Tag: Doctoral Students

STEP UP Digital Research Technical Career and Bridging Placements

STEP‑UP invites applications for 1–3 month funded placements that develop specialist skills in research software, data, and computing infrastructure. Participants will work within a digital Research Technical Professional (dRTP) team at Imperial College London, King’s College London, UCL, or the University of Westminster.

STEP-UP – a Strategic TEchnical Platform for University technical Professionals – is a UK-based research project funded under the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)’s 2023 Strategic Technical Platforms call.

What you gain

  • Build advanced technical and professional skills.
  • Exchange best practices across institutions.
  • Use placement time to bridge gaps between projects.
  • Strengthen future career opportunities.

You can apply if you are:

  • A dRTP (i.e. working on research software, data or computing infrastructure) in any role at one of the four STEP‑UP partner institutions, or
  • A UK‑based PhD student or postdoc seeking experience as a dRTP and not employed during the placement.

All placements must occur within a partner‑institution dRTP team.

Funding

STEP‑UP provides up to £15,550, covering 80% of salary and on‑costs, plus eligible fees such as visa or bench costs. (Overheads and indirect costs are excluded.)

If you want to grow your technical capability and collaborate across the London dRTP community, this scheme offers a high‑impact route to do so.

Find out more and apply: https://step-up.ac.uk/placements/

Quality Management Systems (QMS) for Medical Devices Online Course

The MedTechONE team is excited to announce launch of our new course, Quality Management Systems (QMS) for Medical Devices — designed to support professionals working across the medical device lifecycle. 

Developed by experts at Imperial College, this course provides a clear and practical introduction to the policies, processes, and procedures manufacturers implement to ensure medical devices are safe, effective, and fit for their intended use. Whether you’re new to QMS or looking to strengthen your understanding, the course offers a strong foundation. 

What to expect from the course:

·                Engaging video-based learning, narrated by an AI avatar 

·                Downloadable lecture notes to support deeper understanding and further reading 

·                Light assessments throughout to help reinforce key concepts as you progress 

The course is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing you to learn at your own pace while building confidence in QMS principles relevant to the medical device sector. 

Watch our short introductory video to explore what the course covers. 

Enrol Here: Imperial College staff and students can self-enrol via Blackboard using their Imperial credentials only — no additional registration is required. 

1:1 Research Communication Coaching

Strengthen your research communication through personalised 1:1 coaching

Are you an Imperial doctoral researcher wanting to express your ideas more clearly, confidently and impactfully? Book a personalised 1:1 meeting with a CfAE coach to identify your most important areas for development and get targeted guidance to elevate your writing or speaking.

You can either discuss a sample of your research writing or prepared speech, or just come for advice on your writing or speaking in general. You’re welcome to take advantage of these meetings throughout your time at Imperial and can usually book a couple each term.

Here are some of the questions you might want to ask:

  • I’m struggling to organise my points in this part – how can I make it clearer?
  • I’m not sure what information is relevant for my audience here?
  • My literature review reads like a shopping list – how do I create a narrative to hold it together?
  • I feel I don’t sound ‘professional’ enough – how can I improve that?
  • I’m not sure how to speak with my own ‘voice’

And here’s what some of our attendees have to say:

“Already after yesterday’s meeting I feel much more confident and like I suddenly know what I am doing.”

“I just wanted to say a big, big thank you for the advice you gave me in our meeting. I just got some feedback from the second examiner of my Late Stage Assessment. I have passed the assessment, and the examiner found that my writing was much improved, compared to my earlier LSA attempt.”

For more information and to book, go to the CfAE 1:1 advice webpage.

Able network for disabled staff, research postgrads and allies

Able is a disability network that creates a supportive community for disabled staff, postgraduate research students and allies. The network welcomes those who live with a disability and/or physical or mental health condition, whether life-long, newly acquired, self-identified or diagnosed, regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not. They also encourage allies who are supportive of disability equality and equity in the workplace.

Each Friday morning at 9.00am the group meets for a virtual coffee and chat, where members can discuss topics relating to disability, share their lived experiences and become part of a community.

Find out more about the Able network and sign up by completing the online form.

Virtual ‘Introductory Medical Statistics’ course – 21 & 22 May 2026

The ‘Introductory Medical Statistics’ course will be held on Thursday 21 (pm) to Friday 22 May (am) 2026 – one day in total.

The course is run by statisticians and epidemiologists based at NHLI and will be held and recorded on Microsoft Teams. Recordings will be circulated afterwards and delegates also receive an individual attendance certificate.

It is suitable for doctors (including trainee grades), nurses, allied health professionals, clinical research fellows and postgraduate students, and aims to provide an introduction to basic statistical concepts.

