Fostering Research Cultures Through Informal PGR Training

To address the challenges of postgraduate research, the Department of Geography created informal ‘brown bag sessions’ driven by student-selected topics, successfully fostering a supportive community while delivering tailored academic and career guidance from academic staff.

Starting a postgraduate research (PGR) degree can be overwhelming, with researchers feeling pulled between events, conferences, getting published, and the ever-looming thesis. It can also be lonely and alienating without the regular contact points of a taught programme and with office mates often away on fieldwork or working remotely.

In the Department of Geography, we wanted to address these challenges. Our goal was to provide the guidance and support that was most useful to our PGR community while also creating a space for community and togetherness. This was how our ‘PGR brown bag sessions’ came about two years ago.

What are PGR Brown Bag Sessions?

These brown bag sessions are informal, in-person events on topics chosen by the PGR community. During my time as Director of Postgraduate Research for Human Geography, I sent out a short survey at the beginning of the academic year where PGRs could vote on topics and suggest their own. The top three then became our focus topics for each term. Past topics have included career planning and applying for jobs, sessions on both academic and non-academic careers, writing your first journal article, and writing strategies.

How do the Brown Bag Sessions Work?

The sessions took place once per term in our senior common room so that it is more of an informal gathering round a large table. This worked well for the number of attendees which is typically between eight and twelve. I ran one session online as a trial and while attendance was good, feedback from the PGRs was that they preferred having them in person.

For each session, I invited two additional members of staff, one representing human geography and the other physical geography. Sessions run for an hour and are delivered in a question-and-answer format, allowing PGRs to ask both general and topic-specific questions. The three staff members drew on their experience and expertise to provide guidance and support. This format enabled PGRs to receive tailored advice while also helping them build connections with staff they may not otherwise meet. It additionally provides a regular opportunity during term time for PGRs to come together, engage with their peers, and strengthen their sense of community within the department.

Outcomes and Reflections

After running the sessions for a year, I sent out a feedback form and was pleased to see that all respondents found them useful, the majority preferred that they were in-person rather than online, and the informality of them was appreciated. One respondent commented that they found a session on applying for academic jobs helpful and it informed their approach to applying for a role that they were offered. Another commented that they benefited from “listening to those who have ‘done it before’, how they approached it, what were unexpected obstacles, [and] how they might have done things differently”.

On a personal note, I have found the sessions to be a great way to get know the PGRs in my department better, to feel that we have been able to offer tailored support, and to hear the excellent advice given by my colleagues. Colleagues who have generously given their time to support these sessions have also told me how much they enjoyed getting to know the PGRs and to be able to share what they have learnt during their careers.

Tips For Running Successful Brown Bag Sessions

• Find out what the PGRs in your department need: I found that giving PGRs some set options as well as a free text box meant that I could see which topics were popular but also hear from them on what they need support with.

• Mine your department’s expertise: Each department will have a wealth of experience so think about which colleagues you could invite for each topic. For example, you may have colleagues who have worked in industry, are journal editors, or have sat on hiring committees.

• Brown Bag sessions can’t do everything: These sessions are just one element of support for PGRs and some forms of training and advice will be better delivered through other mechanisms so make sure that PGRs are aware of opportunities available across the university and beyond.

Final Thoughts

The University offers a wide range of training and development opportunities for PGRs, and they should be encouraged to reflect on their professional development needs and engage with relevant provision. However, there is also considerable value in creating less structured spaces where PGRs can listen, share experiences, and gain insights from questions they may not yet have thought to ask themselves. Such opportunities play an important role in building cohorts and fostering a sense of community, particularly within an environment where competing demands on time and finances can make meaningful engagement more challenging. While departments inevitably have distinct training requirements and research cultures, PGR brown bag sessions can provide an effective mechanism for delivering tailored guidance, encouraging peer learning, and strengthening connections among researchers and staff.