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On 15 June 2022, our community gathered together for the Doctoral Research Conference, to celebrate the excellence and diversity in doctoral research at the University.

We enjoyed an amazing range of presentations from students, an inspiring keynote presentation on entrepreneurship from Dr Fiona Marston (Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence), student-made films and posters, and image and object exhibitions.

It was a fascinating and engaging afternoon, providing an opportunity to gain an appreciation of the great things doctoral researchers are doing across a wide range of disciplines. We would like to thank everyone who was involved and to congratulate the prize winners. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Conference.

  • Research Poster Competition 2022

Competition winners

Research for a Better World Competition

This competition rewards doctoral research projects that change lives, help shape our understanding of the world and address local and global challenges.

  • Judges’ Choice (National category): Natasha Robson, School of Literature and Languages, "Critical thinking for a global society in the age of surveillance capitalism"
  • Judges' Choice (Global category): Anika Salim, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, "Novel strategies to mitigate snakebite-induced socioeconomic burden on rural communities"

Three Minute Thesis Competition

Shortlisted doctoral researchers had three minutes to give an engaging talk with one slide.

  • Judges’ Choice: Choshani Dalukdeniya Arachchilage, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, "An atlas of gut bacterial function"
  • People’s Choice: Jacob Gardner, School of Biological Sciences, "Movement evolved rapidly as dinosaurs rose to dominance"

Research an Object Competition

Students were invited to submit an object that connected with their doctoral research.

  • Judges' Choice: Jing Heng Huang, Henley Business School, "NRIC Identity card"
  • People's Choice: Vincent Strong, School of Biological Sciences, "Multi electrode array-MEA driving rig"

Research Poster Competition

Doctoral researchers were invited to submit a poster on any aspect of their doctoral research.

  • Judges' Choice: Edward Ross, School of Humanities, "Ritual activity in multi-religious spaces: a case study of the Hellenistic Far East"
  • People's Choice: Maria Roznovcova, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, "The 'AAA' MIDAS motif mutation reduces expression and impairs trafficking of CACHD1 in HEK293 cells"

Research Film Competition

  • Judges' Choice: Tunde Geher-Herczegh, School of Biological Sciences, "Drama in the lab"
  • People's Choice: Marta Ross, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, "Science with Arthur"

Poetry, Rhyme and Rap Competition

Doctoral researchers were invited to submit a poem, rhyme or rap which offered an insight into their everyday life.

  • Winner: Mathy Sannasi, Henley Business School, "The (not) faraway life"

Research Image Competition

Doctoral researchers were invited to submit an image that offered a visual perspective on their doctoral research.

  • Judges' Choice: Carys Cunningham, School of Biological Sciences, "Sibling rivalry"
  • People's Choice: Krishnal Thirumarpan, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, "Responsible wildlife watching: vehicular crowding in National Parks"

Research Life in Pictures Competition

Doctoral researchers were invited to submit a picture/ pictures that offered an insight into their everyday life.

  • Judges' Choice: Thuraiya Al Jabri, School of Biological Sciences, "Wild olive biodiversity in Omani mountains"
  • People's Choice: Thuraiya Al Jabri, School of Biological Sciences, "Wild olive biodiversity in Omani mountains"