Postgraduate Offer-holders
On-campus Taught and Research Students’ eZine
In this issue Rebekah Kells, PhD Inflammation
AUGUST 2016
“Lately I’ve taken up cycling to Newhaven harbour or Cramond to get that ‘out of city’ feel whilst still being in the heart of Edinburgh.” Page 1
Niall Anderson Programme Director, Master of Public Health
“Students can design an almost bespoke timetable that suits their interests and career aspirations.”
PART 1 Fringe Festival Academic tips Don’t study in Scotland without doing everything on this list! (part 1)
Welcome
In this issue
Many of those who come to live in Edinburgh discover that Edinburgh is a truly festival city. In this eZine, you will find an article about the Fringe Festival, the world’s largest art festival that takes place right in its heart every August. Go to page 12 to read more about it!
Welcome .......................................................................2
On page 5 Rebekah Kells gives you her invaluable advice about life as a PhD student.
News from around the University..................................4
Hello,
Niall Anderson, one of our Programme Directors, talks about the flexibility of the Master of Public Health programme, which has been designed to suit various career aspirations. Our student bloggers are featured under the Social section – read about Pheobe’s exciting trip to Sardinia! You’ll receive one more eZine in August, so stay tuned!
See you soon, The Graduate School Team
Latest research news.....................................................3
Student and city perspectives Interview with Rebekah Kells, PhD Inflammation and current student blogger.................................................5 Don’t study in Scotland without doing everything on this list!......................................................................6 Academic matters Interview with Niall Anderson, Programme Director of Masters of Public Health................................................7 Helping your academic development...........................8
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Social Discover the University community...............................9 Featured: Our Student Bloggers...................................9 Edinburgh City...............................................................10
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Latest Research News Repeat sounds aid infant learning
Gene study to shed light on ageing brain
Lean gene raises diabetes therapy hope
Babies find it easier to learn words with repetitive syllables rather than mixed sounds, a study suggests. Assessments of language learning in 18-month-olds suggest that children are better at grasping the names of objects with repeated syllables, over words with non-identical syllables.
More than one thousand people have had their entire genetic make-up decoded as part of a long-term study to gain insight into why some people’s brains age better than others. Scientists in Edinburgh have sequenced the DNA of more than 1300 people taking part in a decades-long study into ageing and memory.
People with type 2 diabetes could be helped by the discovery of a gene linked to leanness. A drug that affects the activity of the gene has been shown to reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in obese mice. Researchers say an improved version of the medicine could be developed as a therapy for people with the condition.
Read more
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News from Around the University Information for EU students On 23 June 2016 the UK electorate voted in a national referendum to leave the EU. There is no immediate, material change for our staff, students and EU-funded programmes, however, there will of course be many questions that staff and students, current and prospective, wish to ask. We have information on the University website which aims to address many of the immediate issues. Given the uncertainty at this stage, we may not be able to answer all your queries, or to answer them definitively, but we will work hard to keep you updated with the relevant changes. Read more
Student start-up in Facebook deal
Female leads top drama prize shortlist
An Edinburgh student start-up company has been bought by social media big-hitters Facebook. TwoBigEars, which specialises in virtual reality technology, was founded by Edinburgh graduates from India – Abesh Thakur and Varun Nair – in 2013. The deal comes as Facebook continues to invest in new virtual reality technology. It is the latest move by the social media giant to create an “immersive” internet experience.
Plays dealing with addiction, social injustice and capital punishment have been shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Drama. The accolade, linked to Britain’s oldest literary awards, is presented by the University in association with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and the Traverse Theatre. Read more
Read more Follow The University of Edinburgh Although you have not arrived yet, you can be part of what’s going on at Edinburgh even now. Join here!
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Student Perspective Rebekah Kells talks about life as a current PhD student. Rebekah Kells, PhD Inflammation.
My name is Rebekah and I am 25 years old. What were you doing before you came to study at the University of Edinburgh and why did you decide to study here? I completed an undergraduate masters in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Aberdeen. I did an industrial placement year in-between my 3rd and 4th year during undergraduate studies. This took place in a small spin-out company in Edinburgh on the Little France site. I chose to come back to Edinburgh for my PhD as I was inspired by the Little France Campus, to have research, the hospital and the Bioquarter all in one area was excellent in creating collaborations crossing science, medicine and business. Where do you recommend that students visit in Edinburgh or beyond? I love Stockbridge and Dean Village for a wander, some of the shops down there are great. Lately I’ve taken up cycling to Newhaven harbour or Cramond to get that ‘out of city’ feel whilst still being in the heart of Edinburgh. For anyone visiting Scotland I’d recommend a trip to the Isle of Skye or Aviemore - or both! The landscape and scenery is beautiful . . .when the weather is right.
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“Lately I’ve taken up cycling to Newhaven harbour or Cramond to get that ‘out of city’ feel whilst still being in the heart of Edinburgh.” How do you personally balance your work life and social life with the demands of your programme? I’m in the final months of my PhD and have started writing my thesis so at the moment things are very hectic! I’ve been quite lucky with my project as I’ve managed to work relatively few weekends over the last couple years and so far only a handful of 24 hour shifts! It’s important that you don’t burn out early on in your PhD, I had some very supportive fellow students in my lab who were great at helping support the balance. You have to work hard but play hard too - try something new regularly and learn to let things go. The lab will always be there tomorrow and won’t collapse just because you left at 5pm. What has been a highlight of your studies so far? I’m heading off to Spain soon to speak at a conference - I’m hoping that’s going to be one of the highlights of my PhD! My biggest highlight to date would be when we hosted an open day for our main funder, Bloodwise. We took small groups of local fundraisers around our lab and showed them what we do to in our research. It was great to see our science in action and discuss how our work is changing the future for blood cancers with the people who want to know about it most. It really put my day-to-day experiments into perspective and was a truly rewarding experience.
