Welcome all from the Research Bow Team to the 2024/2025 academic year. Whether you are starting the PhD journey, working to find your path, or approaching the final steps, this time of year inspires a “New (academic) year, new me” vibe. And so, we at Research Bow have taken a moment to reflect on our progress, to set new goals and aspirations, and to share them with you all. Do get in touch to share your own!
Rhys Maredudd Davies
The last academic year has been a whirlwind! Taking on the Training Fellowship role with the Centre of Data Culture and Society has allowed me to engage with my growing interest in quantitative methodology, and to help train social science and humanities researchers to improve their data science skillset. All the while plodding along with data collection and manuscript writing.
For this upcoming academic year, I’m looking to get this PhD finished. With a systematic review and a qualitative project to finish off, it will be challenging, but I know it’s possible. All the while, I’m looking forwards for being part of the team of the new Introduction to Data Science in R course at the School of Health in Social Science, and to continue developing data science skillsets in fun and accessible ways.
As my research focuses on the mental health of elite athletes, I’m all too aware of the importance of exercise and routines for managing wellbeing – especially in high pressure and challenging situations. So, my academic new resolution is to get back into the habit of a scheduled exercise program, and to design an academic work session planner. These will help get me on my way to meet my goals, and hopefully keep me happy getting there.
Samridha S. J. B. Rana
Personally, I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that year two of my PhD is over! The previous academic year was hectic, chaotic yet I managed to get quite a bit of work done. Apart from the obvious, of completing all the translating and transcribing of interviews for my Qualitative study, I had decided to dabble in the dreaded quantitative aspect of my research by engaging in workshops focussing on using RStudio. It was really scary at first, but after a lot of support from my colleagues and friends, I (think) I’ve managed to get a wee bit of a hang of the software. Still the early stages, but I’m fairly confident in my skills as a quantitative researcher (with a little help from my friends!)
For the upcoming academic year, I’m looking to be able to publish my qualitative studies. I aim to be able to get the drafts ready to submit before the end of the year and collect all the survey data for the final study of my PhD project. I will be travelling to South Asia for data collection, so that’s something I’m looking forward to! I will also strive to sign up for and participate in activities and workshops that will help build my skills as a researcher and MH practitioner. I’m also excited to apply for a few grants that I hope will help engage our student community in various activities- watch this space!
What’s my academic new year resolution? To be more mindful and strive for balance and patience related to work life and leisure. I also want to further my skills in RStudio so I will endeavour to attend more workshops to help hone my quantitative skills. I also need to start networking more and drag myself out of my shell and (self-imposed) exile to engage with the community more as well as the wider MH community.
Rea Michalopoulou
Before I knew I was one of the “senior” PhD students in the PGR space; year 3 is here and frankly, I am quite shocked at how fast time is flying. Year 2 was HECTIC; data collection for 2 of my projects, applying and receiving additional fundings, tutoring in 2 different schools, an internship, accomplishing two different Edinburgh Awards, being a programme representative and of course Research Bow were some of the activities I engaged myself with. All of them were challenging at the time, but now in retrospect, I can clearly see that they were important milestones both for my academic and professional journey.
Year 3 is a pivotal year which comes with a whole set of new challenges. Will I be able to do the data collection for my final study? Will I publish my previous studies? Will I finish my thesis? These are only a few of the questions that pass through my mind daily. So many questions, so little time, and (possibly) only two answers; “yes” and “no”. Either way, I am determined to get my answers and more confident than ever in my skills. Maybe this is the biggest change going into my third year; I am confident in my skills. So my PhD goals for this year are finishing my data collection and submitting at least two papers for publication. I am also aiming to stay engaged with the brilliant Research Bow team and am excited to see what this year has in store for us (Blogs? Fundings? Workshops? New members?).
My new academic year resolution you ask?
Don’t forget to take care of yourself while focusing on fulfilling the above-mentioned goals! AY2024-25, here I come!
Hannah Kimler
I am preparing to enter the final year of my PhD. Last year was challenging in some ways, I struggled to recruit participants for a study on a stigmatized health condition (bowel incontinence) but it was also rewarding. Interviewing my participants was truly the most enjoyable part of my PhD so far and it is such a privilege to be trusted with their stories. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my project so far and it’s hard to believe that it’s almost over!
That being said, I know this year will bring new challenges as I complete my data analysis and do my writing up. One of my goals for this academic year is to write more, even if it isn’t necessarily something I can copy and paste directly into my thesis. I think I easily get caught up on producing something academic and with a “purpose” but I would benefit from writing for the sake of reflecting on my work and getting some of my messy thoughts organized on paper.
To support myself during this potentially hectic year, my resolution is to make more time for the things I enjoy outside of my PhD. Living in Edinburgh grants me access to a host of activities and adventures to explore and, when that windy, dark, and damp winter inevitably creeps in, it’s just a better excuse to pick up a book or my crochet hook! I think I’ve lost myself in a cycle of expending all of my energy on work and only having gas left in the tank for things that don’t require a lot of brain power like watching TV but I actually find that I feel much more energized (and fulfilled!) if I make time for more stimulating activities.
Research Bow
There we have it from the Research Bow’s new (academic) year’s resolutions. Over the last year we’ve been very proud with our blogging output – including our amazing Alumni series on life after the PhD, but also for covering some of the lived experiences of our Health in Social Science community. We were also thrilled with the success of our introduction to stats programming with R workshop we organised last year.
This new academic year brings new challenges. We want to take advantage of the team we have to collectively work for securing grants and organise more activities for our community. We also want to keep producing more and more blogs for you all to read! We also want to keep giving the opportunity for all of us to realise that the weird, wonderful and difficult experiences of the PhD are a normal part of the process – we are not alone in this.
To support the process, we will continue with our monthly catch ups. Tea, cake, and rambling conversations are all part of the package. We wouldn’t want it any other way (sometimes a resolution can be to continue enjoying the things that work well). If you want to share your own new academic year resolutions with us, or to communicate any other blog idea, as we would love to hear from you (whether you’re fresh into the experience, a seasoned veteran looking for the finish line, or anything in-between or outside!). Drop us an email at research.bow@ed.ac.uk , or chat to either Rhys, Rea, Samridha, Hannah or Lauren in the office or on Microsoft Teams.
