North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership
‘Impact Full’ – The Joint AHRC/ ESRC DTP Impact Event
Naomi Adam, AHRC NWCDTP, Linguistics, University of Liverpool
This full-packed, four-hour interactive webinar on research impact provided participants with inspiration aplenty…
As part of the inaugural five-day ‘NWSSDTP Week’ running from 23 to 27 November 2020, postgraduate researchers from both the AHRC and ESRC cohorts were offered the opportunity to attend a dedicated DTP ‘Impact Event.’ Harnessing the power of Zoom, proceedings took place entirely online, as over the course of a full-packed, four-hour interactive programme participants considered the concept of research impact, and exactly how it could be incorporated into their own future project plans. The collaborative enterprise, hosted by NWSSDTP staff at the University of Liverpool, featured contributions from students and career researchers from across the North West consortium’s institutions.
ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme 2021 Open!
The ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Scheme for October 2021 Entry is now open.
The call is open to applicants who have completed their PhD at a research organisation that is part of a DTP or CDT (not necessarily the NWSSDTP) and who are within 12 months of completing their PhD. At the submission deadline, the applicant must either have been awarded a PhD or have submitted their thesis and passed their viva voce with minor corrections, with the expectation that the PhD will be awarded by the fellowship start date.
The NWSSDTP runs a two stage application process for ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships. Applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest form by the 5th February 2021. If successful, applicants will be invited to submit a full application by the 23rd March 2021.
Further details of the application process and the application paperwork can be found here: www.nwssdtp.ac.uk/pdf-scheme/
Collaborative Studentship with Staffordshire Police
Laura Briody, Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work, Keele University, 2018 Cohort
My CASE project is a collaboration between Keele University and Staffordshire Police. Using a variety of qualitative methods, I am investigating how the police are informed about, identify and respond to individuals categorised as “vulnerable”.
The term “vulnerability” is a concept of increasing focus for both researchers and practitioners within the public sector, with the police in particular expected to identify and respond to those considered the most ‘vulnerable’ within our society. The term however is hotly contested, with the definition of “vulnerability” either defined so narrowly as to be exclusionary, or so widely as to be vague and ineffective. There are also concerns that in using “vulnerability” to draw attention to inequality and those in need of help within our society, practitioners may end up reinforcing said inequalities and further stigmatising already marginalised communities.
Read More“Publishing Quality Charts in R using GGplot2” hosted by the Royal Statistical Society.
Hannah Sawyer, Psychology, University of Liverpool, 2018 Cohort
When COVID-19 started back in March 2020 (remember all the way back then?!), I am sure that not one of us would have imagined that by the time we started the new academic year in October, we would still be in lockdown. It has been a long 8 months being confined to our homes, working in the same make-shift temporary offices, and not being allowed to meet up with anyone outside your household. I miss the comfort of being in my office, surrounded by fellow PhD students and having my supervisors only a few doors away, but with all things being considered I am lucky to be staying well and safe. I am sure that you would agree that completing a PhD during this time, a global pandemic, is challenging in more ways than one. Practically, with the testing delays and constant revision of studies to make sure they fit in with government guidelines that seem to change on a weekly basis, has not been easy and I would be lying if I didn’t say that at certain points during this period, my motivation and morale to do my PhD work had been at an all-time low.
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