mobile menu decorative search schedule

Workshops

Workshops and training for researchers

 Attendance at MRE sessions counts towards Postgraduate Researcher training hours.  Add details to your eProg record following our MRE_eProg_guide.pdf.

Switch to calendar view

Shut up and write (online)

Shut Up and Write is an event for researchers to come together for a fixed amount of time and write. The aim is not to put pressure on you to be productive, rather, to help you carve out some dedicated time to write and to present a chance to connect with other researchers. It is a great way make progress on those thesis chapters, journal articles, or grant applications.

Whilst two hours doesn't sound like much, it is amazing what you can get done if you really focus. There will be short, scheduled breaks in between writing sessions of 30 minutes, to help keep you motivated and on-task. During the breaks there will also be time to reflect on some of the challenges we are facing as a research community and how we might support one another.

How to book on

This event will take place on the online video conferencing app Zoom.us. Booking onto the event is essential to receive the link and passcode to join.

Zoom guidance and support

All University of Manchester students and staff should register at Zoom.us using their University of Manchester email address, only authenticated users can join this event. Help and support with using Zoom is provided by Media Services. Updates are posted to the Media Services website, and you can contact the team by emailing mediaservices@manchester.ac.uk.

Find out more about the workshops and online resources offered by My Research Essentials on the library webpage. Online resources related to this workshop include:

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Thu 4 Apr 2024, 14:00 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Thu 2 May 2024, 14:00 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Tue 28 May 2024, 14:00 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Open Research Drop In (online)

Do you have a question about the services and guidance that the Library provides for researchers?

Any questions are welcome - whether you would like help with making your research open access, managing your research data, or understanding your research impact.

Our friendly Library staff are here to help! We would love to meet you to introduce the various services on offer and direct you to the information you require. If we can't find an answer to your question straight away, we can facilitate connections to relevant experts so you can get the information you need.

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Mon 8 Apr 2024, 15:30 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Mon 15 Apr 2024, 15:30 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Mon 22 Apr 2024, 15:30 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Mon 13 May 2024, 15:30 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Mon 20 May 2024, 15:30 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Resilience for PGRs: Managing the challenges of research (on campus)

In this workshop you will explore three of the most common challenges identified by PhD candidates: managing your relationship with your supervisor; time management and procrastination; and dealing with setbacks during research.

You will explore the context around these issues and how they affect the research process, before working with other postgraduate researchers to help develop the necessary skills and approaches for dealing with them.

Finally, you will be introduced to established models and strategies for working effectively with your supervisory team, beating the procrastination cycle and maintaining resilience in the face of setbacks.

Booking on

Due to popularity, booking onto the event is essential to ensure a place.

Further support

Can't make this session? Talk to us online via Library Chat now, or send us an email: tls@manchester-uk.libanswers.com.

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Mon 15 Apr 2024, 14:00 - 16:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Thu 23 May 2024, 10:00 - 12:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Choosing a Credible Journal and How to Avoid 'Predatory Publishers' (on campus)

Wed 17 Apr 2024, 13:00 - 14:00 BST (GMT+1)

This workshop will equip you with the skills to spot so-called 'Predatory Publishers', and feel confident in the credibility of the journals you will be submitting to. By the end of the session you will be able to:

  • Feel confident in your ability to identify credible journals
  • Understand the motivations behind 'Predatory Publishing'
  • Understand the consequences of submitting your work to non-reputable journals
  • Spot the common characteristics of non-reputable publishers
  • Use established tools and processes to check the credibility of a journal

As part of this workshop we will be running an activity where a personal device (mobile phone, laptop, tablet etc.) would be useful but is not essential.

Find out more

Shut up and write (on campus)

Shut Up and Write is an event for researchers to come together for a fixed amount of time and write. The aim is not to put pressure on you to be productive, rather, to help you carve out some dedicated time to write and to present a chance to connect with other researchers. It is a great way make progress on those thesis chapters, journal articles, or grant applications.

Whilst two hours doesn't sound like much, it is amazing what you can get done if you really focus. There will be short, scheduled breaks in between writing sessions of 30 minutes, to help keep you motivated and on-task. During the breaks there will also be time to reflect on some of the challenges we are facing as a research community and how we might support one another.

Booking on

Due to popularity, booking onto the event is essential to ensure a place.

Further support

Talk to us online via the 24-hour Library Chat service. Alternatively, you can email us for advice or to book one-to-one appointments at tls@manchester-uk.libanswers.com.

Find out more about the workshops and online resources offered by My Research Essentials on the library webpage. Online resources related to this workshop include:

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Thu 18 Apr 2024, 10:00 - 12:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Fri 17 May 2024, 10:00 - 12:00 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Enhance your Public Speaking Skills using Improvisation Techniques (on campus)

In this fully interactive workshop you will learn a range of improvisation techniques that will improve your confidence about public speaking and informal networking.

Improvisation is a form of unscripted theatre that relies on heightened communication and creativity. Aside from performance, it can be also be used to promote teamwork, enhance presentation skills and ease social anxiety. We will focus on the application of improvisation for improving public speaking skills and will provide you with practical exercises to help you build confidence in communicating with a variety of audiences.

Learn to be more present, feel confident speaking in any setting and embrace failure.

This session will take place on the online video conferencing app Zoom.

Booking onto the session is essential in order to receive the link to join.

All University of Manchester students and staff should register at Zoom.us using their University of Manchester email address, only authenticated users can join this event. Help and support with using Zoom is provided by Media Services. Updates are posted to the Media Services website, and you can contact the team by emailing mediaservices@manchester.ac.uk.

