Staff member and undergraduate student discussion at table

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2022 postdoc winners announced

The Graduate and Researcher College is pleased to announce the postdoc winners of the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2022:

  • Dr Amira Abood, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Patrick Doheny, School of Physical Sciences
  • Dr Jessica Fisher, School of Anthropology and Conservation
  • Nathan Keates, Tizard Centre
  • Dr Mohammad Yasir Malik, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Manuel Marques, School of Physical Sciences
  • Dr Giuseppe Silvestri, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Brianne Wenning, Kent and Medway Medical School.

This event, now in its fifth year, attracts PDRAs, RAs and Research Associates looking to gain additional project and line management experience through an established scheme in which they are supported by central and Divisional University colleagues.

Applications addressed a range of topical issues including ‘the nature-wellbeing relationship in the face of climate change’, ‘implications of functioning labels for autistic people’ and ‘students’ perceptions on the behavioural and social sciences in the medical curriculum’. The projects selected reflect the University’s role as a leading ‘dual intensity’ institution which equally values research and education, believing that one enhances the other, and strives to find answers to diverse challenges by exploring relevant questions for the benefit of the local, national and international communities it serves.

Dr Jennifer Leigh, the competition’s co-founder, said:

“The Summer Vacation Research Competition goes from strength to strength and this year is no exception. Our competition winners all submitted strong and compelling applications, which demonstrated how their projects will benefit all participants, as well as the wider world. The research to be undertaken aligns with all three of the University’s Signature Research Themes, with five of the projects contributing to Kent’s essential work on ‘Environment, Food Systems and Natural Resources’. I look forward to working with all involved to encourage the best possible research outcomes and project experiences.”

Now that the projects have been identified, we will soon start recruiting the second- and third-year undergraduates to carry out the research. This process is being managed by the Careers and Employability Service, and will begin on 21 March 2022. We look forward to receiving applications from enthusiastic and motivated students who are interested in learning more about the world of research through active participation in a real-life project.

Please note that a new Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition has just launched for eligible ECRs and Black second-year undergraduates – the closing date for ECR applications is 20 March 2022.