Researcher Development
The Researcher Development programme is provided by the Doctoral College to help you
get the best out of your time at Warwick and the best out of yourself.
The programme covers all disciplines and stages of research; including Writing, Research Methods, Productivity, PhD in Second Language series, Wellbeing and support for your Career.
Thinking about your professional development allows you to source the support and training you need, when you need it.
Want to know more about what Researcher Development is and what it means for you. Then check out this presentation 'What is Researcher Development 2024-2025?'
The Autumn 2024 Researcher Development Programme Handbook contains full descriptions of workshops and bookable links. Just need the Autumn Schedule?
Join us on our Researcher Development Online Teams site. RD Teams site
Or read our annual report: Researcher Development Online 2024
"The prime gain from doing a PhD is little to do with the subject.
It is the life skills; surviving countless struggles, persisting through difficult times, becoming a resourceful problem solver and independent thinker; and knowing when to ask for help.
Invaluable for any future role!!"
Sessions are viewable on SkillsForge from 6th September 2024; and to allow for new colleagues arriving; bookable from 16th September.
Check out our How to guides for SkillsForge
Researcher Development Online (RDO)
RDO is a Performance Coaching programme to help you get the best from yourself whilst studying for your research degree. We run small, bespoke online workshops online via RDO Teams. The programme runs throughout the year including evenings, weekends and vacation periods; so hopefully you will find an event which suits your timing.
New for 2024
Researcher Development Online Moodle
Want the Top Tips from your workshop?Looking for the follow up material?
Or do you want a refresher of the key areas covered in your workshop?
Or maybe you're on the waiting list for the workshop and want some key learning now?
Check out our
Researcher Development Programme - the 6 Pillars of Support
Our approach to PGR development is holistic, which acknowledges that PGRs are researchers and academics, and also multifaceted individuals with diverse needs. We offer a comprehensive and integrative curriculum that supports your intellectual development and also your wellbeing. Success encompasses more than just research achievements; it also includes the overall fulfilment and growth of an individual. For this, we've designed our sessions around six main 'pillars' of support: We offer sessions specifically for those doing their PhD part time too.
Accelerator series –Sessions that will get your PhD off to the best start. It will bring you into contact with other new arrivals at Warwick, starting to build your professional network and peer group of colleagues.
PhD Essentials: Includes our Productivity and Wellbeing series, Communicating Research, and Career Planning. The key areas that we all will need to cover no matter what our discipline and sessions to keep us on track, motivated, and meeting milestones.
Research Practices & Methodologies series- in addition to our popular research methods training we also focus on integrity, ethics, planning and team working
PhD in Second Language Series – If you are doing your PhD in your second, third or even 4th language then we run weekly sessions focussing on writing, presenting, speaking and also navigating the strange accents and behaviours of the British. See our specific support for you
Writing Support- we start from the basics of sentence structure, through to writing your first press release. We cover how to manage large volumes of material, organising your argument, signposting and storyboarding. And when you are writing up, we offer retreats, proof reading circles and creative writing sessions to deal with writers block. Check out our dedicated Writing page
Planning your Career Path: our dedicated summer programme - we need to start thinking and planning where next, so that we can make the most of any opportunities we have during our PhD. Check out our dedicated Careers page
Our full resources page
Social Media Site ( we are looking for a new space so will update when we have chosen where)
Coming up in the next weeks of the RDO Autumn Term programme
Design for Academics 2
Writing Tips - Focus on Style: How to be more Detailed
Accelerator Series: Increase your Productivity
Mixed- Methods Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis (Research Methods Series)
Accelerator Series: Speed Reading
Accelerator Series: Literature Reviews - where to start?
What Resilience Means for Researchers
Advanced Writing: Writing an Article for Publication (priority to Part-timers)
Research Impact
A (complete beginners) Guide to Data Handling: what is mean, mode, median and range?
Research Planning for your First Year
PhD in a 2nd Language: Editing and Proofreading
Qualitative Research Practices: Interviewing and Oral History Methods
Bookings open 16th September
Do you have any questions? Contact us via RDcontact@warwick.ac.uk or use the Contact and Feedback Form
Back to the Doctoral College home page.