Dear SCDTP Students, PGRs, Supervisors & Colleagues,

As we move further into the academic year and the winter months begin to set in, we hope you are keeping well, staying warm, and finding time to look after your wellbeing alongside your research and teaching commitments.

It’s encouraging to see our new students settling into their programmes, while our continuing researchers take on fresh challenges as their projects evolve and progress. This time of year often brings renewed focus and momentum, and it’s inspiring to see that reflected across the SCDTP cohort.

With the academic rhythm now well established, we’re also pleased to see the start of this year’s thematic cluster activities, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration, cross-disciplinary conversation, and shared learning across the cohort.

In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find new announcements, upcoming events, training opportunities, and helpful updates to support you through the coming weeks. We invite you to take a moment to explore what’s on offer and engage with the activities that best support your research journey.

The Trauma in Research Special Interest Group will be holding an in-person session on Wednesday 14 January, 10:00–13:00, at Emmaus Brighton & Hove.

The group has now have a Microsoft Teams channel for ongoing discussion and updates. Students who would like to join the group can use the link above.

This session will feature Dr Chris Magill and Dr Catherine Kelly, who will share their work on innovative and care-full research practices, drawing on their Reciprocal-Care Research Retreat with women who have lived experience of misogyny in policing. The discussion will explore ethics, wellbeing, pace, protection, and relational accountability in emotionally demanding research, with practical insights into research ethics processes for doctoral researchers.

The session will be relaxed and welcoming, with refreshments on arrival, lunch provided afterwards, and standard SCDTP travel expenses reimbursed. It offers a valuable opportunity to connect in person with others navigating similar ethical and emotional considerations in their research.

📍 Venue: Emmaus Brighton & Hove, Portslade
📅 Date & time: Wednesday 14 January, 10:00–13:00

Further details are available via the Teams calendar invite.

If you’d like to come along, just respond to the Teams calendar invite so we can keep track of numbers for catering. And if you have any dietary or access needs, please do drop us a quick note so we can make sure everything’s in place.

We're really looking forward to it and hope you can join us.

Warm wishes,

Sadie and Clare

EDI Event Update: Badge Café Session Postponed with New Dates

Please note that the EDI Badge Café event previously advertised will need to be postponed due to a clash with another in-person SCDTP event on the original date. We apologise for this oversight and will follow up directly with students who have already RSVPed.

The EDI team has expanded its programme to include more initiatives that promote social inclusion, wellbeing, and a sense of safety and connection across the cohort. 

In acknowledgement of how isolating the Christmas break can be for some, especially those who cannot return to family, the EDI team are holding a social and creative event.

The event, called ‘Badge Café’, will run from 1:00–4:00 PM and will be facilitated by Dr Ben Walters, the artist behind the Badge Café project (https://badgecafe.com/about). This creative drop-in session offers a relaxed space for badge-making, conversation, and connection.

The session will take place in Portsmouth, in Room 2.04b, Lion Gate Building, University of Portsmouth, Lion Terrace, Portsmouth, PO1 3HF.

Lunch will be provided, and travel expenses can be claimed in the usual way.

We are now looking to reschedule the session for late January, either on Thursday 22 January or 29 January being potential dates. We kindly ask all students to complete this short form indicating their availability:

• unable to attend
• available to attend only if it is on 22 January
• available to attend only if it is on 29 January
• available to attend on either date

The deadline to complete the form is 7 January 2026. Once we confirm the final date and receive your responses then we can proceed with the necessary preparations.

In the meantime, if you are interested in joining the session, please hold both dates in your diary.

We look forward to sharing the confirmed details shortly and hope you will be able to take part.

Reminder: Research in Practice (RiP) Placement Event – Please Complete the RSVP Form

Event Details
Date: Tuesday, 3 February 2026
Location: Treadgolds, 1 Bishop Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3DA
Registration Reception: From 10.30 am
Event Time: 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

Thank you to everyone who has already completed the RSVP form for the upcoming Research in Practice (RiP) event. We really appreciate your prompt responses, which are helping us plan the event effectively.

If you have not yet completed the form, we kindly ask you to do so as soon as possible, as the closing date has been extended to allow us to confirm attendance and follow up with those we still need to hear from.

• New entry cohort (2025/26): Attendance at this event is a required part of your training (except for students currently on the Master’s programme). Even if you are unable to attend, you must still complete the form so we can understand the reason.
• 2024/25 cohort: You are very welcome and strongly encouraged to attend, as the session will be particularly useful as you prepare for your placement journey.

Please note that if you have already completed the form, there is no need to submit it again.

🔗 Complete the RSVP form here:
https://forms.office.com/e/skBTDvzf24

Thank you for your cooperation, and please do get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Looking for an easy way to stay up to date with the training available through SCDTP? Our Training Calendar brings together upcoming workshops, events, and development opportunities in one place, making it simple to plan ahead and manage your time.

We also maintain a dedicated training resources page on our website, where materials from previous sessions and additional learning resources are available for you to revisit at any time.

If you have specific training needs or ideas that aren’t currently listed, please do get in touch with us so we can support you and consider future provision.

📧 Contact us: scdtp@soton.ac.uk

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The new series will feature fresh conversations with doctoral researchers from across the SCDTP cohort, continuing to showcase the breadth, depth, and impact of research taking place within our community. New episodes will be released on Tuesdays, between 18 November 2025 to 10 February 2026.

