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A message from our Pro Vice-Chancellor, HigherDegree Research Training & Partnerships

It is almost exactly 25 years since I completed my PhD at Cardiff University in theUK. I still vividly remember my viva voce exam – a verbal defence of my thesis totwo discipline experts. At the time it seemed that everything I had sweated overduring the previous four years; the late nights, the mental challenges, the self-doubtand extreme hard work had all led to this one moment. Over three hours, I was to bejudged on my contribution, my capability, my judgment, my intelligence and mypotential and it was all down to me to persuade my examiners that I was worthy!

Of course, in hindsight I came to realise that I had over-estimated the importance ofthe moment. I later learnt that the decision had been made prior to the viva and myexaminers were just keen to give me an opportunity to talk about my work. Despitemy trepidation, I really enjoyed the experience! Having the opportunity to talk topeople about your research, whether it is other experts, fellow HDR candidates,colleagues, friends, potential funders or the public can be an extremely rewardingexperience. Building a common understanding of things that excite us, motivate usand give us purpose is deeply satisfying and the ability to communicate our researchto different audiences in an engaging and effective way is a critically important skill.

The HDR Support and Development team are committed to supporting our HDRcohort in developing their communication skills. The team recently organised aresearch communications panel comprising current and recent PhD’s who have hadexperience in the 3MT, FameLab or TEDx (the recording is available on the HDR

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Office of HDR Training and Partnerships August 2020

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Learning Skills iLearn & the HDR Professional Development iLearn sites). We hopeyou were able to get involved, but if not do keep your eyes open for similar eventsand opportunities to learn some tips from your peers on successfully communicatingyour own research. Whilst the prospect is often daunting, the experience can beextremely rewarding and a lot of fun!

Stay safe and stay well.

Professor Simon Handley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Higher Degree Research Trainingand Partnerships

COVID-19 FAQs for HDR (Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection: latest information– Information for Students – Changes to Session 1 – HDR Students

HDR Workshops

All workshops can be found on the MyRDC.

Mon 3August

Daily WritingPractice (Zoom)

Register here

Tue 04 August

EndNote for PC (Zoom)

Register here

Tue 04 August

Webinar -Professional Staffwith a PhD: Dr.Belinda Tiffen

Register here

Wed 05August

Referencemanagement withMendeley (Zoom)

Register now

Thu 06 August

HDR Mentors: Meet& Mingle (Zoom)

Register here

Thu 06August

EndNote for Mac(Zoom)

Register now

Tue 11 August

The MindfulResearcher Course(Zoom 5 weekcourse)

Register here

Mon 17August

NVivo for PC – LevelOne (Zoom)

Register here

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HDR Announcements

Tue 18August

Science Writing forPublicationWorkshop Series.Workshop 2: theResults section(Zoom)

Register here

Wed 19August

Thesis Formatting forMac (Zoom)

Register here

HDR Mentors: Meet & Mingle

Are you a HDR student? Feeling lonelyduring this isolation? Sick of formalZoom meetings? Want to meet otherHDR students? If this is you then comejoin HDR Mentors for monthly informalMeet and Mingle sessions via Zoom!Feel free to relax and connect with fellowHDR students all in the comfort of yourown home. You are also welcome tohave lunch!

Details Day: First Thursday of every month Time: 12 noon - 1pm Zoom link

Daily Writing Practice

Even at the best of times, establishing aregular writing practice can bechallenging. Right now, with all that isgoing on around us, routines may be thefirst thing to disappear. But showing upand making time each day to sit downand write can help us stay grounded inthe present and focused on embracingthe ordinary. Especially when so littlefeels normal or predictable, maintaininga daily routine can be precious, andenlivening.

Since the beginning of April, a group ofus have been gathering every morning,from 9am to 10am, Monday to Friday, to

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write. There's something so simple yetpowerful about coming together to workon our individual projects. I thankeveryone who has joined me and inviteanyone else who is seeking momentumin their writing practice to join us.

For more detail visit the myRDC.

To join the daily writing sessions viazoom Further questions:florence.chiew@mq.edu.au

LabArchives ElectronicNotebook Webinar Series inAugust

LabArchives provides an electronicnotebook facility that works on multipleplatforms and devices, allowingresearchers to store any type of dataand streamline their research workflows.LabArchives is free of charge for allMacquarie users with unlimited storage,automated backup and data protection.

The Data Science and eResearch teamis running a five-part webinar seriesbeginning on 12 August, to coverLabArchives basics, integrations, widgetcreation and more advanced topics suchas user management and notebooktemplates.

