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PGR Supervisor Symposium 2025/26

January 15 @ 2:15 pm – 5:30 pm
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The Bristol Institute for Learning and Teaching (BILT) warmly invites all PGR supervisors to our annual PGR Supervisor Symposium, focusing on effective supervision practices, innovation, and collaboration. 

Date: Thursday 15 January 2026 | 14:15 – 17:30
Location: Wills Memorial Building, Great Hall 

Why Attend?
Connect with supervisors across the University to share insights, explore new approaches, and enhance your PGR supervision skills through: 

  • PGR Student Panel: Hear directly from students on what makes supervision effective. 
  • Case Studies & Innovation Sharing: Learn from colleagues applying innovative supervision practices. 
  • Lightning Presentations: Engage with concise talks on key supervision challenges. 
  • Networking Event: Build connections over drinks and canapés. 

Pre-Symposium Workshop (Optional): 

  • Team Supervision Pilot Workshop | 13:00 – 14:00
    Explore collaborative approaches to supervision in this interactive session hosted by the Bristol Doctoral College. Limited places, first-come, first-served. 

Get Involved: 

  • Ready to attend? Register for the Symposium and/or Workshop: Register Here 

Programme:

Time Session Details Speakers
1.00 – 2.00 Optional: Team Supervision Workshop Pilot from RSVP Lucy Parnell
2.15 – 2.30 Arrivals & Registration Tea & coffee available;
Copies of PGR Supervisor Handbook, Principles, and the PGR Student- Supervisor Agreement and Guidance will be available		 Informal networking
2.30 – 2.40 Welcome & Introduction Harry Mellor introduction, overview of the afternoon Harry Mellor
2.40 – 3.10 PGR Student Panel: What Does Effective Supervision Look Like? Student panel shares diverse experiences; brief Q&A Panel Chair – Hannah Grist
1. Emma Chereskin (School of Biological Sciences)
2. Gaurav Saxena (School of Psychological Sciences)
3. Jay Liu (Business School)
4. Katherine Nelms (CADE)
5. Nicole Jastrzebowska (Medical School)
6. Zia Saylor (School for Policy Studies)
3.10 – 3.20 Comfort Break
3.20 – 4.20 Case Studies / Sharing Innovations Up to 4 case studies (Up to 10 minutes each incl. Q&A) 1. Professor Ad Putter, Kaila Yankelevich & Alena Minko (Department of English) – “Industry Placements for PhD students in the humanities: perspectives and prospects” 
2. Dr Ashley Dodsworth (School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies) – “Supporting students in the corrections phase” 
3. Ms Jo Higson (Department of English), Dr Mimi Thebo & Jade Levell – “Bridging Disciplines: A Case Study in Cross-Disciplinary Supervision of a Creative Writing PhD” 
4. Dr Helen Thomas-Hughes (The Cabot Institute) – “Supervising Mature PGR students” 
4.20 – 4.50 Lightning Presentations Up to 5 short talks (Up to 5 minutes each); quick ideas/tools that worked 1. Peter Evans (Careers Service) – “Using the Bristol Skills Profile to support PGR career conversations” 
2. Professor Kate Northstone (Bristol Medical School) & Dr Patricia Neville (Bristol Dental School) – “PhD by Publication” 
3. Dr Richard Sheldon (Department of History) – “Advising Mature students (60 +): Pedagogical and practical questions” 
4.Dr Conor Houghton (School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology) – “Lessons from disciplinary changes” 
5. Dr Helen Thomas-Hughes (The Cabot Institute) & Professor Jo Rose (School of Education) – “Interdisciplinary research supervision” 
4.50 – 5.00 Closing Remarks; Feedback Thanks, summary, next steps, and upcoming opportunities; Harry Mellor
5.00 – 5.30 Networking Event Drinks reception and canapes available Informal networking

Posters, Flyers & Handouts:

Type  Author(s)  Title / Topic 
Poster  Dr Jennifer Haworth (Bristol Dental School)  Postgraduate Orthodontic Research Supervision Expectations 
Poster  Dr Kate Holmes (Library Services)  Library’s PGR Research Support 
Poster  Dr Gerasimos Balis, Cecilia Thirlway, Dr Valentina Vezzani (Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)  Creating a safe space for emerging PGR conversations 
Flyer  Dr Aisling Tierney (BILT)  PGR and AI  
Handout  Professor Stephanie King (FHLS), Dr Hannah Grist (BILT), Alice Ferns (BDC), Christine Braganza (SEMT)  PGR Supervisor Handbook  
Handout  Bristol Doctoral College  Principles of PGR Student Supervision 
Handout  Bristol Doctoral College  PGR Student-Supervisor Agreement 

Details

Venue

  • The Great Hall
  • Wills Memorial Building
    Bristol, BS8 1RJ United Kingdom     + Google Map