The Doctoral School Researcher Developement Awards 2025 supported placements for 9 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students to work with Early Career Researchers on projects over the summer term.
To give you a flavour of the wide breadth of placement opportunities that we were able to fund, have a browse of the reports below written by some of the recipients.
Student Overview:
The students engaged in a wide range of research projects that provided hands-on experience in areas such as policy analysis, technical experimentation, and legal review. They developed both technical skills—like programming, data analysis, and digital ethnography—and soft skills including communication, adaptability, and leadership. These experiences helped clarify their career goals, with many inspired to pursue paths in academia, policy, market research, or legal support. Mentorship and exposure to real-world issues played a key role in shaping their professional aspirations and confidence.
Student Full Reports:
Supervisor Overview:
Supervisors consistently highlighted the value of the Researcher Development Award in enhancing their mentoring, supervisory, and project management skills. Many noted how the experience helped them refine communication strategies, set realistic goals, and balance guidance with student autonomy. Supervisors emphasized how tailoring support to individual student needs improved outcomes and built student confidence. The supervisors also reflected on the importance of collaborative learning and how student initiative reshaped project direction, offering lessons in trust and flexibility. Across disciplines, they expressed pride in their students’ growth and acknowledged the mutual benefit of the placements, often planning continued collaboration and future publication opportunities.