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Thu 18 Apr 2024, 14:00 - 15:30 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Mon 13 May 2024, 14:00 - 15:30 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Introduction to Research Data Management Part One

Thu 25 Apr 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 BST (GMT+1)

Researchers collect, receive and manage research data in many forms. Managing your data can be complex, but a little planning at the beginning can save you time, raise your research profile and help you work more effectively. This session aims to provide you with confidence in data and information management and introduce you to resources and services to help with Research Data Management.

How to book on

This event will take place on the online video conferencing app Zoom.us. Booking onto the event is essential to receive the link and passcode to join.

Further support

Talk to us online via the 24-hour Library Chat service. Alternatively, you can email us for advice or to book one-to-one appointments at uml.teachingandlearning@manchester.ac.uk.

Find out more about the workshops and online resources offered by My Research Essentials on the library webpage. Online resources related to this workshop include:

Zoom guidance and support

All University of Manchester students and staff should register at Zoom.us using their University of Manchester email address, only authenticated users can join this event. Help and support with using Zoom is provided by Media Services. Updates are posted to the Media Services website, and you can contact the team by emailing mediaservices@manchester.ac.uk.

Find out more

Reference management with EndNote desktop for researchers (on campus)

This hands-on session will introduce you to EndNote desktop reference management software, a tool to help with collecting, managing and organising your references and creating citations and bibliographies in different formats. You will reflect throughout on how reference management software can fit into your existing research workflows.

In the session you will gain practical experience of managing an EndNote Library including using the Cite While You Write function to insert and format in-text citations and bibliographies within Microsoft Word documents, and an introduction to using EndNote with Overleaf.

Booking on

Due to popularity, booking onto the event is essential to ensure a place.

Further support

Can't make this session? Talk to us online via Library Chat now, or send us an email: tls@manchester-uk.libanswers.com.

We are running this event more than once on the following dates and times:

Mon 29 Apr 2024, 14:00 - 15:30 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more
Thu 30 May 2024, 14:00 - 15:30 BST (GMT+1)StudentsStaffSpacesFind out more

Writing your Data Management Plan - a QA Session (online)

Fri 10 May 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 BST (GMT+1)

Are you starting to write your Data Management Plan but have questions? Then this hour long session is for you. Here is the format:

* Introduction and a brief overview of the Data Management Plan, including why each section is important

* 20 min question and answer session - ask any DMP related questions on your mind

* 10 min break - we would encourage this time to be spent looking at your DMP to see if you can apply what you've learnt

* 10 min for any further questions and session wrap up

If this sounds like something that would be useful to you, book onto a session today and start getting your questions ready.

Participant information

This session will take place on the online video conferencing app Zoom. Please sign up and download the app for free via this

link: https://zoom.us/

We will send you the Zoom link for the workshop a day before the workshop is to take place, booking onto this workshop is essential.

Find out more

Managing and Sharing Research Data From Human Participants

Tue 14 May 2024, 10:00 - 13:20 BST (GMT+1)

If your research involves working with people (e.g. through surveys, interviews, trials, experiments, focus groups or other methods) then it is essential to know the legal, ethical and contractual obligations you have towards research participants and how to put them into practice.

This course will outline how to collect, store, protect and share the personal data you may encounter as part of your work. Specific attention will be paid to the requirements of data protection legislation for recruiting participants and gaining consent, managing the data securely, and anonymising data so that it might be shared for future use.

This is a blended learning course comprising:

1. Mandatory pre-course learning (ca. 80 minutes) delivered via a collection of online resources (see links below) that introduces key principles and practices. Interactive quizzes are used to help check comprehension.

2. An interactive face-to-face session (200 minutes) where you apply your pre-course learning to real-life research project case studies. Working together in groups, you will explore the issues and risks, and present back your mitigation strategies for wider discussion to formulate optimum solutions. Expert facilitators will be on hand to provide practical guidance and support. There will also be opportunity for attendees to seek specialist advice from the expert facilitators.

Expert content creators and facilitators are drawn from the Information Governance Office; Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity; Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis; Research IT; and The University of Manchester Library.

Please note:

  • Failure to complete the mandatory pre-course learning would place unnecessary burden on other participants and facilitators and would be considered un-collegial.
  • The face-to-face session is designed to be highly interactive, so you must be willing to actively participate in the group work and discussions.

Links to mandatory pre-course learning:

Find out more

MRE Writing Retreat

Thu 16 May 2024, 09:00 - 17:00 BST (GMT+1)

The aim of this one-day writing retreat is to provide a quiet space where staff and researchers can make progress with their writing. It is a great way to carve out dedicated time to get on with those journal articles, thesis chapters, HEA Fellowships or grant applications.

The majority of the day will be spent in concentrated writing sessions where there should be no talking, no internet, no research - just writing! There will be short, scheduled breaks (with free tea, coffee and snacks) in between these blocks of concentrated writing time, to help keep you motivated and on-task.

Don't forget your laptop!

Programme for the day:

9.00-9.20 Tea, coffee and registration

9.20-9.50 Set your writing goals for the day, and learn some useful writing strategies

9.50-12.00 Concentrated writing time

12.00-13.00 Lunch and optional wellbeing activity

13.00-13.10 Reflect on your progress so far, re-evaluate your goals

13.10-15.20 Concentrated writing time

15.20-15.35 Coffee break

15.35-16.50 Concentrated writing time

16.50-17.00 Reflection

Find out more