HetSys News

This years Annual Conference took place from the 9th - 11th July at the University of Warwick. The three-day event brought together students, researchers, alumni, and partners for a programme of keynote lectures, research presentations, and community engagement.

The conference featured keynote addresses from Professor J. Nathan Kutz and Dr. Natalia Martsinovich, whose talks stimulated in-depth discussions and set a high standard for the event. PhD students from all stages of the programme delivered research presentations showcasing both the quality of their work and their growing confidence as communicators, aided by recent presentation and interview skills training.

An alumni-led panel on Life after the PhD provided valuable insights into career pathways and underscored the strength of the HetSys network beyond graduation. The event also offered an opportunity to welcome incoming Cohort 7 students into the community.

Awards were presented to recognise outstanding contributions:

1. Best 3D Model Submission – Chantal Baer

2. Best Cohort 5 Presentation – Minerva Schuler

3. Best Poster Submission – Philip Jones

4. Best Cohort 4 Presentation – Fraser Birks

The conference concluded with an afternoon tea celebrating the achievements of Cohort 2 graduates, reflecting on their four years of contributions to the Centre. The celebrations continued on 14 July at the official graduation ceremony, where friends, family, and colleagues gathered to mark this significant milestone.

HetSys CDT extends thanks to its External Advisory Board, alumni, supervisors, and all attendees for their contributions to the success of the 2025 Annual Conference, and congratulates all award winners and graduates on their achievements.

As part of preparations for the 2025 Annual Conference, students took part in a follow-up Presentation & Interview Skills Workshop. Both sessions were led by Simon Cain and were designed to help students feel confident and supported.

The day was split into two sessions: the morning focused on delivering impactful presentations, while the afternoon covered strategies for tackling challenging interview questions and performing well in high-pressure scenarios. Both sessions ended with a live Q&A, encouraging reflection and deeper learning.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students found the Presentation Skills session engaging and valuable for refining their communication style. The Interview Skills session was also well-received, with plans to enhance future workshops by adding further mock interviews and extended Q&A time. Organisers noted that the benefits were clear, with a noticeable improvement in how students presented at the conference itself.

The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit 2025, held in Anaheim in March, was a vibrant and inspiring event that brought together over 15,000 physicists, researchers, and students from around the world. The scale, energy, and calibre of discussions at this year’s summit underscored the dynamic progress being made across the field of physics. We were proud to see the HetSys CDT so strongly represented.

Read more here.