Welcome to the MDS Graduate School (MADCAT) e-n
October 2015
Inside This Issue
College Graduate School Updates
Jump to….
College MDS updates
Message from Head of MDS Graduate School
Upcoming Events
I am delighted to say a few words of introduction to the fir
And Dental Career development And Training (MAD
MADCAT was chosen following a competition in the sum
coming from James Martin. The entry fulfils many of the
in that it is not easily forgotten and will be successful
Website, as is the case for PERCAT.
Training and Academic
Sessions
PGR Community
Upcoming Events
October 7-9
The goal is to produce a Newsletter that is informative to g
we welcome feedback on content and suggestions for future
will be sent by e-mail but will also be available through the ne
College Induction
The newsletter will be produced at the beginning of each mo
and future events from the Graduate Office, the Student Gr
Exploring research careers in events in the College such as named and Professorial Lectu
contain details of travel awards and other grants.
industry
November 5
Useful Links
Canvas
College of MDS Website
Email us
The first edition of the newsletter coincides with the move
structure and the opening of the new Medical Graduate Sch
things will remain very much the same. I am delighted t
returned after the birth of her son as the Operations Manage
and will oversee the team of postgraduate research (PGR
Viktorija and Yvonne in the running of the Graduate School.
PGR academics and all of you, and so please do not hesitate
questions and the like.
Got News?
Have you got an event or
article you'd like to share
with Postgraduate students
within the Graduate School
Contribute to the Newsletter
One of the new features in the newsletter is an entry from t
of the MADCAT Student Select Committee, Vanessa Tub and K
both of them for taking on this new role, and to the newly ap
the eight Institutes. The newsletter will also contain regular
Carter and the PGR Administrators, and Careers from the Stud
The newsletter coincides with the opening of University
Westmere. This is the first year of Westmere and we hope th
will be able to support events and make The Graduate Buildin
(Dentistry) has been appointed as a Westmere Scholar an
events in each edition of the newsletter. Westmere sho
graduates in other colleges and to wind down at the end of th
I would like to end by expressing a very warm welcome to t
MD and PhDs) who have joined the College over the summ
research going on in the College and we look forward to y
watching your own success, as well as being part of the new G
Steve Watson
Life Science Strategy and Restructure
The 1st October sees the implementation of the new struct
and Dental Sciences with the introduction of 8 Institutes. T
the Life Science Strategy and changes will be taking place in
do wish to find out more detail about these changes then y
Science Strategy website
On a day to day basis nothing will change for you as PGR st
communication will be sent out from the College. Although
new structure from other students and colleagues please r
working hard to ensure that you are fully supported and th
studies. If you do have any questions please do contact you
first instance.
Upcoming Events
College of MDS Induction
The University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dent
School extends a very warm welcome to all new research st
and those who have recently joined us.
To help you adapt to life as a research student, our program
help you understand what to expect and how to make the m
The induction programme will be a 3 day event held over 7
expected that all new research students will attend the eve
attached programme that there are two optional sign up se
October. The Induction Timetable is attached to this e-new
contact colmds-c-mds-gradschool@adf.bham.ac.uk
Social Events
Do you have any events you wish to invite fellow PGR
academic or social events within this monthly newsletter
events you can contact your PGR representative
Training and Academic Sessions
Exploring research careers in industry 2015
5th November 2015 (13:00 - 18:00)
41 Portland Place, London W1B 1QH
Establishing a research career or collaborating with
industries seems an impossible task for many early career
Academy of Medical Sciences, this event aims to break dow
career researchers and industry with practical advice,
stories of successful careers.
Industry representatives and academics collaborating with
of possible career tracks and current opportunities availab
early career researchers.
The keynote talks will be given by:
 Dr Ruth McKernan CBE FMedSci, Chief Executive, In
 Professor Mark Caulfield FRCP FMedSci, Chief Scien
Find out more and register to attend
Canvas Training Courses
We are pleased to announce the self-enrol canvas Matlab B
software itself and the following:
1. Getting Started with Matlab
2. Creating Variables
3. Managing your Workspace
4. Creating Vector Variables
5. Creating Matrix Variables
6. Solving linear equations
7. Script Files
8. Basic Plotting
9. Conditions and Loops
10. Debugging
To self-enrol please go to the following URL
https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/enroll/HH8DP4
This course is available to anyone at the University of Birmi
Canvas Gallery
The Canvas Gallery includes courses that will require you to
external websites. The resources are available to staff and
courses to support study and research are:
· Thesis Presentation and Reference Management
· Avoiding Plagiarism
· Copyright for Postgraduate Students
· Introduction to Research Data Management
· Literature Searching for Systematic Review
· Tracing Thesis
· Statistical Methods for Research: Biomedical Sciences
To log into Canvas https://canvas.bham.ac.uk/login/ldap
ILT Open Programme Dates
This introductory course combines some highly practical in
UK higher education setting, and planning and managing in
some more theoretical material designed to encourage exa
learning that underlie particular teaching contexts.
