Are you a PhD researcher at the University of Kent in your third year (FTE) or beyond? Are you considering a career outside of academia but unsure where to start? If so, the Career Planning Beyond Academia Retreat on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th May 2025 is designed just for you.

This retreat provides a dedicated space to reflect on your future, explore career options beyond academia, and develop practical strategies to navigate the transition.

Over two days, our expert speakers will guide discussions and interactive sessions covering key topics such as:

• Work out what you actually want;
• Prepare to get a job;
• Transfer your PhD skills;
• Manage the transition ‘out’ of academia;
• Make good career decisions

This retreat is not just about career planning; it’s about wellbeing and reflection too. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in yoga, a wellbeing walk, and a social dinner, allowing you to connect with fellow researchers in a relaxed setting.

The Career Planning Beyond Academia Retreat
Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th May 2025
University of Kent, Canterbury Campus, Cornwallis East, 3rd floor

Register here

Download the Programme here

This retreat is a fantastic opportunity to gain clarity, confidence, and practical tools to take the next step. Reserve your place today.

We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

Can you capture years of research in just three minutes? The Three Minute Thesis (3MT), developed by The University of Queensland, challenges PhD researchers to present their work clearly and concisely to a non-specialist audience.

The 3MT will help you to:

• Develop your research communication, public engagement, presentation and public speaking skills
• Give you the ability to share your research with a non-expert audience
• Provide networking opportunities
• Help you to reflect on the context and impact of your research

Apart from the invaluable experience, there are also prizes. The winner receives £300, while the runner-up is awarded £100 to be used towards training, development, or their research expenses.

Kent’s 2024 3MT winner, Becky McNeill (PhD in Forensic Psychology), shared her reflections on the competition (read the full article here):

“Even if you are lucky enough to attend plenty of conferences during your studies, the 3MT competition is a great chance to demonstrate an ability to present your research in a clear, succinct manner to an audience who may not be experts in your field, or may not even be that familiar with it at all.”

This year the GRC holds the following events to support you with your 3MT presentation:

• Research Communication: Presenting Your Work with Confidence, Wednesday 26 March, online
• 3MT Presentation Training, Tuesday 15th April 2025, online 
• 3MT Peer Practice Session, Tuesday 20 May 2025, in person

The 3MT semi final will take place on 21 May and the final will be held on 27 May.

Don’t miss out on this chance to share your work, inspire others, and take your research to a new level in just three minutes.

Register here before 10am on 06 May to be considered. All active PhD researchers who have had their probation review (1st year) and not had their viva (final year) by 21st May are eligible to enter.

On 27 February the Black Intellectuals Society, in collaboration with the Graduate and Researcher College, hosted an inspiring and thought-provoking panel discussion on the experiences of Black PhD students and academics. This inspiring event brought together an incredible group of speakers who shared their personal journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, and the insights they’ve gained while navigating the world of academia as Black researchers.

We had a pleasure to hear from 5 speakers:

“The Weighted Waiting Game; Application process” – Wayne Mitchell

“Ignorance is not bliss: what every potential Black PhD science student needs to know” – Jason Amartey

“Challenging Institutional Discrimination” – Hannah Akalu

“The Importance of Black Support Networks” – William Ackah

“Navigating academia post PhD” – Barbara Adewumi

Attendees had the chance to engage with the panel through a lively Q&A session, the discussion was rich with meaningful conversations.

It was an incredibly insightful and inspiring evening. Attendees, including myself, resonated with a lot of what was shared and felt inspired to pursue studying a PhD.

Esther Adebiyi

This event offered invaluable perspectives and inspiration and we are grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this event such a success.

Last week the GRC held the second Exploring Global Cultures PG Talk this academic year which is an inspiring event where we celebrate diversity here at Kent.

This time we had 3 wonderful presenters that took us on a journey to visit Nigeria, Turkey and the United States from the perspective of a Bengali-American.

I enjoyed presenting and sharing my culture with others. It is also really cool learning about other people’s cultures. Although different cultures have differences, there is always a shared love for appreciating other cultures.

Sreejita Ghose

Each presenter showed us how beautiful and diverse our world is and how we should appreciate our differences and value what we have in common.

