Research in Practice offers the opportunity to engage in practical development by undertaking a 3- month placement. Each month, we will share the latest news from those who are currently on their placement.
If you would like support with co-ordinating your placement, contact the Research in Practice co-ordinator – Sian Shepherd esrcrip@bangor.ac.uk
Student: Abi Palmer
Cohort: 2024
Year: Second-year PhD student
University: Cardiff University
Placement Host: Social Care Wales
Your placement role and company:
I am based in Social Care Wales, supporting a partnership with ADR Wales championing the use of linked data in social care research.
Your thoughts so far on the placement:
I really appreciate the chance to learn more about the processes that go into preparing administrative data for research. My PhD involves an analysis of the new Adults Receiving Care and Support (ARCS) census, and the placement complements that project by giving me insight into the public sector’s role in developing the census and other administrative datasets. I’ve learned about organisational data maturity, data sharing processes and regulations, and how data owners work with secure data environments to protect people’s data. I’ve produced some web content about the project for SCW’s Insight Collective website. I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute to the creation of an animated video about data sharing.
Any advice you’d give to someone just starting their placement or thinking about a placement:
My placement colleagues have emphasised to me that this is an opportunity for learning, and I’ve been encouraged to reach out to various departments to discover what work they do within SCW. I’d echo that recommendation; use the time for discovery and try to have a broad experience of the organisation as well as an in-depth experience of your main project.
Student: Chloe Thompson
Cohort: 2024
Year: Second-year PhD student
University: University of Gloucestershire
Placement Host: Welsh Government
Tell us about your placement:
My name is Chloe Thompson, I’m in the second year of my PhD at the University of Gloucestershire and am just over a month into my student placement in the Forestry Policy Strategy and Research team within Welsh Government.
Benefits so far:
I’m really enjoying the placement so far, it has been a great way to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day within the civil service, the working style, and the differences from more academically focused research.
Top tips for fellow PhD students:
My advice to others thinking about or just starting their placements would be to take any opportunities to become embedded in your wider team – go along to optional meetings and chat to people you might not be working directly with.
Student: Sherina Lowe
Cohort: 2024
Year: Second-year PhD student
University: Cardiff Metropolitan University
Placement Host: Cwm Taf Morgannwg Public Health
Tell us about your placement:
My work focuses on supporting the development of interventions to increase testing uptake for blood-borne viruses (HIV, Hepatitis B & C) among underserved populations, contributing to the BBV Elimination Plans for CTMUHB. Using the COM-B framework, I am gathering behavioural insights through qualitative and quantitative research techniques to identify barriers and facilitators to testing within services such as prisons, sexual health, and substance misuse programmes.
Benefits so far:
This placement is giving me the opportunity to apply behavioural science in real-world scenarios within public health. Alongside that, the placement is helping to enhance my research skills and better understand testing behaviours.
I am thoroughly enjoying the placement, and I have learnt a lot and feel grateful that I am working with lovely, supportive colleagues. However, it has required patience as it has taken time for me to get on the systems, get access badges etc.
Top tips for fellow PhD students:
My advice to anyone starting a placement is to use this as an opportunity to explore work beyond the usual research career path, you might be surprised at the opportunities, and to build meaningful professional connections.