Lero runs a doctoral symposium for all postgraduate students and researchers on an annual basis. The doctoral symposium gives students the opportunity to present their research to a panel of reviewers and to colleagues. Student supervisors do not attend. Reviewers evaluate and provide valuable feedback to students.

Doctoral Symposium - 2008

The Second Lero Doctoral Symposium took place during the sixth Lero Research Workshop on November 26^th and 27^th at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone. Eight students were selected to present their research to the other students and a panel of reviewers. The goal of the Doctoral Symposium is to provide a forum for the Lero postgraduate students to obtain feedback on their research by experienced academic researchers. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to get to know each other, as they are based in the four different locations of Lero (UL, DCU, TCD, UCD).

During this symposium, presentations were given by Michal Pluska (DCU), Anila Mjeda (UL), Yu Liu (TCD), Klaas-Jan Stol (UL), Pawel Cancarski (TCD), Josu Martinez (UCD), Padraig O’Leary (UL), and Lianping Chen (UL). The review panel consisted of Prof. David Bustard from the University of Ulster and Prof. Guy Fitzgerald from Brunel University.

The selected students were in different stages of their doctoral research, varying from six months to three years. Each session consisted of a 20 minute presentation, followed by 10 minutes feedback and Q&A by the review panel. The feedback provided by Prof. Bustard and Prof. Fitzgerald was very helpful, and on behalf of the students I would like to thank them for their time and cooperation.

Photos from the workshop.

Doctoral Symposium - 2007

The 2007 Lero Doctoral Symposium took place at the 4th Lero Researchers Workshop October 1st, 2007 in Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Eight postgraduate students presented their work to a panel of three reviewers with considerable experience supervising PhD students: Emeritus Prof Eamonn McQuaide, University of Limerick (Chair), Emeritus Prof Colin Tully, University of Middlesex and Prof David Bustard, University of Ulster. The student presented the research question, research method, summary of research to date and plans for the next 12 months. The presentation was followed by a feedback/question and answer session. The doctoral symposium was well attended by 30 postgraduate students. Students were enthusiastic about the doctoral symposium and the constructive criticism and advice from the panel of reviewers was perceived as very helpful and supportive.

Doctoral Symposium Panel of Reviewers
(l-r) The late Emeritus Prof Colin Tully, Emeritus Prof Eamonn McQuaide, Prof David Bustard

Eoin Bailey from UCD getting ready to present to colleagues at the doctoral symposium