Upon seeing the email about presenting about your country at a PG talk, I was immediately conflicted. Part of me wanted to jump at the opportunity, as I viewed it as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone and improve my public speaking skills. The other part of me didn’t think I was qualified enough to present about Nigeria, as I was raised in the UK and had only visited Nigeria once. Despite being ethnically Nigerian, I knew little about the country other than what my parents told me. I’ve struggled with feeling ‘Nigerian enough’ for years, especially with me not speaking my native language (Igbo). I was scared I would be judged by Nigerian audience members in the crowd, who could actually call Nigeria their homeland. Despite these fears and uncertainties, I felt pulled to volunteer. My parents, although surprised, encouraged me. I researched hard, wanting to ensure I was presenting only accurate information, and spent hours deciding the correct design. In the end, to the glory of Jesus, the presentation came together. On the day to present, I was surprisingly nervous beyond belief. Would I speak too fast? Would I mispronounce things? Praying about these fears did calm me down, but the stress persisted. I really wanted to make my family proud and represent Nigeria correctly. When I think back to presenting, it is a blur. Everything went slow yet amazingly fast at the same time. The moments that stand out to me is the aftermath – when I received applause and was told by someone who was in the audience ‘thank you for representing Nigeria’. That’s when I knew I had done my country proud.

Chidubem Obosi

It’s been a wonderful experience to have such beautiful presentations where we could see the love and admiration for your home countries and the fascinating impact they have on your life. It is truly a privilege for us to host this fantastic event that serves us as a reminder that our world is a great place where we can admire and celebrate each other’s backgrounds and cultures.

The Graduate and Researcher College is excited to welcome you to our Postgraduate Researcher Forum.

We have taken on board feedback where postgraduates asked for more ways to connect with one another, so we have created an online forum to accommodate those who are based on campus and those who study remotely.

We dedicated this space for you to connect, collaborate, and support one another throughout your research journey. This could be an invaluable opportunity to connect with other Kent researchers, receive advice, or share knowledge and experiences.

Below are some key topics you may wish to discuss:

• Tools & Software for Research
• Networking & Connecting
• Work-Life Balance
• Research Methods

Please note that this forum is not monitored by staff. While we will offer support where possible if we come across discussions where we can assist, we have created this platform for peer-to-peer interaction.

You have the option to subscribe or unsubscribe from the forum, which will enable or disable notification emails when new posts are made.

To explore the new Postgraduate Researcher Forum please click here.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting our Winter Showcase 2024, and we’re excited to share that it was a wonderful success.

The Winter Showcase is more than just an event—it’s a platform designed to empower researchers giving them the opportunity to connect, learn from each other and practise their presentation skills. Whether you’re drawn to insightful research talks, captivated by the diversity of research posters, or eager to present your own findings, the Winter Showcase offers something for everyone.

This year’s programme featured a lineup of thought-provoking presentations that highlighted the diversity and depth of research in our community:

• Chris Payne “Are e-scooters active transport? Measured physical activity outputs of e-scooter riding vs walking”
• Shiyu Yuan “The Power of Two: Couples’ Combined Work-from-Home Status, commuting time, and Childbirth in the UK”
• Inah Okpa Okpa “Mitigating Carbonwashing in ESG Marketing: Can Artificial Intelligence Adoption Enhance Corporate Climate Governance?”
• Yeshu Kadiri “Informal Urbanism and Gendered Infrastructure in the Global South: Ethnography of a Basti in Hyderabad, India”
• Emily Su “Visualizing a ‘Synergy of Greatness’: A Study of the Sublime through Napoleonic Battle Painting, c. 1800-1815”
• Yvonne Cullen “How to relearn creative and collaborative learning”
• Hugh Robertson-Ritchie “Epistemic Injustice in ME (Myalgic Encephalomyopathy or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is Exacerbated by Uncertainty”

The event also featured a variety of impressive research posters created by our talented PhD students. Covering a wide range of themes, these posters sparked engaging discussions and gave the opportunity to learn about the innovative projects being conducted at Kent.

It was really uplifting. I enjoyed connecting with other postgraduate students and building my self-confidence to speak about my research. The Graduate and Researcher College really works for the students and that it’s an amazing asset to the PhD experience.

Barbara Denuelle

If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry—there will be plenty more opportunities to get involved. Whether as a presenter or attendee, your presence can make this event even more exciting and impactful in the future.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and ways to connect.

