Diversity stimulates depth and breadth of learning for PhD students
The wide range of educational backgrounds that our PhD cohort come from is necessary to nurture them into becoming the next generation of leaders in world-class asthma research
At the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, our PhD cohort have a wide range of educational backgrounds, and we believe this is necessary to nurture our students into becoming the next generation of leaders in world-class asthma research.
Our students come from disciplines as varied as health psychology and health economics through to medical statistics, nursing, and a qualified physical education and dance teacher. This wide variety of professional and personal experience as well as the academic knowledge that each individual brings is an important strength of the Centre.
A collaborative and supportive environment
Part of the ethos of the Centre emphasises collaboration across our partner and affiliate organisations, and this is reflected in the studentships: all PhD students have an external supervisor from a partner institution. This has encouraged cross-fertilisation of ideas and fostered new collaborations across the UK.
As well as academic input, all PhD proposals are reviewed by our Patient and Public Involvement panel to ensure that all of their work has the patient in front of mind.
Our network of PhD students have regular training opportunities, including strong representation in our Annual Scientific Meeting, webinars, online resources as well as having a say in the direction of the Centre’s work through the student voice on the Centre’s Management Committee.
The future of applied asthma research
Our PhD students will be the next generation of experts in the field of applied asthma research, helping us reach our vision of a world where asthma attacks do not happen. Bringing knowledge and experience from across a spectrum of disciplines as well as creating an atmosphere of exchange and support will help our students to do that.
Professor Hilary Pinnock, Lead for Postgraduate Training at the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research said:
“We know our PhD students value the UK-wide network offered by the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, and the Centre values the breadth of viewpoints that our students contribute.”