Most people are using problem-solving skills on the daily basis, no matter whether they are trying to solve a technical problem, or scientific puzzle, navigate barriers on their PhD journey, or they just experience a range of practical worries in personal life. But how effective are you at tackling your practical worries and challenges in your life? Many PhD students engage in procrastination with their tasks as they want to avoid unpleasant aspects of their PhD and focus on more pleasurable parts (such as Netflix). However, this in turn results in the piling of your practical worries (tasks), whilst at the same time, you become overwhelmed when attempting to tackle these, because of the sheer number of tasks on your plate.

Here’s the thing: the better your problem-solving skills are - the better (and easier!) your life will be (both professionally and personally). In this workshop, which will be supported by a qualified and licenced low-intensity psychological wellbeing practitioner, you will learn what practical worry is, why people avoid doing tasks and engage in procrastination, what problem-solving strategies exist for overcoming your challenges, and how you can use problem-solving strategy to understand your problem, find a solution and create an action plan for tackling it. Finally, you will be learning the importance of reflection and learning from your problem-solving attempts, which are invaluable for future problem-solving. By the end of this workshop, you will be provided with practical strategies, and resources, which will enable you to take proactively problem solve your practical worries and challenges. There will be no need to disclose private or confidential information; we will just be discussing a practice which you can apply in your own time.

Who is this for?

Stages of PhD

Early 0-14 months

Mid 12-24 months

Late 24-finish

This session focuses on how to create a convincing argument in STEM-related writing by emphasising the ‘research space’ and the contribution of the research to wider knowledge. We begin by considering what makes an effective abstract. We then look at the concept of ‘academic discussion’, to show how the contribution of the research can be optimised and ‘sold’ to the reader. The session will focus on self-analysis of research that is either in progress or completed, and so will appeal to researchers who are at the later stage of their projects.

Who is this for?

This workshop is tailored to PGRs in the STEM disciplines. STEM is an academic term that refers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - and includes disciplines in the life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and the health sciences.

This session will provide opportunities to share the current difficulties that you are facing in written academic English and explore ways forward for improving your understanding and develop your writing.

YouTube: Writing and reading difficulties PhD in a second language – YouTube

A PhD is challenging. Doing it in another language makes it more so. The ‘PhD in a second language’ series is designed to support you with many aspects of the process. We cover writing and speaking; reading and presenting. We discuss how we network and create connections. We also discuss the vagaries of undertaking research in the UK; the words that mean something entirely different and trip us up every time. The sessions are run by a Warwick PhD alumni and lecturer who still occasionally struggles to find the correct English word.

Who is this for?

Stages of PhD

Early 0-14 months

Mid 12-24 months

Late 24-finish