Researchers are invited to attend thewebinars. For details and registrationlinks, check the team’s Events andTraining wiki page or emailswc@mq.edu.au.

Peer Writing Assistancesessions are available viazoom

Are you a HDR student? Do you needhelp with your writing? Are you confusedabout the HDR journey? If you answered‘yes’ to any of these questions, then thePeer Writing Assistance program is hereto help. Peer Writing Assistants (PWAs)are current Macquarie PhD and postdoctorate students who can assist inhelping you gain new perspectives onyour research ideas and writing.

Please visit the PWA website andregister your interest for a 45-minuteconsultation. Due to the current socialdistancing practises, all PWAconsultations will occur remotely viaZoom. Those of you who are unfamiliarwith Zoom, please visit the link here.

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HDR Mentors: WellbeingWorkshop – OvercomingProcrastination

When: 14 August 2020 Time: 1.30-2.30pm Registration Required RSVP Here

Are you the master of yourprocrastination or does it dictate yourschedule? Can you identify your type ofprocrastination? Want to learn thestrategies to overcome procrastination?

If the answer to any of the abovequestions was yes, then the upcomingOvercoming Procrastination Workshop isideal for you. HDR Mentors is once againcollaborating with Student Wellbeing toaddress an issue close to a HDRcandidate's heart: OvercomingProcrastination!

This Zoom workshop will be led byAshwin Singh (Psychologist, StudentWellbeing).

Please note that Zoom access links willbe shared the day prior to the workshoponly with those who have registered.

EndNote and MendeleyTraining with the Library!

In Session 2 the Library will be offeringEndNote and Mendeley workshops viaZoom. Registration is through myRDC,with each workshop limited to 10attendees. Please see workshop sectionof the newsletter for dates.

EndNote is the most commonly usedbibliographic management software tohelp manage your references as youresearch and write.

Mendeley is a program which enablesmanaging and sharing research papers,discovering research, and collaboration.It combines Mendeley Desktop, areference management application, withMendeley Web, an online social networkfor researchers. The workshops cover the basics of theapplication and how it can facilitate yourwork by storing your references,attaching PDFs, and allowing you to citeand create bibliographies with ease.

EndNote and Mendeley Consultationswith a Research Librarian Research librarians can provideindividual advice and assistance withEndNote and Mendeley. Find yourresearch librarian here

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HDR Research End-User Engagement Survey 1January – 30 June 2020

The Australian Government Department of Education and Training mandates alluniversities to collect information on engagement activities which higher degreeresearch candidates have been involved in, with or for the benefit of a researchend-user during their candidature.

A research end‑user is defined as an individual, community or organisation externalto academia that will directly use or directly benefit from the output, outcome orresults of the research.

Examples of end‑users includes businesses, governments, non‑governmentalorganisations, communities and community organisations.

Please note research end‑users do not include:

Other higher education providersOrganisations that are affiliates, controlled entities or subsidiaries (such asMedical Research Institutes) of a higher education providerEquivalents (international or domestic) of the above exclusions

HDR candidates enrolled from the period 1 January – 30 June 2020 are required toself-report on their end user engagement activities via a unique Qualtrics link whichwill be sent by email on Monday August 3rd. The deadline to complete the surveyis Sunday August 17th.

Details on what the survey will look like will be available on iLearn HDR ProfessionalDevelopment page.

Catherine Ennis, HDR Industry Engagement and Placements Manager

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HDR Stories

Adam Johnston - The travels of a permanentstudent

Adam Johnston is a PhD candidate, within the Macquarie University Law School.Adam was recently featured in the NSW State Library’s blog.

It’s extraordinary to think that given his long involvement with scholarship andobvious appetite for history and understanding, Adam Johnston’s February visit tothe Mitchell Library Reading Room was his first.

He visited once or twice a week through early autumn, settling in Special Collectionsto look through charitable sector reports, royal commission papers and the Library’sdisability ephemera collection — brochures, letters and leaflets advertising servicesand soliciting support.

Adam is undertaking a PhD examining the Federal Government’s National DisabilityInsurance Scheme. He is exploring whether its service structure, which outsourcessupport services for disabled citizens to non-government and private sector groups,is a case of history repeating. Adam describes the Mitchell Library Reading Room as‘a statement of NSW history, architecture and so much more’. He says it’s the firsttime in his life that he has come into a library with aisles and aisles of books. He canfeel the historical patterns they contain. ‘For the first time in my life I feel like a realresearcher.’

