The DEAR Doctoral and Postdoctoral Group, informally known as the Sparkly Juicy Group, is the designated group for all doctoral researchers and postdoctoral fellows who are: working on topics related to doctoral education and academia; working as research assistants for DEAR projects; supervised/mentored by DEAR Directors Emily Henderson and/or James Burford. The group was originally founded in 2019 by Emily Henderson, and then moved into DEAR when it was launched in 2023. The group includes monthly meetings taking different topics (see below for more information), an email list, and is also a space for researchers to meet and find community. The group aims to provide a warm and thoughtful environment for learning and development.
October '26 -
October 2025 - Welcome session
November 2025 - Upgrade presentations
December 2025 - Special guest: Prof Pauline Reynolds, Redlands University, US
January 2026 - AI in doctoral education and knowledge production, led by Martha O'Curry.
February 2026 - Special guest session with Dr Devasmita Chakraverty (IIM Ahmedabad, India) 'Understanding the Language of Imposter Phenomenon'
May 2026 - Collaborative session with the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender (CSWG) with special guests Prof Simon Lock and Dr Emma Jones, UCL
Power Dynamics in Kenyan Law Schools by Dr Christine Olando (Post-doctoral member-DEAR).
A Well-being Exploration of International Students at the University of the Free State by Monthusi Magosi (Doctoral student member-HEHD).
Who Becomes a Viable Doctoral Subject? International Doctoral Applicants and the Digital Production of Admissibility by Evan Zheng (Doctoral student member- DEAR).
Digital Disconnects and Capability Constraints: Institutional Communication Gaps in NSFAS Social Media Engagement by Pikolomzi Qaba (Doctoral student member-HEHD).
Workplace conflict among academics: the role of heads of departments and power by Fatima Alhaj Hasan (Doctoral student member- DEAR)
International Academic Partnerships and Student Experience: Analysing Internationalisation Opportunities from a Capabilities Approach Perspective by Robyn Shreeve (Doctoral student member- DEAR)
Navigating difficult terrain: Female graduates’ aspirations for and access to higher education in northern Nigeria by Tolu Mshelia (Doctoral student member-HEHD).
July 2026 - Engaging with literature with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick
August 2026 - Upgrade rehearsal presentation
August 2026 - Reflection session on Jason Arday
September 2026 - Special guest session with Dr Xuemeng Cao (Xiamen University, China and alumna of the group)
(HEHD), University of the Free State, South Africa & DEAR Centre doctoral and post-doctoral group collaboration
September 2024 - Welcome session
October 2024 - Upgrade presentation rehearsals
November 2024 - 'Peer review' with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick
January 2025 - 'Ethics' with Prof Emily Henderson, University of Warwick
January 2025 - Optional extra session: Working with post-structuralist theory with Prof Emily Henderson, University of Warwick
February 2025 - Sampling with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick
March 2025 - Preparing for Research Assistant job applications, with Prof Emily Henderson, University of Warwick
May 2025 - 'Coding' with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick
June 2025 - Doctoral students as change agents with Prof Emily Henderson, University of Warwick
July 2025 - 'Navigating the Postdoctoral Stage' panel, with guests Dr Dangeni, Anglia Ruskin University; Dr Sophia Kier-Byfield, University of South Wales; Dr Bing Lu, Nottingham Trent University & University of Warwick.
September 2023 - Welcome session
October 2023 - Upgrade presentation rehearsals
November 2023 - 'Politics of citation' with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick, UK
December 2023 - 'Piloting in research projects' with Dr Emily Henderson, University of Warwick, UK
January 2024 - Discussion with special guest Dr Thandi Lewin, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
February 2024 - 'Being an academic citizen' with Dr Emily Henderson, University of Warwick, UK
March 2024 - 'Romance your writing' with Dr James Burford, University of Warwick, UK
May 2024 - 'Social justice approaches to educational research' with Dr Meanu Bajwa-Patel, University of Warwick, UK
June 2024 - 'Flexibility when working with research participants' with Dr Sophia Kier-Byfield, University of South Wales, UK
July 2024 - Discussion with special guest Dr Manika Bora, Jindal Global University, India
