News

PhD buddy scheme launched

28 October 2024

Senior PhD buddies have introduced themselves for new junior PhD students during the introduction of the SEMS PhD buddy Scheme, by Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas.
Senior PhD buddies have introduced themselves for new junior PhD students during the introduction of the SEMS PhD buddy Scheme, by Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas.
Professor Himadri Gupta has delivered the SEMS PhD induction for new PhD students on 23 October 2024.
Professor Himadri Gupta has delivered the SEMS PhD induction for new PhD students on 23 October 2024.

During the SEMS PhD induction session on Wednesday 23rd October 2024, Professor Himadri Gupta, Director of Graduate Studies and Deputy Director of Graduate Studies, Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas along with the postgraduate research (PGR) team have welcomed all 60 new PhD students starting at the School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) for the academic year 2024-25.

“A new PhD buddy scheme has introduced for the first time at School of Engineering and Materials Science. The buddy scheme pairs new PhD students with senior PhDs to create a supportive system for new PhD students to help them enjoy the SEMS research environment throughout their PhD journey,” said by Deputy Director of Graduate Studies, Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas.

The PGR team allocate the junior buddies to senior PhDs based upon their research areas, research groups, or labs that may have had other senior PhD candidates or postdocs close at hand who they could ask for help. This is a pilot scheme to ideally allocate every first year student a more senior buddy to help them to settle in and have someone to go to if they need help.

“I'm sure many of senior PhD candidates know how hard to settle in their first year, find what they need, understand School and University systems, or just find someone to chat to who understands their struggles” added by Dr Chinnapat Panwisawas.

The aims of the scheme are to:

  • Improve the experience of new PhD students
  • Improve the feeling of community between PhD students.
  • Help new PhD students to find what they need by drawing on existing experience (labs, equipment, computer/software access, travel funds, academic conferences etc)

Buddies are not expected to:

  • Provide counselling.
  • Deal with personal problems, beyond referring the junior PhDs to where to find help.
  • Help with or check any research work of the first year PhDs (unless they want to!)

The PGR team provides continuous support to PGR students in doctoral trainings and the newly introduced PhD Buddy scheme to train our young scientists in both academic and soft skills.

Contact:Chinnapat Panwisawas
Email:c.panwisawas@qmul.ac.uk
Website:https://www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/staff/c.panwisawas
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