Category Archives: GRADnet

21Dec/15

GRADnet Winter School 8-10 February 2016 – Register Now

conference, GRADnet

Attention all GRADnet Post Graduate Researchers: Build your leadership potential at this three-day Residential School focusing on the skills required for effective leadership and team-working.

Date: 8-10 February 2016 09:30-17:00

Venue:  Discovery Park, Innovation House, Ramsgate Rd, Sandwich, Kent  CT13 9ND. For directions see here.

Accommodation:  Premier Inn Canterbury City Centre (For directions see link here) 3 nights’ accommodation has been booked: Sunday, 7 February to Wednesday 10 February 2016

Register here.  Registration deadline Tuesday, 5 January 2016

This three-day Residential School will focus on the skills required for effective leadership and team-working. Different leadership styles will be presented and discussed while each student attendee will be given the opportunity to have their preferred team-working style evaluated using the Belbin model*.  The Belbin model will also provide attendees with the opportunity to obtain feedback from chosen ‘observers’, which can be very useful in confirming if the way we think we behave is how other people see us too!  This will require attendees to sign up early (by January 5th at the latest) so that appropriate feedback can be collated in advance. There will be short sessions delivered by several relevant leaders which will introduce researchers to leadership from a variety of viewpoints and using different examples, models and theories. Throughout the three days participants will actively participate in a variety of leadership challenges and receive feedback on their leadership and team working skills to help them identify their strengths and develop their own individual style further.  Furthermore, participants will learn how best to demonstrate their portfolio of skills to gain employment and to thrive in leadership roles.

Core Activity

Photos from the last event are here (outdoor activity won’t be possible in Winter): https://goo.gl/photos/KBpQeHssdLUnRZnq7

21Dec/15

Successful Numerical Modelling and Simulations Workshop 13-15 December 2015

GRADnet, postgraduate

The Numerical Modelling and Simulations Workshop held at Old Thorns, Liphook, Hampshire was attended by 29 SEPnet postgraduate researchers.  Prof Roger Webb, University of Surrey, delivered a talk on “Materials Modelling – 35 Years of Animation” on Sunday evening which was well received.  Day 1 covered first-principles quantum mechanical simulations of electrons and nuclei focussing on the package CASTEP and was delivered by Prof Keith Refson, Royal Holloway, University of London.  Day 2 covered molecular dynamics delivered by Dr Kostya Trachenko, Queen Mary University of London and Monte  Carlo simulation methods which was delivered by Dr Dave Faux, University of Surrey.

Feedback from students was very positive: “two days was perfect length, course content fantastic, workshop questions very informative and venue was great”!

16Nov/15

Numerical Modelling and Simulations Workshop 13-15 December 2015

GRADnet, postgraduate

Date:  13-15 December 2015 (arrival at 17:00 on Sunday evening)

Venue and Accommodation:  Old Thorns Manor Hotel, Longmoor Rd, Griggs Green, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7PE. For directions see here.

To register see link here, deadline Friday, 27 November 2015 

This interactive two-day residential workshop is designed for PhD students who would benefit from an introduction to Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, and first-principles quantum mechanical simulation.  These fundamental and widely-used simulation techniques could support theoretical, computational or experimental PhD projects. The sessions comprise lectures on principles followed by an opportunity for hands-on practice, supplemented by plenary presentations by practitioners.

For full programme see here.

11Nov/15

SEPnet Collaborative PhDs

Employer Engagement, GRADnet, postgraduate, Uncategorized

Research Projects for Ambitious SMEs at an affordable budget

Access quality PhD students for research you define in:

  • Numerical Modelling

or

  • Detectors

at £8K per year*

Work with industry focussed academics

* excluding VAT. Typically a PhD would cost you £30K per year excluding VA

 Benefits

  • Help define, and benefit directly from, research that underpins a technology problem you have
  • Collaborate to tackle research that is pre-competitive
  • Directly access  PhD research and students  at an affordable price

 How it works

  • Collaborative research projects consisting of a small group of SMEs, quality academics and a dedicated PhD student will be formed
  • Each PhD project will be defined and guided by the SME group and academics
  • Collaborating with 3 other SMEs reduces costs to around £8K pa for a 3-year programme
  • PhDs to start in October 2016
  • Project definition and consortia will be formed in Q4 2015 and Q1 2016

Register your interest here: http://sepnetphd.instapage.com/

GRADnet Summer School

Students at a GRADnet Summer School

“As a sponsor we were able to influence the direction of research, understand the analytical and experimental capabilities of the University and assist the Research Engineer in aligning their efforts to both a practical and very demanding application. It has, without doubt, given our company a competitive edge.”

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Professor Steve Burnage, Chief Design Engineer, Lockheed Martin

30Oct/15

Connecting Industry and Researchers in Physics

Employer Engagement, GRADnet, postgraduate

A South East Physics Network (SEPnet) Event

Wednesday 27 January 2016 – 17.00-20.00, University of Kent

SEPnet’s Graduate Network (GRADnet) is organising its 4th networking evening to facilitate greater collaboration and links between industry and physics postgraduate research students (PGRs) and researchers. We anticipate approximately 60 employers, physics PhD students and academics attending this event.

 Who should attend

  • SEPnet PGR students who want to meet small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and employers from physics-related industries to find out about career opportunities, make contacts and explore research and business ideas
  • SEPnet partner researchers who want to build links with industry to explore how their research can create impact
  • SMEs, businesses and employers in physics-related industries.