Last week, we hosted our annual Exploring Global Cultures PG Talk—an event that has become a highlight of the year at the Graduate and Researcher College. This eagerly anticipated talk brings together postgraduate students to share fascinating insights into their unique cultural backgrounds.

This engaging event invites Master’s students to share insights into their unique cultures through 7-minute presentations, offering a fascinating glimpse into the traditions, values, and perspectives that make our community so diverse.

This year’s event was no exception, as four incredible students transported us to Grenada,  Mauritius, Nigeria and Cyprus.

The PG Talk: Exploring global cultures was fascinating. It was lovely meeting the other speakers and listening as they talked us through their histories, from tragic stories of slave trade to the beauty of diverse cultures, landscapes, and carnivals.

Aderonke

Each presentation offered a unique perspective, reminding us of how much we can learn from one another and how wonderful it is to celebrate our differences and connections.

I am always very proud when I am able to shine the spotlight on Grenada because being from this island has shaped a very large part of my identity. I am happy to introduce a piece of my culture and history to the other students. And if I am able to spark curiosity through my love and pride of my homeland, then I have successfully represented Grenada to the best of my ability.

Kamille

Events like these offer us a glimpse into the worlds of our peers, fostering a sense of connection and togetherness.

Presenting Nigeria was particularly special for me, as in recent years, Nigeria has grown significantly in tech, fashion, art, film, and music, and sharing these beautiful aspects of Nigeria with others was quite fulfilling.

Aderonke

Stay tuned for more exciting events from the Graduate and Researcher College.

*Disclaimer: This article discusses my recovery from a substance use disorder and provides resources at the end, if you or someone you know is struggling.

Who am I?

My name is Katelyn, and I am a first-year PhD student in Sociology at the University of Kent.  Originally from a small town outside Columbus, Ohio, my journey to the PhD has brought me around the world.  From growing up in the Swiss suburbs to studying at university in five different countries, my academic journey has been all but straightforward.  In this article, you’ll read more about my path from brick uni to distance-learning and back again.  It has not been easy, but I hope I can inspire others that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

My Undergraduate Journey

Like many people, I began my university journey at the age of eighteen, freshly graduated from my International School in Switzerland, where I grew up.  Also like many people, I was uncertain which direction to take, so I went with my safest bet, which was to study English Literature and Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.  However, near the end of my first year, I realised the course wasn’t right for me.  I have always loved reading and creative writing growing up, but I didn’t have passion for my course.  That’s when I decided to transfer unis and took the leap to study back in my home country, at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

My time in D.C. led to a similar fate, and by the end of my first year there, I was ready to return to Europe.  Even though I looked and sounded like my peers, my time living abroad for so long left me feeling disconnected from the American experience.  I wanted desperately to move back to Europe and be closer to my family, who were still in Switzerland, so I transferred yet again to the American University of Paris, in France.

For the most part, I enjoyed life in Paris.  It was a hustling and bustling city with lots to do, and my professors were very knowledgeable about their subjects.  However, I fell in with the wrong crowd, and my academics started slipping.  I developed a substance use disorder and eventually withdrew from my studies there.

In February 2020, I went to treatment to get the help I needed.  Although it was the most difficult experience of my life, I came out clean and ready for a new beginning.  That said, I couldn’t help but feel like my university destiny was shattered.  That is, until I heard about the Open University.

After three failed attempts at uni, I felt nervous embarking on a distance-learning journey with the OU.  What if I wasn’t meant for university?  What if I failed again?  I also didn’t have a lot of support from my family when I announced that I wanted to finish my Bachelor’s degree online; however, they did let me move back home to Switzerland to give it one last go.

The first few months were an adjustment.  I had gone from very structured learning to structuring my own learning, and it was a learning curve to say the least.  However, I persevered and I made it through.  I graduated with my BA in Criminology and Sociology from the Open University with first-class honours, and to this day, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities the OU provided me.

Transferrable Skills for the Future

Distance-learning gave me skills that have translated directly to my PhD, such as time-management, organisation, independence and self-motivation.  It allowed me time to focus on myself and my recovery while still pursuing my academic passions.  Distance-learning with the OU really helped me rebuild my life and restore my confidence – so much so, that I ended up pursuing a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics.

Once again, I found myself country-hopping, hoping to find success as a young academic.  I won’t lie – going to LSE scared me, because my first several attempts at brick uni were unsuccessful.  Not to mention I was leaving behind my closest friends and family in Switzerland.

