Research student sessions and support
Northern Institute has a wonderful community of Masters and PhD candidates working on a range of fascinating projects! We invite NI & wider CDU HDR (Higher Degree by Research) students to join our in-person & online events to connect with peers and academic staff and support each other throughout their research and academic journeys.
Meet your mentor: Professor Helen Verran
Helen has had a varied career in academia at seven universities on four continents. Before taking up her professorship at Charles Darwin University, Helen spent twenty-five years teaching and researching in History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne in Australia. During that time, she worked closely with Yolŋu Aboriginal knowledge authorities and scientists as they tried to work together in respectful ways.
Helen is a fantastic support and a wonderful resource for our research students. She has facilitated our student connection events for over 7 years. Read profile.
Thesis Talk
Connecting to and through ideas, with research peers…
Thesis Talk is a facilitated academic discussion for HDR candidates to discuss ideas together. Professor Helen Verran (Northern Institute) brings rich academic expertise and a supportive approach to facilitating student discussions. Talk through the nitty-gritty of research practices. Participate in intellectual conversations and expand your thinking by talking and listening. Explore concepts, theories and practicalities. Share your research experiences. Listen to and learn from peers undertaking a fascinating variety of valuable research projects. Reflect on your work and realign your goals. You are a valuable part of our research community – please join us!
- Monthly sessions with a different topic
- In-person at Savanna Room & online
- Fourth Wednesday from 3.00-4.00 pm (ACST) from March to November 2024.
- Available for all current CDU HDR (Higher Degree by Research) students and supervisors
NI 'Work-Together' sessions
Get some work done with the support of your HDR peers.
Northern Institute HDR candidate work-together groups are an opportunity to get some work done towards your project while catching up with your HDR peers and supporting each other. Schedule the time, join online from your workspace and bring something to work on. We borrow from the Pomodoro technique for regular, enjoyable work breaks and to enhance productivity. You are welcome to join any sessions that work for you - you might meet different researchers in different groups.
- Online-only sessions
- Upcoming session dates are listed below
- Available for NI HDR Students only
Registration
NI student events are only available to current CDU students and available as a hybrid (in-person & online) or via Zoom. If Darwin-based, we encourage you to join us at the Northern Institute's Savanna Room:
CDU Casuarina Campus, Building Yellow 1, Level 2, Room 48.
Google Maps Location
You only need to register interest in a NI student event once. After approval, you will receive a confirmation email. Calendar invites will be sent to your email for upcoming sessions with the online meeting links so you can join if you are attending virtually.
Have any questions or issues registering for an event? Contact our NI HDR Student Convenor, Emily Armstrong, at emily.armstrong@cdu.edu.au or the Research Support Service at thenortherninstitute@cdu.edu.au or 08 8946 7468.
2024 Student Sessions Schedule
Month | Date | Events & Topics |
|---|---|---|
| MARCH | Wednesday 27 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk
|
| APRIL | Friday 5 2:30 - 4:30 pm | Work-Together Online |
| Wednesday 24 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk "We all start out in our HDR candidature in hopes that the information we unearth and/or assemble in our research will have impact for the good." In April we will discuss some questions that will help us think about what exactly 'impact for the good' implies, and consider if there are the implications for how we design our study. | |
| MAY | Wednesday 22 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| JUNE | Wednesday 26 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| JULY | Wednesday 24 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| AUGUST | Wednesday 28 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| SEPTEMBER | Wednesday 25 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| OCTOBER | Wednesday 23 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
| NOVEMBER | Wednesday 27 3 - 4 pm | Thesis Talk Topics are available a week before the session date. |
Previous Student Events
Thesis Talk was previously run as the 'Espresso Yourself!' student sessions and were a space for current CDU HDR students (and supervisors) to connect, gain support, and receive valuable academic advice.
2023
| 2023 Session Topics | Date |
|---|---|
| FEBRUARY 'The new kid on the block' of global Research Higher Degree life: Open AI | Wednesday 22 |
| MARCH Problems with Starting? | Wednesday 22 |
| MAY Who is your IDEAL reader? | Cancelled |
| MAY Open topic - bring your own questions | Cancelled |
| JUNE What's your Data? | Wednesday 28 |
| JULY Thinking critically, talking and doing it together. | Wednesday 26 |
| AUGUST On-the-ground experience in postgraduate research | Wednesday 23 |
| SEPTEMBER PhD Overwhelm | Wednesday 27 |
| OCTOBER Analysis VS Interpretation | Wednesday 25 |
NOVEMBER (EOY Event) This 28th edition of the journal is a special issue inquiring into Northern Australia. Edited by Prof Helen Verran, the edition features five papers written by doctoral students as they neared the end of their research higher degree candidature. Please join us to discuss the publishing experience during HDR candidature facilitated by Helen Verran. The authors will each speak briefly about their articles and share their reflections. The event will be held online and in the Savanna Room, Northern Institute. Please RSVP. | Friday 1 December 3 – 4 pm ACST |