I hope you are all well and settled in the new ‘normal’ working environment we are all experiencing at the ANU – a number of research groups have returned to campus with the permission of their areas, and we anticipate the end of July will welcome back on campus more research students and staff. For further information on the return to campus framework, please read this.
 
As you know, we are running a pilot to explore the use of oral examination in our PhD degrees. We will be inviting people to express interest in participating in this pilot. I encourage you to participate in the training, register here by the end of this month. In mid-August, we will be holding an information session for candidates on the oral examination pilot. Invitations will be sent soon.
 
Last month, I met virtually with 45 HDR candidates to answer questions and provide information regarding their research, resources and campus concerns – this was a very productive opportunity for the Office of the Dean HDR the next session is 18 August. On 29 July, I am hosting a Welcome to new HDR candidates. In addition, the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship will be hosting their information session on 21 July at 3.00 pm – to register to go to the Westpac Future Leaders website.
 
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Dean HDR (odhdr@anu.edu.au).

Professor Ann Evans

Dean, Higher Degree Research

ANU Researcher Development coordinates and facilitates workshops, events, and competitions to develop your skills even further. All of the sessions below are offered to you online. Click on one to find out more:

JULY
1 July | Communicating confidently through the screen with a place in Media Boot Camp*
2 July | Mendeley in an Hour webinar for Mac
7 July | Portrayals of Research – National Portrait Gallery virtual tour*
8 July | Kickstart your PhD
8 July | How to get your research in the media with a place in Media Boot Camp*
8 July | Research Ethics Drop-in Session on Zoom
9 July | Design and Develop your Digital Display with PPT and Powtoon webinar*
9 July | ANUHDR: Writing with clarity and purpose
9 July | Research to Impact with the Innovation Network
10 July | HDR: Literature review writing (STEM)
10 July | Mendeley in an Hour webinar
14 July | Research data management webinar
14 July | Influencing others with your research
 14 July | HDR Bestseller Book Writing Boot Camp applications close
15 July | How to win the ANU 3MT
16 July | Research to Impact with the Innovation Network
16 July | CECS HDR: Journal Article Writing
16 July | CECS HDR: Getting published
16 July | HDR: Literature review writing (HASS)
16 July | ANUHDR: 500 useful words every day
17 July | Influencing others with your research* 
 20 July | Visualise Your Thesis Competition submissions open
21 July | Sharing research stories – National Portrait Gallery virtual tour*
21 July | HDR Supervision: Simple strategies for supporting HDR students’ mental health
21 July | What do thesis examiners (really) want?
22 July | Winning top tips for the ANU 3MT*
22 July | EndNote in an Hour webinar for Windows
28 July |  Library research webinar
29 July | HDR Welcome from the Dean
29 July | EndNote advanced webinar for Windows
30 July | Word for academic writing: formatting your document webinar

AUGUST
 3 August | ANU 3 Minute Thesis Competition submissions open
4 August | Digital research webinar
6 August | Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis webinar
10 August | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
11 August | Mendeley in an Hour webinar for Windows
11 August | Where are the jobs for researchers outside academia?
12 August | Research Ethics Drop-in Session on Zoom
13 August | Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together
14 August | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Mac
17 August | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them
 18 August | Dean, Higher Degree Research Candidate Update
18 August | EndNote advanced webinar for Windows
18 August | HDR: Journal Article Writing (HASS)
19 August | Managing your milestones, or why researchers run out of time
19 August | Library research webinar
20 August | Research data management webinar
 21 August | ANU Visualise Your Thesis Competition Final 2020
25 August | Managing your Digital Footprint webinar
25 August | Top tips for working with your supervisors
26 August | Digital research webinar
27 August | HDR: Journal Article Writing (STEM)
28 August | HDR: Publishing in journals (HASS)
31 August | Publishing in journals (STEM)

* good opportunities for 3 Minute Thesis and Visualise your Thesis participants

Updates from our research community and opportunities for you this month.

$10,000 in prizes: 3 Minute Thesis and Visualise Your Thesis

It is competition time for HDR candidates in July and August with $10,000 in prizes to be won. ANU is the most successful institution at 3MT in the world, are you our next winner? Check out the 3MT training and guidelines here. Visualise Your Thesis competition is open to HDR candidates at all stages, develop skills and make a global audience for your research.

From Research to Bestseller: turning your research into a creative non-fiction book

If you are interested in writing a popular book based on your research (and maybe even making some money), this boot camp is for you! Our first ever book writing boot camp is designed to help you think about translating your research into a mainstream, research-based book that would be interesting for a major publisher. Find out more here.

Research to Impact with the Innovation Network

Research to Impact is a two-part webinar series for researchers to introduce practical tools that help you take your research out of academia, engage with industry and find new opportunities. Advance your research by upskilling and enabling you to find answers about industry needs, how you can adapt to make you more prevalent in your field and attract the resources you need to take your projects forward. 9 and 16 July, more information here.

Write 1,000 words a day with us!

Join us for Shut Up and Write sessions four times a week virtually using Zoom. Monday and Wednesday, 10 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm, you can join one or all sessions. These sessions are open to all researchers keen to participate. More information can be found here. Please note the zoom session password is: 2601. Follow us on Twitter for reminders.

Principles of Tutoring and Demonstrating intensive 20 - 27 July

Whether you are a new or experienced educator, walking into a classroom to teach can be daunting. At the Australian National University, Principles of Tutoring and Demonstrating (PTD) is an introductory program to help you familiarise yourself with important aspects of learning and teaching, in the context of tutoring and demonstrating. Find out more about the intensive from 20-27 July here.

Expression of interest in mentor training with NECTAR

Reported by Mentees to be a "game-changer", the ANU NECTAR Mentoring Program is designed specifically to support the diverse career development needs of early-career research and teaching staff at ANU (ECAs). NECTAR is offering a small number of places for HDR candidates to do the mentor training workshop. You can express interest here: https://forms.gle/YGdNQnqRp6C63R7g6

From the Thesis Whisperer

A warm congratulations to these students who have been recently approved to graduate from their PhD or MPhil. Well done all!