Booking link

https://estore.imperial.ac.uk/product-catalogue/faculty-of-medicine/nhli/online-introductory-medical-statistics-course-may-2026

Registration fees (VAT doesn’t apply):

  • MSc/PhD Students (full time students without another source of income): £125
  • Academic/NHS/Charities (those working in the NHS, at a university or in the charitable sector): £195
  • Corporate/Other (those working in the private sector): £245
  • NB: Imperial College staff and students can pay via internal journal/transfer, using an Imperial finance code.  Please contact Magda Wheatley on m.wheatley@imperial.ac.uk for further details (you don’t then need to book online).

Total number of places available

Places are offered on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  Please note that the course can accommodate 45 delegates only, and that the course tends to fill up quickly.  Registration will close when the course is full.

Accreditation

Six CPD points are currently being sought.

Estranged Students Support Group (25 Feb, 25 Mar, 29 Apr, 20 May)

Estranged Students Support Group (co-led by Underrepresented Student Support Team and Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service)

When? 25 February, 25 March, 29 April, 20 May, 1-2pm

Where? South Ken Campus, Chemistry Building, Level 8

What? A confidential space for students who are estranged from both parents to meet others in similar situations to share their experiences of studying without parental support.

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/200486/estranged-students-support-group/

Access to Food Banks – Advice Service & Working-Class Network

Our Advice Service and Working-Class Network are working collaboratively to ensure all students at Imperial College experiencing short term financial hardship have access to food banks across the UK.

If you’re struggling to afford food, especially given the current cost of living crisis, you can now reach out to our Advice Service who will be able to issue an e-voucher for your local  The Trussell Trust food bank.

A typical food parcel may contain long life milk, pasta, tinned vegetables and fruit, tea or coffee, biscuits, and soup. If you cannot access your nearest food bank, delivery may be available although not guaranteed.

The Advice Service and Working-Class Network will also be able to signpost you to the relevant long term financial support services at Imperial College to help you get back on your feet. All requests are strictly confidential.

Please remember you are not alone and it’s okay to reach out for a bit of extra support – rising living costs are affecting students across the UK. We are here to ensure that you always have access to food and that you are not disadvantaged in your studies because of a lack of essentials.

How it works

  1. Fill out this form from the Advice Service
  2. The Advice service will send you an e-voucher
  3. You can pick up your parcel at your local Trussell Trust Food bank. You can find the locations here
  4. For further financial assistance, please reach out to Student Finance Support Team

Supporting Disabled and Neurodivergent Researchers at the Library Survey

To better understand the role of the library in supporting disabled and neurodivergent students and researchers, I am gathering feedback on the current library adjustments and identifying any gaps in how this information is made available, as well as any suggestions for additional support the library could implement.

Could you please complete this short (5 question) survey sharing your experience of library adjustments or support? It will be helpful for us to know your experience, even if you haven’t received any adjustments or support or haven’t been assessed by the Disability Advisory Service.

Royal Society Fellowships 2026 Full List

Schemes opening in 2026

Scheme Open date Close date Decision
Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship 7 January 2026 4 March 2026 July 2026
Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowship 7 January 2026 4 March 2026 July 2026
International Exchanges Global Round 1 15 January 2026 18 March 2026 June 2026
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship 15 January 2026 18 March 2026 July 2026
Newton International Fellowships 15 January 2026 11 March 2026 August 2026
Research Grants 29 January 2026 26 March 2026 July 2026
Industry Fellowships 4 February 2026 1 April 2026 July 2026
Short Industry Fellowships 2 April 2026 28 May 2026 July 2026
Kan Tong Po Visiting Fellowships 9 April 2026 4 June 2026 October 2026
Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship 6 May 2026 1 July 2026 November 2026
Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowship 6 May 2026 1 July 2026 November 2026
University Research Fellowship 14 July 2026 9 September 2026 May 2027
Industry Fellowships 22 July 2026 16 September 2026 March 2027
Short Industry Fellowships 12 August 2026 7 October 2026 December 2026
Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship 1 September 2026 28 October 2026 July 2027
Faraday Discovery Fellowships – Stage 1 August 2026 September 2026 November 2026
Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowships September 2026 November 2026 April 2027
Career Development Fellowships 22 September 2026 18 November 2026 June 2027
Faraday Discovery Fellowships – Stage 2 December 2026 February 2027 July 2027

CfAE Guided Activity Sessions on Speaking Skills (Spring Term 2026)

Are you coming up to an assessed presentation? Are you keen to work on your public speaking skills? Do you want to improve your ability to interact in seminars?

Whether you’re an undergraduate or a postgraduate, our guided activity sessions for speaking can help you achieve success on your academic journey and beyond. Sessions are designed to give you the space and opportunity to prepare and rehearse for both everyday and high-stakes activities here at Imperial. Each session includes input tailored to academic STEMM settings and structured practice opportunities. There will be expert feedback and peer review to help you hone your skills.

The live, 50-minute, interactive sessions are held at different times and on different days throughout term, so you can access what you need, when you need it. We offer both on-campus and online options; check out the schedule. You can do as many as you like.