This comprehensive GRADskills workshop is aimed at staff and research postgraduate students looking to learn more about what you want to achieve with your public engagement and whom you want to engage with. In this workshop, several important areas related to public engagement will be covered. This workshop is for you if you want to know more about:

• What is an appropriate level of evaluation for different activities?
• What sort of data should we be collecting?
• And how can we make sure that evaluation is integral but not inhibiting our engagement activities?

In this workshop we will explore how to make evaluation timely, effective and informative without being dull, time-consuming and alienating.

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=10366

What previous participants have said about this course:

• “Massively helpful with exploring the different perspectives in running the evaluation process. Also enjoyed the structure of the workshop.”
• “The presenter was simply amazing! Love how we engaged with all the other like-minded participants.”
• “This is an amazing event to lose the fear of evaluation and to improve both your research and well as public eng. [sic] activities. This is very relevant for any career development.”

Regression is used to investigate and quantify the relationships between variables, to see how one variable changes in response to changes in other variables and factors. This two-day GRADskills workshop (lunch is provided) begins with a detailed examination of simple linear regression, and then progresses to include:

• Exponential and sigmoid regression curves
• Smooth Splines
• Multiple Regression and variable selection
• Non-linear modelling
• Generalised linear models (glms)
• Additive models

This workshop is open to research postgraduates and academic/research staff. A small number of places will be held for taught postgraduates. Please note that you must sign up to both days.  In order to participate in this workshop, you must bring a laptop with R or RStudio already installed and configured to access the Eduroam wireless network. These links will each open in a new browser window.

Request a place (Day 1): https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=9392

Request a place (Day 2): https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=9393

What previous participants have said about this course:

• “It was very helpful indeed. The material was excellent and was very well presented.”
• “The manual is great, v. useful, explains everything in a very clear way. I liked the fact we had time to practice the exercises during the course.”
• “If you want to understand how people interpret the results of their research (especially in social sciences, psychology and medicine) and want to know how to analyse your data using regression, this definitely is a workshop for you.”

All research at the University of St Andrews which involves human subjects, their data or samples requires ethical approval. Incorrectly or partially completed ethical applications can delay your research. Knowing how to complete the form, navigate the process, and common mistakes to avoid will help you understand how to obtain ethical approval as quickly and easily as possible. CAPOD has put together a session specifically focused on helping attendees understand how to obtain ethical approval for research with human participants at the University of St Andrews.

This training will be delivered by Dr Rachel Nutt (RIS) and is for staff and students who plan on making (or supervising) an application for ethical approval at the University.

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=10321

Struggling to put words on paper? This structured half-day writing retreat, facilitated by CAPOD, aims to give dedicated writing time to staff and research postgraduates for the purpose of progressing any writing projects.

So be it a manuscript in development or a presentation that needs your attention, you can work towards it within a supportive, non-surveillance environment. Participants are not only provided with with a distraction-free setting to write, they will also have the opportunity to speak to and seek feedback from other writers.

All participants need to bring their own laptop, power cable, and any relevant papers or notes. It is also recommended that you prepare a project plan beforehand, in the form of document headings / presentation slide headings for example.

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=10201

More Writing Retreats this term:

There is a CAPOD writing retreat every month (19 March, 24 April, 18 May, 16 June) – to see the full list go to:

https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/?mode=query&query=writing+retreat

What previous participants have said about the Writing Retreats:

• “A great way to get away from distractions of usual working space. Treat it as a ‘capsule’ of time to focus on one thing only.”
• “Great structure and set up. Very good for focusing on writing”
• “Friendly and productive atmosphere – good to have a change of scene to write.”

For many PhD students, the next step after submitting a thesis is to secure a postdoctoral position. This GRADskills workshop for research postgraduate students and research staff will explore the options, from short-term Fellowships, to a fully-funded academic position supported by charities (Leverhulme, Nuffield) or research councils, to jobs within government research or industry.

It will explore how to identify potential funders, avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, ensure your application is as attractive as possible, and keep on top of the reporting and evaluation required if successful.  The session will be followed by an informal Q&A session, where you can discuss your plans, and get advice on the best approaches.

Request a place: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/pdms/index.php?mode=single&query=9354

What previous participants have said about this course:

• “Excellent! Very interesting & informative. Really feel that I have a much clearer idea about what I need to do – possible pitfalls, tricks of the trade, etc.”
• “Excellent range of info – very detailed and also lots for humanities.”
• “Ben offered interesting insights into the ‘thought’ processes that funding body panels have when looking through applications.”