Selection and recruitment of the best
postgraduate research students in the
Medical School
Dr Colby L. Eaton
Joint PGR Lead,
Oncology and Metabolism
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
• Are we attracting the best
students?
• Are we identifying and recruiting
the best students?
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Are we attracting the best students?
Drivers for attracting the best students:
• High quality research in areas of interest
• Well thought out projects suitable for degree
• Clearly identified funding strategy for project
Negative influences driving students away:
• Poor performance at REF
• Negative reviews of supervisors or School resupervision
• Lack of a clear path to careers or assistance in
accessing career options
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Are we identifying and recruiting the best students?
Strategies for finding the best students: need a defined approach
• Competitive interviews
• Preliminary assessments: lab placements
• Recommendation from undergraduate/masters courses
• Advertising and offering prestigious scholarships
Risky strategies that increase the chances of recruiting problem
students:
• Failure to interview
• Accepting self-funded students without careful selection just
because they ‘bring a fee’
• Failure to take up references
• Accepting ‘ad hoc’ approaches from individuals without considering
a field of candidates
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Current practice in the Medical School
Have project idea and advertise or have ‘ad hoc’ approach from student
Was the project peer reviewed?
Suitable for degree? Is it funded?
Decide if candidate is suitable for project
Did you get the best student?
Interviewed? Competitively interviewed?
Ask the student to formally apply and fill in Postgraduate Recruitment form
Did the student come from placement?
Recommended? References taken up?
Submit documents to Postgraduate Selectors for approval
If approved, University makes a formal offer to student
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
The Postgraduate Recruitment Form:
designed to focus supervisors’ minds on best approach
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Moving towards better practice
All project ideas written down and presented for formal peer review internally.
Poor projects eliminated.
Apply for scholarship funding externally with approved projects.
Prestigious scholarships could be offered
and/or supported by Faculty.
Advertise widely to undergraduate, PGT courses, placement students, generally.
Field will include recommended students
Once advertised, open dialogue with prospective candidates
In depth knowledge of candidates gained
Clearly identify and formally assign funds to the project
Risk of confusion over funding or
shortfalls reduced/eliminated
Candidates apply, are shortlisted and competitively interviewed. Take up references.
Best students recruited from field for
that project
Successful candidate applications and Postgraduate Recruitment forms submitted to
selectors for final approval. If approved, offer made to student by University
The Interview
• Must be assessed by at least 2 academics
• Should include a presentation by the student
• Must include an assessment of student’s
general understanding of research and science
• Must include a judgment of student’s
engagement with the project on offer
• Should provide a secondary evaluation of
English usage
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Are we identifying and recruiting the best students?
Strategies for finding the best students:
• Competitive interviews ✓
• Preliminary assessments: lab placements ✓
• Recommendation from undergraduate/masters courses ✓
• Advertising and offering prestigious scholarships ✓
Risky strategies that increase the chances of recruiting problem
students:
• Failure to interview ✗
• Accepting self-funded students without careful selection just
because they ‘bring a fee’ ✗
• Failure to take up references ✗
• Accepting ‘ad hoc’ approaches from individuals without considering
a field of candidates ✗
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Are we attracting the best students?
Drivers for attracting the best students:
• High quality research in areas of interest ✓
• Well thought out projects suitable for degree ✓
• Clearly identified funding strategy for project ✓
Negative influences driving students away:
• Poor performance at REF ?
• Negative reviews of supervisors or School resupervision ✓
• Lack of a clear path to careers or assistance in
accessing career options –Think Ahead
Selection and recruitment of the best postgraduate research students in the Medical School
Focused career advice: ESR scheme in Medical School available to PGR
students from the outset of studies.