We are pleased to share that five episodes have been released so far:

• Series 2, Episode 1 – [Max Dixon]
• Series 2, Episode 2 – [Victoria Giacomelli]
• Series 2, Episode 3 – [Nick Huxley]
• Series 2, Episode 4 – [Barbara Sherriff]
• Series 2, Episode 5 – [Nikki Smith]

🔗 Follow Speaking of Research Series 2 – [Archive link]

🔗 Cath up on Speaking of Research Series 1 – [Archive link]

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Colleagues may wish to note that ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK) has launched a funding call in spring 2026 for ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships to host PhD studentships focused on research using linked administrative data.

The call will support up to 30 PhD studentships across the UK, with studentships due to begin in autumn 2027. The application deadline is 16:00 on 26 February 2026.

We would be grateful if you could share this information with colleagues, supervisors, and prospective students who may be interested in or benefit from this opportunity.

Further information on research-ready datasets, current projects, and resources is available via the ADR UK website.

For any queries, please contact ADRStudentships@esrc.ukri.org.

Registrations are open for the winter term of the ESRC funded RES Doctoral Training Programme. The Royal Economic Society have planned a series of online workshops designed to enhance the core skills of students studying for a PhD in Economics. ​Please forward details to any doctoral candidates you are in contact with. 

As always, these virtual sessions are free to attend, and certificates of attendance are available upon request. Year 2 sessions include:

• 4 February: ‘Econometric Modelling of Crypto Asset Markets’ Masterclass with Prof Carol Alexander (University of Sussex and Exponential Science Foundation)🡕 
• 8 March: ‘Investigating (co-)integration in panels with cross section dependence’ Masterclass with Prof Anindya Banerjee (University of Birmingham)🡕

You can find more information, as well as recordings of past sessions, on the RES website. For any questions, you can contact the Doctoral Training Programme Officer, Maria Georgouli Loupi at doctoraltraining@res.org.uk.

Applications are now open for the RES’ annual training school and Professor Michael McMahon 🡕 and Professor Alessandra Bonfiglioli 🡕 are the visiting guest lecturers. 

 Who: Designed for advanced postgraduate students doing doctoral research, and economists in research and policymaking institutions.

 Theme: AI and Economic Policy

 Where: University of Birmingham

 When: 15-17 April 2026

UKRI has published new guidance to help UKRI-funded students better understand their funding, entitlements, what to expect from their institution, and how to raise concerns. This guidance replaces previous UKRI student funding pages and is now the main reference point for funded students.

👉 Read the full update on our website

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The South West DTP Data Analysis Webinar Series (January–May 2026) features over 30 social science researchers sharing practical experiences of analysing data in real research projects. Sessions cover a wide range of methods and approaches, including mixed methods, decolonial research, co-produced data, and critical discourse analysis.

🔗 Register here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/swdtp/1956811

Kew has announced five newly added PhD placement opportunities within its Learning and Participation team, expanding its portfolio of placements focused on public engagement, outreach, and knowledge exchange.

These placements offer doctoral researchers the opportunity to apply their research skills in a real-world setting while contributing to Kew’s work in education and public engagement. Full placement details and project descriptions are available on the Kew website.

🗓️ Application deadline: 31 January 2026
📧 How to apply: Send applications to sciencetraining@kew.org
🔗 View placements: https://www.kew.org/learning/phd-placements

Interested students may also wish to explore outputs from previous PhD placement students, which showcase the range and impact of projects undertaken at Kew.

*** For SCDTP Cohort 2 students (Entry 2024/25 onwards) :

Please inform us if you applied to the placement for us to follow up on the relevant Research in Practice placement procedures. For quick reference, this link may be helpful to you:

• How to Apply for Your Research in Practice Placement page🡕 (https://southcoastdtp.ac.uk/training-programme/rip-training/how-to-apply-for-your-research-in-practice-placement/)

If you would like further guidance or support with your placement, please contact the team at scdtp@soton.ac.uk📧.

👉 Visit the Research in Practice Placement pages🡕 

The UK Data Service, in collaboration with White Rose DTP, the Midlands Graduate School, and the Scottish Graduate School for Social Science, has developed a free, self-paced online training course for postgraduate students titled "Introduction to Finding and Using Data".

This course provides an introductory overview of how to find, evaluate, and use social research data responsibly, supporting students who are beginning their own research projects. It consists of eight short online modules, which can be completed in any order and revisited as needed. Participants who complete all modules will receive a certificate of completion.

The training is hosted on the UK Data Service Moodle platform and is freely accessible to postgraduate researchers.

• Click the link above to self-enrol
• Create a username and password.
• Please note: the name used at registration will appear on your certificate of completion.
• For support, contact ukdstraining@manchester.ac.uk.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this edition of SCDTP & Network Update before we sign off for the Christmas break. We hope you’ve found the updates, opportunities, and reminders helpful, whether it’s keeping track of upcoming training, exploring placement and funding opportunities, or catching up on the latest research and podcast releases from across the cohort

As we approach the end of the year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued engagement and contributions. Your participation helps shape a supportive, connected, and vibrant research community.

As always, if you have any feedback, news to share, or questions, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us at scdtp@soton.ac.uk📧.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. Whether you are taking a well-earned break or continuing with your work over the holiday period, we hope you find time to rest, recharge, and look after your wellbeing. We look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year.

Warm regards,
🎄The SCDTP Team🎄

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