However, despite the challenges that I faced moving to London, I am so glad I did, or else I would not be in Canterbury today.  Pursuing my MSc in Criminal Justice Policy solidified my interest in, and passion for, criminology and sociology which led me to apply for a PhD at the University of Kent.

Why Kent?

 Something I’ve been asked a lot is, Why Kent?  Firstly, I chose the University of Kent because their motto stood out to me.  “We stand for ambition” was something that resonated with me, because despite facing adversity, I did feel like I had no ambition necessary to succeed at a PhD.  Secondly, I found a PhD supervisor whose expertise aligned very closely to my proposed research – an interdisciplinary study of the gentrification of sexual geographies in London’s Kings Cross.  Mentorship is something I really value, and I firmly believed that the guidance I would receive at the University of Kent would be unparalleled to any other.

So, I began my PhD in Sociology in January of 2024 as an international and mature student.  Moving to Canterbury has been an amazing experience for me so far.  Despite London’s influence on my academic journey, the city was overwhelming to me.  I find Canterbury much more bite-size, and my studies so far have been nothing but satisfying.

Mentorship is something I really value, and I firmly believed that the guidance I would receive at the University of Kent would be unparalleled to any other.

In particular, the student support at the uni – including that from my supervisor – has been extremely helpful for me.  A few months before commencing my PhD, I was diagnosed with ADHD and was finding it hard to come to terms with what that meant for my future studies.  Yet, the support I’ve received has helped me learn to work with my ADHD, rather than against it.

I also really value the diversity at the University of Kent.  I feel like I belong, and I think that is what I have been searching for all along.

I also really value the diversity at the University of Kent.  Despite living in a different country and being slightly older than my peers, I feel at home here.  I feel like I belong, and I think that is what I have been searching for all along.

What’s Next?

Now, as I head into my second year of the PhD, I am excited for what lays ahead.  I have the tools I learnt from the Open University and four years in recovery under my belt, and I have never felt more prepared to face what comes my way.

Of course, PhDs aren’t easy.  In fact, I’ve faced lots of challenges already such as recruiting participants for my ethnography.  But, it’s all part of the learning experience, and I’m so glad I’m experiencing it at the University of Kent.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my diverse route to PhD studies.

Katelyn Owens

Resources

The InSpire Group is excited to announce the expansion of our monthly networking days for Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) at Kent. These non-compulsory, PGR-led full-day events are led by doctoral researchers and designed to foster collaboration, engagement and a sense of community among PGRs. Originally initiated within the School of Social Sciences, we are expanding the outreach to incorporate PGRs across the university. The next upcoming event will take place on Thursday 7th November 2024 (see programme below) in the Cornwallis East Boardroom on the first floor and online. 

A New Initiative for PGRs 

Scheduled for the first Thursday of every month during the academic year, InSpire Group days offer PGRs a chance to connect through writing sessions, discussion groups, seminars, research panels and social activities. Each event is planned in advance, enabling participants to manage their commitments related to work, childcare and travel. 

 Background 

The InSpire Group was born from discussions at a recent LSSJ Writing Workshop, where the need for stronger collaborative connections within our PGR community was highlighted. Fostering these ties and encouraging networking is essential as we navigate the often isolating journey of research. A key proposal was to establish a designated day each month for on-campus PGR activities, leading to the official formation of the InSpire Group (Integration and Networking of Scholarly PhDs in Research and Engagement). 

 Why a Pre-Arranged Day? 

The underlying principle of our monthly meetings is to provide a predictable schedule that facilitates planning to arrange childcare, take time off from part-time jobs and book travel in advance, thus making participation more feasible. While attendance is not mandatory, our goal is to create an environment that is supportive and easier to join on campus or online. Where possible, all sessions will be hybrid, accommodating those who may not be able to attend in person.  

Topics of Interest 

Our monthly events will cover topics relevant to the PGR experience, including but not limited to methods, supervisory relationships, ethics, academic expectations, wellbeing and self-care, individual working groups and writing sessions. These discussions will include contributions from faculty, GRC representatives and our community of doctoral researchers. 

Get Involved 

All PGRs are automatically part of the InSpire Group, but we encourage you to join the organisational team, which currently includes 15 doctoral researchers from the School of Social Science. Your participation will enrich our collective experience. If you’re interested in contributing, please fill out our Organisational Team sign-up form: https://forms.gle/7anXFcCfNXyiYnNf7. This doesn’t require a monthly commitment; it signals your interest in engaging in discussions about topics, event formats and logistical support.  