During the evening:

  • Hear from panellists including: Maya Dillon, Community Manager, Pivigo Academy;  Iain Duncan, Founder, Mousetrap Innovation; Phil Edwards, Managing Director, Weald Technology; Anke Lohmann, KTN Head of Photonics & Quantum Technologies and others talk about the benefits of knowledge exchange and what physics postgraduates and postdocs can offer industry
  • Participate in a speed networking session;
  • Build ongoing relationships between industry and researchers through placements, mentoring or research collaboration;
  • Refreshments will be provided.

How to register:

This event is free to attend.  Places are limited so please book early by clicking on the following link: http://bit.ly/1id46BC. (PGR students are requested to attend a networking workshop at 16.00).

For enquiries, contact gradnetadmin@sepnet.ac.uk

 

THIS EVENT IS SUPPORTED BY THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS

26Oct/15

GRADnet Winter School: Building your Leadership Potential

conference, GRADnet, postgraduate,

GRADnet Winter School: Building your Leadership Potential

8-10 February 2016

Discovery Park, Innovation House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich CT13 9FF

For GRADnet postgraduate researchers

Please see attached document outlining an exciting new core activity for the GRADnet Winter School.  Register here.  Registration deadline Tuesday, 5 January 2016.

Core Activity – Columbia’s Final Mission

You will analyse the case of the Columbia Space Shuttle mission from launch to its fatal conclusion using materials supplied by NASA under the guidance of a consultant.  As the mission unfolds, you will work in teams, each team taking the role of one of the key NASA managers or engineers.  A team experiences only those events and has access only to information that that person had at the time of the mission.  This adds a rich dimension to the case experience as participants recognise how perceptions of the same event can vary.  With a combination of team working and plenary discussion, key principles and applications of leadership, management and communication unfold as the workshop progresses.

 Places are limited so register now!

09Oct/15

‘I Wish I Had Known Earlier’ – GRADnet Student-led Online Learning Proposal Call October 2015

awards, GRADnet, postgraduate

Once again GRADnet is offering a scheme in which its postgraduate researchers can create online learning modules to share their knowledge and experience with peers in earlier years.  We invite GRADnet PGRs to participate in this. Successful proposals will receive a £1,000 bursary for each online module they create. Details of previously created modules are available in the Summer edition of GRADnews and also on the VRE, log on to http://www.open.ac.uk/students/research/SEPnet/training/student-led-on-line-learning%20modules

Proposals can be to support the development of either technical skills (for example, theoretical methods and tools, or practical physics know-how and skills) or more transferable/genetic skills (for example, Managing your Time, or Presenting at Conferences).  Although we have provided these examples, we expect that you will have a much better idea from your own experience of exactly what you wished you had known when you had started or what you had difficulty getting to grips with. These modules are designed to help those coming behind you avoid the same problems.

You are asked to submit a proposal for an online module, see attached guidelines and form. The proposal should identify the topic, provide an outline of what a module needs to cover and what learning it is intended to deliver. If selected, you will receive mentoring in Autumn 2015 to help you develop a high quality virtual learning package in one of several possible formats (video, website, text etc). This is another skill to add to your portfolio.  Collaborative modules between groups of students are particularly welcomed. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your teaching skills and experience for your CV.

Before you submit your proposal, there will be a chance to discuss your ideas and see what previous students have done over the videoconference facility on Tuesday, 20 October 2015 at 14:00, Virtual Room SEPnet 6.  If you wish to participate in this session please email gradnetadmin@sepnet.ac.uk by midday on Friday, 16 October 2015.

I wish I had known application form and guidance 2015 Final

An example from last year’s high quality proposals can be found here.

17Sep/15

Successful GRADnet “Meet the Employers” event for Physics PhD students

Employer Engagement, GRADnet, postgraduate

Last night at the University of Southampton SEPnet’s Graduate Network (GRADnet) held a networking evening to facilitate collaboration and links between industry and physics with postgraduate research students and researchers (PGRs).

Attending the event were:

  • SEPnet PGR students who wanted to meet employers from physics-related industries to find out about career opportunities, make contacts and explore research and business ideas.
  • SEPnet partner researchers who wanted to build links with industry to explore how their research can create impact.
  • SMEs, businesses and employers in physics-related industries interested in developing links with universities and recruiting physics graduates.
Panel session

Introducing the Panel session

During the evening we heard from panellists Simon Crook of EPSRC; Anke Lohmann, KTN Head of Photonics & Quantum Technologies; Julian Potter of WP Thompson IP; Nick Walker of eOsphere; Andrew Witham of Symetrica; Maya Dillon, Community Manager of Pivigo Academy who talked about the benefits of knowledge exchange and what physics postgraduates and postdocs can offer industry.

This was followed by a “speed networking” event in which PGR students, academics and employers discussed how to build ongoing relationships between industry and researchers through placements, mentoring or research collaboration.

_MG_9747

Speed Networking
Speed Networking

Speed Networking

At the end of the evening there was an opportunity for informal networking over refreshments. Feedback from students, employers and academics was that the events was extremely successful and enjoyable. The next event is being planned and is likely to be at The University of Kent on the 27th January 2016. Details will be posted on the GRADnet VRE.

_MG_9780

 

 

More photos from the evening can be found on Google Photos:


07Sep/15
GRADnet Summer School

SEPnet shortlisted for Times Higher Education award

Employer Engagement, GRADnet, postgraduate, ,

We are delighted that SEPnet has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education (THE) Award for Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative for our work with postgraduate research students.

 

Hundreds of nominations from institutions, departments and individuals were submitted across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity.

 

The full shortlist for all 18 categories is published in Times Higher Education and is also available on the awards website: www.the-awards.co.uk   The winners will be announced on Thursday 26 November 2015 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.