PGR student reps
PGR student reps provide a voice for fellow students in their Division or cohort by ensuring their concerns are raised during University decision-making processes.
The Doctoral Academy's PGR rep scheme is a valued part of the PGR community in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. We believe that reps help get PGRs' voices heard, while building a welcoming postgraduate research environment.
If you're interested in becoming a Rep, but you aren't sure what the role entails, have a look at the descriptions for each role below.
School PGR Rep
As a School PGR Rep, you are responsible for reporting to the Doctoral Academy and School committees on issues arising within your school, and circulating information to/from Divisional reps.
This includes:
- attending Doctoral Academy and School Committees;
- attending the Manchester Doctoral College Strategy Group committee;
- liaising with Division reps to identify issues within your School,
- reporting feedback from Division reps to the School/DA;
- attending welcome/induction events for new PGRs;
- supporting the identification of new PGR Division reps;
- providing feedback to programme management boards.
Time commitment: 3-4 hours per month.
Divisional and Programme PGR Rep
As a Divisional or Programme PGR Rep, you are responsible for providing a voice for a defined group of students in one Division or programme. Reps help ensure good communication between their PGRs and the relevant divisional academic lead.
Larger Divisions may have several reps, and you may wish to take on a specific area of interest (such as wellbeing) or focus on the concerns of a particular group of PGRs (such as first years).
Responsibilities include:
- liaising regularly with the Division’s Senior PGR Tutor;
- disseminating information to/from the School rep to/from the student cohort;
- attending some Rep Forums and PGR Welcome Inductions;
- developing feedback mechanisms to identify issues, concerns and good practice amongst fellow Divisional PGR students.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month.
Upcoming training
Dr Debbie Smith and Julie Fiwka lead PGR Rep training throughout the year. This training is reviewed continuously throughout the year and sites the relevant training/workshops/events for PGRs to signpsot to.
We encourage all Reps to attend the training wherever possible, especially for new PGR Reps who have not attended previous training.
The training dates for this upcoming year are:
- 12 March 2024
- 27 June 2024
All Reps will receive a calendar invite with the details of the training session nearer the date.
All PGR Reps can find details of the role and responsibilities outlined in our PGR Rep Handbook (PDF, University log-in required).
You can get in touch with current reps by consulting this document: Contact details of current reps (PDF, University login required).
PGR Rep training events are held throughout the year. For more information about the role or about the training, please contact us.
Email: FBMH.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk
Have you been impressed by a PGR Rep?
If you have been particularly impressed by the actions of your local PGR Rep, there is a PGR Representative category in the PGR Excellence Awards.
Our PGRs have organised many events and activities for PGRs in their Schools, Divisions and programmes. PGR rep activities include attending careers seminar series, coffee mornings, sports days and International Women's Day initiatives.
If you feel a Rep deserves a shoutout for their hard work, please get in touch with us for Reps to have a special mention in the monthly Doctoral Academy PGR Bulletin.
Email: FBMH.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk
Meet your School and Divisional PGR Reps
School of Biological Sciences
Click on your reps name to find out more about them.
| School Reps |
Lilian Chidi-Onuorah VACANCY |
|
Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine |
Emiliya Seytyagyayeva Caitlin Otto Yuhong Jiang |
|
Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics |
Nouf Althali |
|
Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine |
Erin-Claire Pallot Sophie Booth |
|
Division of Molecular and Cellular Function |
Kashmala Carys |
|
Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences |
Ayobami Olanrewaju (Epidemiological Sciences) Elan Shellard (Musculoskeletal Sciences) Maana Layeghi Ruby McKenna |
|
Division of Neuroscience |
Katy Walsh |
School of Health Sciences
Click on your reps name to find out more about them.
| School Reps |
Megan Sheppard |
|
Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience |
Shentong Liu Stephanie Loukieh Shuo Yan |
|
Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences |
Alexandra Warwick Darcy Murphy Chantelle Cornett |
|
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work |
|
|
Division of Pharmacy and Optometry |
Chidinma Akaihe (International PGR and PGR Training and Development rep) Fatema Alshaikhmubarak (International PGR and PGR wellbeing rep) Rodion Shipetin (PGR wellbeing rep) Wenjuan Chen
|
|
Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care |
|
|
Division of Psychology and Mental Health |
Lana Bojanic (PGR International rep) Xiao Chu Ma |
School of Medical Sciences
Click on your reps name to find out more about them.
|
School Reps |
VACANCY |
|
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences |
Raghad Al-Dulaymi Rachel Jones Ellie England Oveena Fonseka Farah Hussein Sanskruti Ravindra Gare Nina Conlon Ewan Camplisson |
|
Division of Dentistry |
Haoran Zhao |
|
Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine |
Jessica Dalton-O’Reilly Yuyao Jin Xinyu Yang |
| Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology | |
|
Division of Medical Education (including CHSTM) |
Yixuan Li |
|
Division of Cancer Sciences |
Laura Woodhouse Vivien Holmes |
|
CRUK MI |
Florentia Mousoullou |