Hello everyone,
2020 continues to be a challenging time for us all. I would like to thank you for your tireless efforts and collegiality to support one another through the current situation while we are working remotely.

The ANU is continuing to support HDR candidates through the campus closure and travel restrictions and we hope the resources available at https://www.anu.edu.au/covid-19-advice/research/hdr-candidates are providing clarity and comfort for you.

We recently held our first ‘virtual induction’ session for our incoming cohort. It was wonderful to see such a large turnout. Further sessions will occur in due course.

We have decided to schedule regular “Meet with the Dean” sessions over the next few weeks where you will have the opportunity to hear about developments occurring in the HDR space, ask questions and provide feedback. The first session will occur on 13 May – details advertised below. There will also be an opportunity to ask the VC anything on Tuesday 5^th May at 4.15 pm. Register here. As always we look forward to hearing your feedback (odhdr@anu.edu.au).

I encourage you to participate in the weekly writing sessions offered by the Researcher Development team, more information can be found here. 

Sending my very best wishes to each for you for the month ahead.

Sincerely,

Professor Ann Evans

Dean, Higher Degree Research

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

MAY
1 May | Word for academic writing: formatting your document webinar 
5 May | Influencing people with your research: good communication principles
5 May | Vice-Chancellor's 'ask me anything' HDR candidate forum
5 May | Presenting your research
6 May | RSES HDR: Thesis Structures
6 May | CHL/CAP HDR: Kickstart your PhD
6 May | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them
7 May | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
8 May | How to market yourself for careers outside academia
8 May | Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis 
11 May | RSPH HDR: Journal Article Writing
12 May | Thesis structures
12 May | Resilient Researcher: Communicating positively
13 May | Top tips for working with your supervisors
13 May | Ask Me Anything, ANU Dean Higher Degree Research: Research at the ANU
13 May | Resilient Researcher: Managing difficult conversations
13 May | Digital Research
14 May | Resilient Researcher: The emotionally intelligent (EI) researcher
15 May | NVivo introduction webinar ($95) 
18 May | Presenting confidently
19 May | Professional interview insights for HDRs
19 May | Mendeley in an Hour webinar
20 May | Resilient Researcher: Stress survival kit
20 May | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
20 May | Publishing in journals (Humanities)
20 May | CHL/CAP HDR: The Thesis Proposal Review
21 May | Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together 
22 May | NVivo advanced webinar ($95) 
22 May Publishing in journals (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
25 May | EndNote Advanced for Windows webinar
26 May | Word for academic writing: formatting your document webinar
26 May | Resilient Researcher: Thinking resiliently as a researcher
27 May | Working with data in Excel webinar
27 May | Ask Me Anything, ANU Dean Higher Degree Research: Candidature tips and tricks
27 May | Resilient Researcher: Becoming a resilient researcher 
28 May | Understanding your HDR skills  
28 May | Digital research webinar
29 May | Research data management webinar
 
JUNE
 1 June | Expressions of Interest for Get #SoMe, Social Media for Researchers close
2 June | Resilient Researcher: Creating career opportunities
2 June | Word for academic writing: maintaining consistency in your thesis webinar
3 June | Resilient Researcher: Stress survival kit
3 June | RSES HDR: Presenting your research
3 June | RSES HDR: Developing effective posters
3 June | EndNote in an Hour Webinar for Windows
4 June | SPSS introduction webinar
4 June | Managing your milestones, or why researchers run out of time
9 June | Resilient Researcher: Becoming a resilient researcher
9 June | Word for academic writing: putting your thesis all together webinar
10 June | Library research webinar
10 June | Resilient Researcher: Riding the emotional roller coaster
10 June | Top tips for working with your supervisor
10 June | Ask Me Anything, ANU Dean Higher Degree Research: Supervision 101
11 June | Tragic research mistakes and how to avoid them
11 June | SPSS advanced significance testing webinar
17 June | Resilient Researcher: Managing difficult conversations
17 June | NVivo introduction workshop ($95)
18 June | Resilient Researcher: The emotionally intelligent (EI) researcher
24 June | NVivo advanced webinar ($95)
24 June | Ask Me Anything, ANU Dean Higher Degree Research: What would the Dean do?

Updates from our research community, services and opportunities.

Get #SoMe - Social Media for Researchers

Researchers are being told that social media is critical to career success – but there is a lot of confusion about how best to make use of these tools. Join the @thesiswhisperer 
and @FirthSmith for a five-week course to learn how to use social media to further your research career. More information, and expression of interest details here. EOIs close 1 June 2020.

Vice-Chancellor's 'ask me anything' HDR candidate forum

Have you found it hard to keep up your research momentum off-campus? Get back in the rhythm with us!

The Researcher Development team currently offers 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.

Vice-Chancellor's 'ask me anything' HDR candidate forum

The Vice-Chancellor is regularly meeting with HDR candidates to discuss how our community is working with the new campus environment. This is an opportunity to ask questions, meet fellow students and provide feedback on anything that may be impacting you. You might also just want to hear about upcoming projects and what else is happening around ANU. Details on how the event will be run through Zoom can be found here, Tue 5 May 2020, 4.15–5.15pm.

HDR COVID-19 Extension Scholarship

HDR candidates can apply for an additional extension scholarship in recognition of the disruption COVID-19 has caused. Candidates are eligible to apply if they are between 3 and 3.5 years into their scholarship. More information about this here.

ANU Counselling

Academic Skills one-on-one appointments

Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI) - Online Winter Program

Ethics Office

The ANU Ethics Office is now offering its services “online”: 

• Research Ethics Drop-in session: Researchers can email to request a Zoom or phone consultation. 
• Human Ethics (ARIES) Training: We ask that researchers watch the ARIES Training video on this website. We are working on updating this video as soon as possible. 
• Animal Ethics Seminar (ANML03): Researchers can still register through HORUS and be added onto the WATTLE site. We ask that researchers go through the material online on Wattle and attend face-to-face training at a later date. 

From the Thesis Whisperer

• Some interesting reflections on what's it's like to be partially connected from Pat Thomson: Are we all part-time now?
• A great compilation on Doctoral Writing Sig blog (edited by our own Dr Cally Guerin) of COVID-19 resources.
• From the excellent 'explorations in style' blog, a reflection on linking in writing by Rachael Cayley.
• The valley of deep COVID sh*t (and quite rude, so be careful where and when you open this one!) 

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