Each year the Graduate and Researcher College offer one or more funded places at the annual “Life Beyond the PhD – Cumberland Lodge Doctoral Students Conference”.

This annual conference offers PhD students and early career researchers from across the UK the opportunity to share their experiences with each other and to take part in invaluable training in communication, public engagement, and interdisciplinary working, while also being encouraged to think about the impact of their research within its wider social context.

Tharsagini Nanthaprakash from the School of Biosciences was selected by the Director of the Graduate and Researcher College, Professor Gordon Lynch, to attend the 2023 Life Beyond the PhD conference, please see their reflection on the event below:

“The uncertainty of what lay beyond the dissertation was both exciting and daunting. It was in this state of mind that I attended the “Life Beyond the PhD” conference. The Life Beyond the PhD conference at Cumberland Lodge covered many aspects, from writing a covering letter to facing interviews, presentation skills, and storytelling. Experts from academia, the civil sector, and industries were there to discuss the variable carrier opportunities. Other than that, the conference gave me the opportunity to meet fellow PhD students from different disciplines. The whole environment was filled with positive vibes, on top the location of Cumberland Lodge was a bonus for anyone who loves nature. It was one of the best four days, with lots of training and practicing of different skills with lots of fun and good food. A big thank you to the Graduate and Researcher College, University of Kent for fundingme!”