Original text: Mathilde de Hauteclocque, Photos: Anne Tong © NSW State Library

(image) (Cropped) Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

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Access the full story here

(Image) Adam Johnston in the State Library

Macquarie University Three Minute Thesis (3MT)Competition

Macquarie University's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition will be occurringthroughout August. As detailed last newsletter, the format for competing haschanged to video, but that is not all...

People's Choice Winner: The winners from each Faculty will have provided their3MT video, and we need YOUR help to determine People's Choice! Videos will beuploaded to the MQ 3MT iLearn - information on how to access this will be madeavailable on the MQ 3MT Website later in August. Viewers will have access to everyvideo, and then can enter their vote for their favourite. Voting will be open fromAugust 26-30.

Prizes: In addition to the research prizes, the 12 finalists will be receiving a MediaCommunications Masterclass from Anton Enus, with the winner also receiving a onehour 1:1 session to get their entry to Asia-Pac competition ready.

TimelineAugust 26-30: MQ People's Choice VotingAugust 31: MQ Winner announcedSeptember 14 - October 1: 2020 Virtual Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition. Moreinformation on how to support our winner at Asia-Pac will feature in the Septembernewsletter.

Best of luck to all of those competing in the upcoming Faculty Heats, and MacquarieUniversity 3MT Final!

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Rhianne Hoffman, HDR Support & Development

(Image 4) Gillian Smith, Faculty of Arts, representing MQ at the 2019 3MT Asia-Pacific Final

Failing Allowed Podcast: On navigating research,mental health, and invisible disabilities

In this episode of Failing Allowed, I interview Antoinette Pavithra (Pavi), a PhDcandidate and Research Assistant at Macquarie University's Centre for HealthSystems and Safety Research at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI).

I first met Pavi teaching on a Masters unit back in 2015. Since then, we havebecome great friends and colleagues. With tenacity, good humour, and compassion,Pavi reflects on her tumultuous journey as an international student and researchcandidate, and where she finds courage and resilience in challenging times. Shealso shares her on-the-ground initiatives to set up support networks for fellowcandidates with mental health issues and invisible disabilities.

Pavi's current research explores the theoretical and practical factors that influencethe efficacy of culture change interventions within healthcare systems. She haspreviously worked on such diverse topics as mapping far-right extremism withinAustralia, clinical and surgical communication between healthcare professionals andpatients, mental health wearable device deployment and use, and the constructionof Aboriginal identity through commercial state-driven and community-run tourisminitiatives in Australia.

Florence Chiew, HDR Learning Advisor (Social Science)

(Image) Antoinette Pavithra (Pavi), PhD candidate and research assistant at Macquarie University's

Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI)

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HDR Learning Skills: Supportive workingconditions

For many of us, the COVID pandemic has provided an opportunity to reflect on ourworking conditions. We've become more aware of the routines, practices,environments and social interactions that structure our working day, and the rolethese play in preserving a healthy boundary between our professional and personallives.

The disruption of these familiar patterns has also highlighted the conditions of ourinternal environment – the mind. Our changed circumstances confront us moredirectly with our own mental conditioning. How do you react to having to work fromhome, homeschool your children, or experience less social contact? How do yourespond to change, stress or uncertainty?

Right now we’re experiencing a unique moment in which we can either speed upand go through the motions, or slow down and observe our working conditions, bothinside and out. Take a moment to pause and reflect: What are your supportiveconditions?

Dr Michelle Jamieson, HDR Learning Advisor, Humanities

Michelle is convenor of The Mindful Researcher, a five-week course for HDRcandidates interested in working with greater emotional intelligence and buildinghealthy, sustainable work practices (August-September 2020)

(Image)

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Wellbeing: Celebrate your resilience

Resilience is a much needed aspect of ourselves that we develop to get throughhard times. A major point from the HDR Wellbeing Workshop on June 30 was theimportance of recognising progress to resilience.

It seems that even when completing a task as significant as getting somethingpublished, the tendency can be to move onto the next stressful task.Acknowledgement, celebration and even rest after a stressful task, even smallerones, helps because we reflect on our development and gain confidence from ourachievement. At a physiological level, this acknowledgement allows our body toknow that the stressful task has been completed and so it can recover, which is whatresilience is all about.

