I’m lucky and I know it. I’m lucky because my PhD studies are funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) through one of their Doctoral Training Partnerships or DTP’s (in my case IAPETUS – www.iapetus.ac.uk). Being part of the IAPETUS DTP has many advantages.
First and foremost is the supported feeling provided by being part of a cohort. In each funding year IAPETUS supports around 15 PhD students and these have all become firm friends. My IAPETUS cohort is split over the five partner institutions – Durham University, Newcastle University, St Andrews University, Glasgow University and Stirling University – and all studying in a range of scientific disciplines from oceanography to geology to glaciology to ecology and archaeology. The great positive of being brought together from such a wide range of backgrounds is that it is almost hard to talk in detail about our specific projects together, something that is often covered by laboratory colleagues. Instead we talk about the generalities of being a PhD student – of the struggle with samples, of frustrations with departments and maintaining a balance with regular life outside the PhD. Above all this creates a reassuring feeling of not being alone. Because of IAPETUS, I realise that no matter what discipline a PhD student is working in we all go through similar trials, frustrations and successes.
The second great advantage of being part of IAPETUS is the training opportunities it provides. From an induction day during November to a week at the Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE – http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitutes/bahcm/researchfacilities/scene/about/) in cold January, training opportunities are plenty. These events have so far provided training in mathematical modelling, GIS, field sampling, experimental design, paper writing and presentation skills.
Additionally, it is a NERC requirement that we have a student conference/meeting once a year and this year we held the annual event in Majorca, Spain. This event was great and allowed for the best scientific poster session I have ever attended – see the photo if you don’t believe me! For the main part of our conference we were very kindly hosted by IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) and it was great to hear about some of the environmental research being conducted locally.
From a personal PhD point of view, being on Majorca allowed me to visit Dr Joan Moranta at the Oceanographic Centre for the Balearic Islands to discuss barracuda sampling. I am very grateful to his support for my project.
In summary I am lucky and I know it. I am lucky to be part of IAPETUS and I would encourage anyone thinking of applying for a PhD to aim for becoming part of a DTP – you won’t regret it!
Dr. Daniel M Moore 