Events and information of interest is listed below:

Physics helpdesk - MSc, CDT and PhD students

This month's will be on Wednesday 3rd April 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.  Then every first Wednesday of the month from 1pm to 2pm. 

The helpdesk runs on the first Wednesday of each month and is run by Jerry Chittenden and myself along with Jessica Popplewell from the Careers Service, supported by post-docs from the Physics Department.  Our aim is to help and provide advice about welfare, admin and careers issues, as well as signpost the many resources available across College in terms of wellbeing. We can also make appointments for one-to-one meetings with the relevant persons. If you have any further queries about the Helpdesk, please contact Bob Forsyth ph.pgt-tutor@imperial.ac.uk, Jerry Chittenden j.chittenden@imperial.ac.uk, and Jess Popplewell j.popplewell@imperial.ac.uk. Information on how to join on Teams. Click here to join the meeting: Meeting ID: 344 238 524 117  Passcode: dChX3h

Women in physics

The Department has a women in physics group which aims to empower and support all women through their career by creating a dynamic community. It is open to anyone identifying as female and consists of regular weekly lunches and events.

If you are interested then please sign up

STEM women events

STEM Women run community events for students who are studying a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics degree and who identify as female.

You can also contact them by emailing info@stemwomen.co.uk or calling 0151 236 8000.

Technology Venture Fellowship Opportunity - Rolling basis

This is a part-time internship for current graduate students or postdocs (lasting 3-5 months).  The Fellow will support our technology scouting and diligence efforts. It is a great opportunity to gain exposure to the VC space, develop skills in both technology appraisal & market analysis, and support early-stage tough tech companies.

We have been successfully running the Technology Fellowship program since 2020. Many of our Fellows have benefitted from this and gone on to pursue a range of careers including academic positions at leading institutes, leading roles in tough tech start-ups or in the VC world.

We are expecting to onboard our first fellows in the first quarter of 2024 and are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. 

For more information and to see where candidates can apply visit: https://engineventures.com/careers-ventures.

StudentShapers

StudentShapers is run from the Education office, and supports staff-student partnership in Learning and Teaching. In particular one project stream has been developed with the support of the Graduate School to enable PhD students to work with staff to develop and enhance an area of our taught curricula, in an area of their disciplinary expertise.

For PhD students aspiring towards an academic career path, this also provides an opportunity for them to become more deeply involved in educational development activities and to offer them a valuable professional development opportunity.  

PhD students would typically have some prior experience of teaching through GTA opportunities, and would undertake an educational development project in partnership with staff in place of any other GTA commitments. Proposals must be submitted by students, but must be followed up with a supporting statement from their supervisor. Bursaries are paid to support this activity and are commensurate with GTA rates. A more detailed general overview of the scheme can be found on the StudentShapers website. The specific project stream for PhD students, including a proposal submission portal and assessment criteria are are available. Any questions about the StudentShapers scheme can be directed to studentshapers@imperial.ac.uk.

RAL PhD studentships - Apply by April 2024

In partnership with several universities, the STFC Rutherford-Appleton Lab. (RAL) is now recruiting for 6 funded PhD studentships in Experimental Particle Physics, which will start in Autumn 2024. 

A detailed description of our PhD studentships & instructions for applying are in https://www.ppd.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/Students.aspx

A poster advertising the studentships can be found in https://www.ppd.stfc.ac.uk/Gallery/PhDAdvert.pdf  .

English courses for PhD students

Join our lively classes to upgrade your English and widen your social and professional network.

More information on the Centre for Academic English website.

English language support - for MSc students and PhD candidates

In addition to the English language entry requirement for YOUR degree, all PhD students have to meet the Imperial College London Doctoral Academic Communication Requirement.  

Those who are not exempt must take the Centre's diagnostic assessment (DACR A1), which then means we can give feedback on their starting level of academic STEMM communication and recommend appropriate support throughout their PhD. 

While the centre doe not currently assess postgraduate taught students e.g. MSc students, if they join one of the evening writing courses, they will get feedback on their level of STEMM writing. 

You can read about the programme for doctoral students here and also sign up for our newsletter.

International student support upcoming events

There are many events for ALL Imperial Students, regardless of nationality including trips to the theatre, help with applications for visas to other countries, options for work after your studies.  For information on how to book, please check the international student experience pages.

International Student Support Immigration Workshop Series - Advisers in the International Student Support Team are running a series of webinars up on a range of immigration topics. Sessions are open to all students of the College whether you are in the UK or studying remotely. To register for a session please visit the workshops page.

The International Student Support newsletter can be found at https://sway.office.com/20OZEpI0n3kePH3Y?ref=Link.