Don’t study in Scotland without doing everything on this list! (Part 1)
Peer down at your bedroom window from Arthurs Seat
Relax in a traditional scottish pub
Never climbed a 350metre high extinct volcano whilst looking down on a 900 year old castle in a city centre before? Here’s your chance!
You will never run out of beautiful pubs to discover so please don’t only hang out in the student union, there are so many great places to enjoy!
There’s no better time to try Scotland’s National dish than at an annual Burns supper every January 25th, the celebration of Scotland’s National Poet ‘Rabbie’ Burns. Fear not though Veggies, Vegetarian Haggis is also very popular!
Have a Festival Fling
Learn a new skill
Enjoy a cracking ceilidh
East Lothian beaches
The Edinburgh Fringe is quite simply the world’s largest arts festival and brings with it an unparalleled range of entertainers from all around the world who transform and delight the city every summer. The International Festival has opera, classical concerts and the famous military tattoo where marching bands entertain thousands each night on the Castle Esplanade.
There are countless student societies ranging from pony trekking to photography so this is a great opportunity to not only learn a new skill but also to make new friends!
Everyone should try dancing at a Ceilidh at least once and the Ghillie Dhu is just one of the many atmospheric venues where the fiddle and accordion lead the crowd in a ‘merry jig’!
Gullane and Yellowcraigs sands are just two of the beautiful beaches within an hour of Edinburgh city centre and the capital even has its own sandy seaside resort at Portobello!
Wander in the wilderness The Scottish Highlands are one of Europe’s last true wildernesses and witnessing the misty glens and mountain peaks first hand is an unforgettable experience.
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‘Hog’ a Haggis
Academic Matters Niall Anderson, Programme Director of Master of Public Health, tells us about the programme’s unique flexibility that allows for designing a timetable that suits every students’ interest and career aspirations. Niall Anderson, Programme Director, Master of Public Health. Tell me a little about yourself. My name is Niall Anderson. I’m based in the Centre for Population Health Sciences, part of the Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences & Informatics here at the University of Edinburgh. I’m a senior lecturer in Medical Statistics, and have worked here since 2003. I am Programme Director for our on campus 1 year MPH programme, and also co-director of our online distance learning MPH that was introduced in September 2015.
What is unique about the programme? The MPH is a very flexible programme, in that it has a small set of compulsory courses, but with many more optional ones, so that students can design an almost bespoke timetable that suits their interests and career aspirations. They can also consider taking Masters’ courses from some of the other groups across the University who have interests in public health or related areas, so there is a lot of scope for picking exactly the right suite of courses for each person.
What is your average day like? Most days I divide my time across a number of different areas. I will generally have some administrative tasks for the MPH to clear up, I may possibly be teaching a class, often some preparatory work for our online programme, and then I will probably also try to spend some time on research problems – I work on a number of different research projects or clinical trials, so generally one of those at least will need some attention. Quite a lot of time is spent dealing with things by email…
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“Many former students are now leading very successful careers in the wider world and making an impact on real world public health problems.”
Academic Matters (continued)
Helping your Academic Development
What do you hope your students will get out of the programme to help them in their future career path?
Prepare for your arrival with this checklist
A solid foundation in the key areas of public health theory, an appreciation of the central role research plays in understanding public health problems and an ability to both appraise other people’s research and successfully design and execute one’s own research.
The New Students website has recently added this checklist so that you won’t forget about anything that you need to prepare for your arrival and studies starting. Download the checklist at this link.
What kinds of careers are open to students of your programme? How many of them end up employed in their desired area of expertise?
iad4masters blog The Institute for Academic Development runs a blog for all Masters’ students at the University of Edinburgh where it informs of relevant workshops and information sessions for postgraduates. Follow the blog here to get informed about dissertation workshops, academic writing workshops and to gain access to many other helpful resources for your studies.
Many of our students go on to work in health services, government departments concerned with health policy, NGOs that provide services or promote health behaviour and change or academic roles, in either health research or further study (for example, beginning a PhD). Probably 70-75% end up in the sort of role they are looking for, and many former students are now leading very successful careers in the wider world and making an impact on real world public health problems.
Join Societies There are about 240 student societies at Edinburgh. In the Societies section of the EUSA website, you can search all the societies to find the people who share your interests. There’s also advice on starting your own society. Page 8
Social t bloggers
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A community where we encourage offer-holders speak to each other online. Click here if you are on a taught programme and here if you are on a research programme! Keep up to date with the latest news from the Postgraduate Office.
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We have our own channel and are adding student experience films all the time.
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Edinburgh city The Fringe Festival The world’s largest arts festival transforms Scotland’s capital every August. Thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present incredible shows that take your breath away. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place annually in Edinburgh in the month of August. The Fringe Festival is totally open-access and is a showcase for the performing arts, with show categories including Cabaret, Children’s shows, Comedy, Dance, Physical Theatre & Circus, Events,
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Exhibitions, Music, Musicals and Opera, Spoken Word and Theatre. This is the largest street fair of its kind in the world, and Fringe organisers have confirmed over 2000 shows will take place in August 2016. With many events happening on campus, The University of Edinburgh also participates in the Fringe Festival. Have a look at the photos below from previous years!