Being a Postgraduate Researcher at Lancaster

As a researcher here at Lancaster, you are undertaking a professional qualification and apprenticeship to becoming a proficient researcher.

Your research project and thesis are the major parts of a PhD, however as you go through the process, you will have many opportunities for research training and personal development. It is important that during this time you take full advantage of all the opportunities available to you.

Postgraduate training not only refers to the subject specific learning of your research project but also all the courses, workshops and conferences you attend, presentations you have given and other activities you undertake during your PhD that add to and enhance your skills and personal development, help you to progress through the research process and increase your employability.

It is important that during your research you keep a record of the progress that you make throughout your project, through a research diary or lab book. You should also keep a record of any courses, workshops, seminars and conferences you attend, presentations and any personal development activities. Not only will it form part of your Annual Appraisal process, it is vital for your CV and applying for jobs post PhD - you may need evidence of such activities on application forms. The university has an online system in which you can record such events - MyPGR. In MyPGR you will also find the Development Needs Analysis (DNA). This is a self audit in which you can analyse your research skills and identify areas for development in discussion with your Supervisor.

Using the relevant buttons below will lead you to a range of University webpages dedicated to PGR activities and tools that will help you through the PhD process. There are also links to external websites of other useful avenues of training and developmental activities.