Postgraduate Research Conference inspires a future generation of researchers
The University of Southampton’s 2014 Health Sciences postgraduate research conference was attended by a large crowd of over 100 guests from across the Faculty and beyond.
Research posters were presented and oral presentations took place simultaneously between two lecture theatres, along with a panel presentation and discussion, and keynote speech.
Commenting on the conference, first year Doctor in Clinical Practice, Natasha Duke, said: “Today was a truly broad-ranging and inspirational day full of interesting ideas and people.
“Hearing other early-career and experienced researchers talk about their work really gets you thinking about aspects of your own research that you perhaps hadn’t thought about before. It’s those ‘tools’ or a simple idea that that you pick up, that could really help make a difference to you.”
A Panel Presentation titled ‘Inspiring your future’ took place in the afternoon with guests Emma Boger, Rokhsanah Tehrany, Ellen Kitson-Reynolds and Christine Lopes, researchers at different stages of their careers and from diverse pathways. Emma Boger, a prize winner from the 2013 conference, is now in full time research, and Rokhsanah Tehrany was a recent heat winner from the Three Minute Thesis competition.
Each panel guest talked about their work and their route into research followed by audience questions and debate.
Early career researcher Dr Katherine Hunt gave a keynote speech on her career history and the challenges she faced along the way such as tackling different research methodologies.
The day ended with a prize giving ceremony. Best oral presentation was awarded to Gillian Crawford, for her study of families’ and health care professionals’ experiences of managing incidental information in genomic investigations, and best poster presentation was given to Sarah Bailey for her feasibility study of a coping intervention for women with recurrent miscarriage.
Michelle Cowen and Allison Saltrese were runners-up in the best oral presentation category, and Shabana Malik and Annabel Rule runners-up for their posters.
A special thank you from chairs Dr Chris Bailey and Dr Maggie Donovan-Hall was given to Professor Judith Lathlean, Professor of Health Research and Head of Postgraduate Research Students, for her contribution and support to postgraduate research.