Upcoming InSpire Days 

Mark your calendars for the following InSpire days this academic year: 

7th Nov, 5th Dec, 9th Jan, 6th Feb, 6th Mar, 3rd Apr, 1st May and 5th Jun.  

Please see below the Programme for the upcoming 7th November InSpire day. We look forward to seeing many of you there.  

Download Programme

Microsoft Teams  

Join the meeting now 

Meeting ID: 312 162 837 306 

Passcode: bJfDyx 

For any comments or questions, please contact organiser Katrine Callander at kac45@kent.ac.uk. 

Katrine Callander

Hi! My name is Becky and I am a second-year PhD student studying Forensic Psychology at Kent. My research focuses on exploring a new theory of paedophilia which suggests that this sexual interest falls into two pathways: one that is more biologically created, and another that is more environmentally created. I am using a combination of questionnaires, scales, and interviews to gain an idea of how a sexual interest in pre-pubescent children develops, and how it is perceived by those who have it.

I entered the 3MT competition after seeing it advertised and being encouraged by my supervisor to take part. Since I haven’t had the chance to attend many conferences so far in my PhD, I haven’t really been able to showcase my research or practise my presentation skills, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so. Even if you are lucky enough to attend plenty of conferences during your studies, the 3MT competition is a great chance to demonstrate an ability to present your research in a clear, succinct manner to an audience who may not be experts in your field, or may not even be that familiar with it at all. Once I started practising my talk, I realised just how short a time 3 minutes is to try and get across something that I’d been working on for nearly 2 years!

Some advice I would give to those considering taking part:

• One way I found helpful was to imagine that I was at a social event meeting strangers, and they had asked me what my PhD topic focuses on. That way, I could figure out how I could explain it in a simple manner, while getting across the important information.
• Draft a speech to start with – even if it is in bullet points, this will form the basis of the speech and make sure you are hitting the key points that are outlined in the guidance for 3MT. Only focus on the really key parts – it might be tempting to go into detail, particularly with complex research, but that’s part of the challenge: how well can you present your PhD to someone who doesn’t study your subject, in a very short period of time?
• Read it aloud while timing yourself – it’s best to not look at the timer while doing this as it can be quite off-putting! This will give you a good idea of whether you are way over or under in terms of time, and you can tweak your speech accordingly
• Even if you don’t have solid findings yet, or feel as though your research isn’t quite developed enough, that’s fine! I didn’t have any findings at the time I applied for 3MT, and I presented what I expected to find
• If you have the opposite problem, and you have too many things to talk about in your speech, that’s fine too! I only spoke about one part of my research as I wouldn’t have had time to talk about the other part – the judges don’t need to know every aspect of your PhD, just a bit of it is enough, and they are focusing on your ability to present your research clearly, enthusiastically, and professionally
• Try to think about the really key parts of your research when creating your slide. I found the slide one of the hardest parts, and in the end I went for a very simple, fairly vague message, which I explained in my speech. There are various approaches you can take to creating your slide, which are in the guidance resources for 3MT, so I definitely recommend taking a look at them. The main thing is to make sure you don’t overcrowd your slide or make it look dull; the judges won’t want to read a lot of text alongside you talking, and things like images are more eye-catching than a graph or table!
• It doesn’t have to take ages, for those who might be worried about balancing 3MT alongside their studies – I would honestly say it took me longer trying to perfect my powerpoint slide than creating and recording my speech!

The 3MT competition is a great chance to demonstrate an ability to present your research in a clear, succinct manner to an audience who may not be experts in your field, or may not even be that familiar with it at all.

I was thrilled to hear I had won the Kent competition, and after doing so, I was very pleased to receive the prize (£200!), and my entry has been submitted to the UK semi-finals for the national 3MT competition. While I don’t know yet the outcome of the semi-finals, it is fantastic to have got this far, and I will at least be able to say that I was a contender in the UK semi-finals for the 3MT competition. Taking part in something like this will look great on a CV in terms of showcasing presentation skills – not only to a room full of experts in the field at a conference, but to a lay audience with a very strict time constraint.

I would thoroughly recommend taking part – you never know, you could be the next UK 3MT winner!