Friends of Imperial College

Friends contributes to the public understanding of science, technology and medicine through talks and visits exploring the latest discoveries and developments. Visit the Friends of Imperial College website.  Our aim is to entertain and inform non-specialists and experts alike. Everyone who is curious about science is very welcome to come and socialise with our speakers and guests.

Enterprise Lab

Want to launch the next Google, build the next Tesla, tackle a pressing social or environmental challenge, or simply meet new people and develop skills to get you ahead? The Enterprise Lab have got you covered.  It's free of charge and open to all. Don’t believe us? Watch our video here. Find out more on the Enterprise Lab website.

Climate Entrepreneurs Student Club

At the Climate Entrepreneurs Club, we believe that climate change is the biggest threat that our world faces, and we seek to address it with real impact. Radical action through innovation and entrepreneurship is needed. The Climate Entrepreneurs Club aims to be multi-disciplinary across Imperial College London, to foster ideas that in the broader sense move us to net-zero carbon. We connect like-minded students from the bottom-up, across departments, that care about the topic of climate change and want to address it with their hightech or business skills.  

By signing up to our club mailing list you will get access to: (1) our newsletter on environmental and entrepreneurship news and opportunities (2) a network of other current/aspiring climate entrepreneurs (3) the events run by the club throughout the year. Due to COVID this year is going to look a little different but previous events include panel discussions, pitch nights and ideation sessions.  If you want to join as a participant in the activities, please fill out this form. For more information please contact r.sedgwick19@imperial.ac.uk

Coffee Club - weekly - As a community of climate entrepreneurs, we are all aware of the importance of your network in order to drive concrete impact, and in the socially-distanced world we find ourselves in, we decided to make things a bit easier. We would like to organise and curate 1-1 weekly meetings among our members. That is, a 30 min "coffee" meeting with someone new within the club, each week. We believe this would be a wonderful way to get to know each other, and keep this community connected. If you like the initiative, all you have to do is sign up with the link below, write a short bio, and give us an idea of your availabilities. We will then introduce you to your weekly match! SIGN UP HERE.  

Study Efficiency Sessions by the Dissability Advisory Service (DAS)

If any student requires study efficiency sessions please contact Emma Morrison e.morrison@imperial.ac.uk to book an appointment. 

Career information

The Physics Department has a dedicated Departmental Careers Advisor, Professor Lesley Cohen.  She can be contacted at ph.careers@imperial.ac.uk

You can also contact Jess Popplewell, Careers Consultant from Central College j.popplewell@imperial.ac.uk.  She is a very important part of the department.  More information on Careers and what the department and College offers can be seen at http://www.imperial.ac.uk/physics/students/current-students/careers-information/ and www.imperial.ac.uk/careers.    

Outreach

Would you like to enhance your public engagement skills? Are you enthusiastic about working with young people? Can you help make science fun? Would you like to use your teaching experience for a Fellowship of the HEA application?  We are looking for motivated Early Career Researchers (MRes/ PhD students and Post Docs) who are eager to translate their research into a fun outreach activity for schools. Through you, school students will be exposed to science that is fresh, relevant and cutting edge.

For more information contact: Dr Rebecca Holloway, r.holloway@imperial.ac.uk or visit the Outreach website.

Imperial Award 2023-2024

Please check the Student Guidance document, and other materials and should you wish to apply, visit Award website to find out the most up-to-date information. 

Exercises that all PG Research student should focus on

  • Any student that started in October 2023 and still hasn’t completed their Research Proposal Confirmation (RP) and Early Stage Research Proposal (ESA), should do so by return and upload them to Blackboard.
  • All students that started in 2023, please make sure that you complete your Plagiarism Awareness course which is available to self enrol at http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/graduate-school/professional-skills/doctoral/online-courses/.  You’ll need to send Loli the email confirmation.
  • All students that started in 2022, please make sure that you complete your Risk Assessment Foundation Training (RAFT) course which is available to self enrol at https://www.imperial.ac.uk/safety/raft/frameset/frameset.htm. You’ll need to send Loli the email confirmation.
  • Any student that started in October 2022 and still hasn’t completed their 18M Late Stage Assessment Review (LSR), should do so by return and upload them to Blackboard.
  • Any student that started in October 2021 and still hasn’t completed their 18M Late Stage Assessment Review (LSR) and their Thesis Progress Review, should do so by return and upload them to Blackboard..  The Thesis Progress Review should be emailed to Loli with all the signatures and relevant Research Plan.
  • Any student that started in October 2020 and still hasn’t completed exercises and the Exam Entry forms online should do so by return as your 48M deadline is coming up.  The registration will be ending at the end of September unless your supervisor requested an extension.
  • Please remember to re-register on your My Imperial by return - it has to be done every year towards the beginning of September.  You should get an email prompting you to do so.  If you are in receipt of a bursary, it can't be paid unless you have registered online.

All the forms can be found on the PhD schedule of study page.