The 2015/16 dates for the ILT Course are now available onl
ILT001 (please click the arrow next to the list of courses tab
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/cladls/edudev/cours
open-ilt001.aspx
Part two courses are on the following link:
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/cladls/edudev/cours
open-ilt002-007.aspx
Please ensure you follow the booking guidelines - email you
date you would like to attend and your ID number to
pgcertcoursebookings@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
PGR Pathways
PGR Pathways are a list of suggested activities for every sta
research journey. Take a look at the brochure (attached) to
options you can apply for to support your training and deve
MRC Internship opportunity
The MRC and the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) have
offer a policy internship scheme.
The scheme is open to MRC-funded PhD students in their t
including clinicians undertaking a PhD as part of their MRC
The scheme offers the opportunity for them to undertake a
Academy offices in Central London. The successful interns w
team to lead on a piece of policy work such as consultation
policy projects, international symposia and stakeholder and
Applications must be endorsed by the candidate’s p
Information about the candidate’s MRC funding period a
month extension at the MRC minimum level for London to
stipend during his/her internship must also be provided
office with signed approval of the budget holder. Extens
Doctoral Training Partnership Supplements.
Application forms should be submitted with a CV, a coverin
than 800 words on a topical science policy issue. Applicatio
September until the 31 October 2015. Interviews will be h
2015.
To download application forms and for further details on e
financed please visit http://www.mrc.ac.uk/skills-careers/s
students/policy-internship-scheme/
PGR Community
We have a mix of different researchers within our College G
the opportunity to build a community with a wide range of
experience as a PGR. We want to hear from you, the PGRs
community. If you wish to write to us about experiences or
we can include them in this newsletter and we can all supp
Welcome to your new postgraduate researche
With the recent move into the new research institutes the
reworked. We now have/are looking for 2 postgraduate s
the research institutes. We are hoping this will give us a fr
number of keen students who will help make this ac
enjoyable. Your student committee members are in place
opinions of your institute to the graduate school, so pleas
your committee members are. Additionally, if you would
student committee please drop the co-chairs an email at an
Committee
Role
Co-chair
Co-chair
Institute
Immunology and
Immunotherapy
Metabolism and
Systems research
PGR rep
PGR rep
Immunology and
Immunotherapy
PGR rep
PGR rep
Westmere
and PGR rep
PGR rep
Metabolism and
Systems research
Clinical
Sciences/Dentistry
PGR rep
PGR rep
Applied Health
Research
PGR rep
We look forward to hearing from you
Vanessa Tubb and Katherine Eales
Co-Chairs
Name
Vanessa Tubb
Katherine Eales
Andrew Owen
Nick Frampton
Michelle Curran
Rachel Fletcher
Cleo White
Janet Jones – Primary
Care
Paul Fisher – Public
Health
Arjun Bhadhuri –
Health Economics
Chris Gowing - MESH
Westmere PGR Hub
Welcome to those that have just started their first year
going into subsequent years.
Who am I?
My name is Cleo and I am the Westmere Scholar for M
student based within the School of Dentistry and my rese
3D model of oral mucosa which will be used to investi
dental implant surfaces.
Why is Westmere relevant to you?
Westmere is a newly revamped house located next t
Gardens. Its main role is to be the hub for the whole
University. It is a place where you can receive training t
where you can get support whilst you are a PGR here
network and get to know other PGRs. It is also a space in
your own seminars, workshops and networking events, if
like to do!
Artist impression of new Westmere PGR Hub
What is my role?
My role as the MDS Westmere Scholar is to not only encou
a venue but also help develop the PGR community across t
the other scholars organizing fun and engaging events t
watching this space (info about our first event will be availa
If you would like any more information, want to use Wes
event suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact me (CLW
Have a fantastic October!
Cleo
For more details about the University Graduate School visi
image below
Celebration of PhD studies from Saudi Emba
Osama Alshehri, who is a PhD student in Cardiovascular m
to attend a celebration for high achieving Saudi students.
HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud who is the Am
Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom. This was richly dese
find its way into first year medical textbooks. Well done O
MDS Graduate School
College of Medical & Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Contact us at mds-gradschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk