PGRcast: Recent Episodes
Bristol Doctoral College
The PGRcast is a podcast by the Bristol Doctoral College (BDC) for giving a voice to PGRs. At the BDC we grow, develop & support our thriving community of postgraduate researchers at the University of Bristol.
With so many job options out there for engineering graduates, few engineers opt for the PhD path. In this episode, Luka and Rory speak with Mishaal Sanad, a PhD student in mechanical engineering, about research at the science-engineering interface.
So you vaguely know how to play D&D. But why should you consider giving it a go? In Part II of our PGR-RPG Q&A, Olivia, Rory and Lu discuss what roleplaying games can teach us as postgraduates (and humans), alongside many recommendations for how to get started and where to find inspiration (pun intended).
Your PGR years aren't just a time for research: they're also a great time for exploring new interests. In our first dip into postgrad pastimes, Olivia quizzes Rory and special guest Lu about the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons, as well as a few other RPGs that are increasingly popular amongst the PGR community.Part I of this interview focuses on the basics: what a campaign is, how to create a character and what's up with all the dice. But the questions did not stop there, so come back in two weeks for a second installment of our PGR RPG Q&A.
Starting a business alongside your PhD is a daunting prospect, but it is possible. In our Valentine's episode of PGR Cast, Luka and Olivia speak with Matt Bone, Bristol PhD student and CEO extraordinaire, about turning your idea, passion and hard work into an enterprise.
Where do you go when you face a problem in your studies? In the first PGR Cast of 2023, Rory and Luka speak with Lu Macey, the incumbent Postgraduate Education Officer at Bristol SU, who explains how elected student reps fight to make sure that PGR voices are heard by university decision makers.To find out more about Lu Macey's work as PG Education Officer, see www.bristolsu.org.uk/voice/officers/postgraduate-educationTo find out more about the upcoming Bristol SU elections, see www.bristolsu.org.uk/voice/electionsThis episode was created by Rory Burford (producer/host), Luka Vojnovic (host) and Michael Rumbellow (editor), with support from the Bristol Doctoral College.
Putting together a PhD can feel all-consuming. In the December episode of the PGR Cast by the Bristol Doctoral College, Sebastian discusses coaching PhD students, and the importance of healthy work-life balance with Dr Natalie Lancer, chartered psychologist, author and accredited coach.Podcast by the Bristol Doctoral College PGR Cast Team. Produced and hosted by Sebastian Bustamante-Brauning Edited and Mixed by Phil SmithTo find out more about Natalie's Smart Self Care Approach go to: https://natalielancer.com/And to find out about studentships and training opportunities offered by the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership visit:https://www.sww-ahdtp.ac.uk/
In this episode, Olivia and Luka interview Dr. Gemma Sharp, an associate professor at the University of Exeter working in reproductive and mental health epidemiology. We discuss women's mental health, social and biological differences affecting mental health in women, the Pint of Science scheme, and FemTech and Big Data for research.
More about Gemma: https://gemmasharp.uk/biography/ More about Pint of Science: https://pintofscience.com/
In this episode, Claudia and Matt interview Peter Broburg, a visiting researcher at the Bristol Composites Institute. Peter is a PhD student at the University of Aalborg, Denmark where he is investigating the manufacturing of composites for wind turbine blade applications. We discuss differences between the UK and Denmark in terms of quality life, how doctorates are assessed, and more.
In this episode, Claudia and Matt interview Dr Geraint Havard, exploring what happens when experiments yield no results, the challenge of needing to specialise in disciplines other than your own, and more. Geraint is director of materials testing at R-Tech Materials and completed an EngD in the corrosion of oil refinery materials due to biodiesel at Swansea University.
In this episode, Claudia and Matt interview Neil Ward, Emeritus Professor in analytical chemistry at the University of Surrey. We explore Neil's knowledge and experience of supervising masters and PhD students, from how to prepare for a research degree and overcoming challenges while studying, to changes in postgraduate education globally.
In this episode Claudia & Matt interview Patrick Sullivan, PhD student and research engineer at the National Composites Centre in Bristol. Patrick is in the 2nd year of his EngD and earned a Masters in Engineering and design in 2020. We discuss differences between undergraduate and postgraduate life, mental fitness, his newly awarded patent, what it means to be an inventor, and more.
In this episode, Claudia & Matt interview Daniel Gold, CEO and founder of Stratiphy: an app designing strategies for everyday investors. Daniel has an MSc Mathematics (University of Bristol 2004) and a PhD in Algebraic Geometry. We talk about moving from PhD to running a business, dealing with fears of failure, and more.
In this episode, Claudia & Matt interview Shruthi Venkatachalam, a PhD student in Policy Studies working on violence against disabled women in India. We touch on the challenges & rewards of researching with a disability, Shruthi's experiences as an international PGR, and more.
The PGRcast is a podcast by the Bristol Doctoral College (BDC) for giving a voice to PGRs, hosted by engineering PhD students Claudia Jimenez Martin and Matt Bone. For enquiries or potentially taking part as an interviewee, contact uob-pgr-hub@bristol.ac.uk.
In this episode, our new hosts Claudia Jimenez Martin & Matt Bone interview Alex Cochrane, an R&D Engineer who graduated from the University of Bristol in 2019. We cover working with industry, careers post PhD, the trials of going through a doctorate, and more.
Dr Elizabeth Mamali from the Bristol Doctoral College talks to Jaya Sagar, a first-year PhD student from Bristol's Quantum Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training, about the challenges of starting a new degree, in a new country, in the middle of a pandemic.
You can read a transcript of this podcast at bit.ly/pgrcast4
Dr Elizabeth Mamali from the Bristol Doctoral College talks to Dr Ailsa Naismith, a volcanologist from the School of Earth Sciences, who recently went through the experience of defending her thesis in an online Viva. Volcano themed disaster movies, battling isolation during lockdowns, and demystifying the Viva process are some of the topics that are discussed in this episode.
You can read a transcript of this podcast at bit.ly/pgrcast3
Dr Elizabeth Mamali from the Bristol Doctoral College talks to Steve Westlake, doctoral candidate in the University of Bristol's Faculty of Arts. They discuss workspace politics at home, adversity as a creative force of disruption and the importance of making time for work experience during your research degree.
You can read a transcript of this podcast at https://bit.ly/pgrcast2a
Dr Elizabeth Mamali from the Bristol Doctoral College talks to Claudia Jimenez Martin, doctoral candidate in the University of Bristol's Faculty of Engineering. They discuss life and research during lockdown, the importance of adaptability, and dancing.
You can read a transcript of this interview at http://bit.ly/pgrcast1