable goals can help you make meaningful progress.
Six Years to Three Minutes
The University of Birmingham Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition final was held in March. In this post, Helen Pakes, a part-time PGR in the School of Psychology, reflects on her experience of being a 3MT finalist, from preparation and feedback to presenting on campus and connecting with fellow researchers.
Reminiscing and Progress: the PhD Viva and what comes next
Getting your PhD in for your deadline is no small feat, but what about the dreaded phrase ‘PhD Viva’? In this post, postgraduate researcher Amy Porter reflects on her Viva experience and shares expert advice on approaching corrections.
Helen writes for #AcWriMo: lay a solid foundation
In this post for Academic Writing Month, Helen Hawksworth, Academic Skills Advisor in Libraries and Learning Resources, explores the often-overlooked groundwork behind academic writing and shares practical ways to strengthen your approach, while considering the role of generative AI along the way.