You can access the Macquarie University Wellbeing app via the Wellbeing website

Ashwin Singh, Psychologist, Student Wellbeing

(Image 7)

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HydGene Renewables CSIRO ON journey

Despite the challenges of Covid19 in the first half of 2020, HydGene Renewables, aresearch team from the Dept of Molecular Science, have been busy completingCSIRO ON Accelerate 6. Working on their business and financial models, impactstory-telling and engaging with stakeholders, potential partners and investors – allonline - have been the prime tasks for the team. At the core of all these activities liesa promising novel technology developed by HydGene Renewables that convertsplant material to hydrogen-powered electricity on site and on demand, providing aclean alternative to the 100,000 diesel generators sold in Australia each year.

The ON Accelerate team consisted of two PhD candidates Jocelyn Johns andSamuel King, two postdocs Dr Kerstin Petroll and Dr Tony Jerkovic and two senioracademics, A/Prof Louise Brown and Prof Robert Willows. The ON Acceleratejourney was much more than a commercialisation workshop. During ON Accelerate,the team had to sustain a learner’s mindset, adjust quickly, operate effectively as alarge team and build resilience, which are values similarly gained from HDRprograms. This also highlights the invaluable experience HDR students can gainfrom industry-aligned projects. Beyond the ON Accelerate team, HydGeneRenewables is much larger and includes additional HDR students, i.e. a MRsstudent Ari Edmonds and one undergraduate Josip Mujic (commencing his MRssoon). HydGene Renewables has gained huge traction from the program andKerstin was awarded a prestigious $30,000 scholarship to attend a StanfordGraduate School of Business entrepreneurship program. Watch the team’s finalpitch here

Information provided by Dr. Kerstin Petroll

(Image) HydGene Renewables team

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ResourcefulHDR podcast: Dr. Alison Rice, CSIRO

My guest on the ResourcefulHDR podcast this month is Dr. Alison Rice, DeputyDirector of the Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform at CSIRO. I met Alisonthrough the magic of Twitter and she kindly agreed to share her story.

After completing a Bachelor of Science with Honours from the University ofAdelaide, Alison worked as a Research Assistant … at this stage, Alison said shecould not have imagined doing a PhD. Alison went to the UK and Europe as part of afact-finding mission and only decided to undertake a PhD when she receivedencouragement from several people. Alison competed her PhD in BiologicalSciences in French and English at the University of Bordeaux II in France.

When Alison returned to Australia her career led her into roles working as a SeniorResearch Scientist leading research groups. Alison’s work focused on newtherapeutic options for the complications of haematopoietic stem cell transplantationin Medical Research Institutes in Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

In 2012, Alison made the successful transition to a career in Research Development,incorporating research policy, research management and business development atGriffith University. In 2018, Alison took up a role as a Principal Policy Officer inQueensland Health focusing on bringing content specific knowledge about researchto Government to enhance import and export opportunities for Queensland’s healthand medical research sector. In 2019, Alison was appointed as the Deputy Directorof the Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform at CSIRO. This strategic positionaims to help build a vibrant synthetic biology research and development communityto drive the bio-based industries of the future.

The story of how Alison ended up in her current role illustrates the value of networksand that, through good relationships, unexpected opportunities can arise.

Sally Purcell, HDR Professional Skills Program

(Image) Dr. Alison Rice

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Webinars: Professional Staff with a PhD at MQ Dr. Louise Dwyer & Dr. Belinda Tiffen

In this webinar series we are focussing on Professional staff members of Macquariewith a PhD. We want to provide real examples of PhD graduates working inProfessional roles at Macquarie and showcase the range of Professional roles beingdone by people with a PhD, as well as the people who do them. We are hopingthese webinars will engage PhD candidates and raise their awareness of thepossible career opportunities within the higher education sector, following thecompletion of their PhD. In our next webinar we are delighted to have Dr BelindaTiffen, Macquarie University Librarian.

Webinar - Professional Staff with a PhD: Dr. Belinda Tiffen, MacquarieUniversity Librarian

Tuesday 04 August 2020 11:00 AM to 12:00 PMRegister for the webinar with this link.

You can see all our previous webinar recordings our HDR Professional DevelopmentiLearn page, including our most recent webinar held on July 23rd with Dr. LouiseDwyer, Deputy Director, Office Higher Degree Research Training andPartnerships. You will find some videos and the ResourcefulHDR podcast as wellas useful links relating to career and employment information.

If you are a Professional staff member with a PhD working at Macquarie Universityand would be interested in becoming involved, please visit this link.

Catherine Ennis and Sally Purcell, HDR Professional Development

(Image 10) Dr. Belinda Tiffen, Macquarie University Librarian

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HDR Mentors: MRes Year 2 Panel Discussion -Thesis Submission Challenges

In July, HDR Mentors organised a Zoom panel discussion forum for the MRes Year 2candidates who are submitting their thesis in October. This event provided theopportunity for the participants to ask burning questions about their upcoming thesissubmission to a panel of former MRes students from various faculties. The panellistsshared their personal experiences and challenges that they faced, and offeredguidance and moral support to all MRes Year 2 candidates.

The panel discussion was chaired by Kathryn Phillips (Arts), and the panel memberswere: Juhi Jennifer Macwan (MQBS), Juehui Zhou (MQBS), Bhavana Penmetcha(FSE) and Mo Haque (FSE).

Mo Haque, Project Assistant, HDR Mentors Program

(Image) Screenshot from MRes Year 2 panel discussion

HDR Dynamic Duos

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Bichen Guan, PhD Candidate, Department of Management,

Macquarie Business School

How did you come to know eachother?

When I was studying as an exchangestudent in Master Program ofOrganisational Psychology at MacquarieUniversity in 2014, I was looking forsome research opportunities. My formerChinese academic supervisor fromRenmin University of China introducedme to Denise, and I started working withDenise on her aged care workforceresearch project, which is related to myPhD topic. When I finished my exchangestudy, I was the teaching assistant forDenise when she taught career atRenmin University. We had known eachother for a while before I started myPhD.

What are your shared interests?

Employees’ attitudes and workplaceinterpersonal relationships, especially inthe aged care sector. I was impressedwhen I knew Denise has conductedsome research on the well-being of agedcare employees. We both agree that not

Associate Professor DeniseJespen,Department of Management,

Macquarie Business School

How did you come to know eachother?

Bichen’s former Chinese academicsupervisor is a colleague and friend whoadvised Bichen to do a researchplacement with me in 2014 when shewas on exchange in the Masters ofOrganisational Psychology degree.Later, she was my translator when I wasa speaker at an Austrade event on theaged care sector in Beijing. Then in2015 she was my teaching assistantwhen I taught careers at a summerschool at Renmin University in Beijing.So we knew each other quite well, inAustralia and China, before she becamemy PhD student.

What are your shared interests?

Research and workplace relationships,especially in the aged care sector.Bichen gets excited about research andhow our findings can impact on theworkplace, and we like to speculateabout her research findings. Bichen

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(Image) A/Prof Denise Jepsen and Bichen Guan

We are always keen to receive contributions to the HDR Dynamic Duos section of

everyone can work as aged careworkers in such a physically andemotionally demanding job. Investigatingemotions and well-being of aged careemployees is valuable for keeping theworkforce and delivering high-qualityservice for the elderly.

What do you each bring to theprofessional relationship?

Denise brings her valuable experienceand expertise in research and careers.She helps me develop the skill setrequired for an academic career. I bringmy curiosity, perseverance, resilience,and learning motivation, especially astrong motivation to learn new statisticanalyses.

What do you appreciate most aboutDenise?

I appreciate Denise’s guidance, care,patience, support, and strategic careerplanning. She has world-class expertisein supervising PhD students. She hasinvested countless hours and providesme resources and opportunities to helpme complete my PhD and achieve eachmilestone in this journey. I couldn't growso much without her guidance andsupport. The side project that I havebeen working with her on validatingpsychometric assessments in recruitingaged care workers actually helped megain my current job as a postdocresearcher at UTS.

coined the phrase “superheros” that Inow use to refer to aged care workerswhen she saw the work they do ismeaningful and difficult.

What do you each bring to theprofessional relationship?

Bichen brings a brightness, a future, acuriosity, an enthusiastic list of things yetto do. I bring a steadying hand, longterm and strategic planning and careersadvice.

What do you appreciate most aboutBichen?

I appreciate Bichen’s dedication,perseverance, diplomacy and loyalty.She is smart, a deep thinker, able tounpack complex ideas, a quick learnerwho takes feedback well and maintainsa calm demeanour. She can overcomeany obstacle even if she doesn’t think soat first. Watching Bichen grow bothpersonally and professionally has been areal highlight. I am so proud of her andher work.

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this newsletter. The people featured might be… HDR candidate & supervisor, HDRMentor & HDR Mentee, HDR Candidate and Industry placement supervisor. If this isof interest to you, please head to our website for further information on how tocontribute.

Remember to listen to the ResourcefulHDR podcast and if you are interested inbeing a guest please email sally.purcell@mq.edu.au

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