Our blogs cover a whole range of topics, to help early career dementia researchers (ECRs). Our contributors share information about their research, from social care to basic science, share advice from their own experiences, careers tips, what they learned from recent training events and conferences and much more. We have a small team of ECR staff bloggers who write each month, on a whole range of topics and every year we add more people who discuss their experiences of studying at particular places or on different topics. In addition to our staff bloggers, we welcome one-off contributions, and curate and link to content from other great sources, including our charity partners, the LSE Impact Blog, Nature Careers and where ever great support can be found.
To help find what you're looking for, you can browse through the articles, or use the filters on the right to find blogs by a particular person, or on a particular topic.
We are always on the lookout for new contributors, so if you would like to write for us, just head to the forum to drop us a line, or email dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
All of our blogs (since April 2020) come with narrations from the writer. You can listen while you read along on our website, or enjoy our blogs on the move via your podcast app. Look for Dementia Researcher Blogs, or visit one of these platforms, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify and Goodpods.
Blog – Top Tips to Nail your Research Job Interview
We're delighted to welcome Dr Aida Suárez-Gonzalez as a staff blogger, in this great first contribution Aida has 5 top tips to help with your next interview.
Blog – How to give an engaging scientific presentation
Presenting in-person is different to presenting online, in this blog Beth Eyre share some (award winning) top tips for delivering a scientific presentation
Blog – Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference
If you missed last weeks Alzheimer's Society Conference don't worry, Nathan Stephens was there and in this blog her shares his highlights.
Blog – Money Management
Dr Yvonne Couch talks you through planning and then managing the budget for your next research grant - it may be full, but it's essential
Blog – Tops tips for your 1st literature review
Blog from PhD Student Hannah Hussain providing a complete guide to smashing out your first literature review - listen or read.
Blog – The Mental Struggle of Living with Chronic Illness
When Dr Sam Moxon was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis he knew there woudl be a physical challenge, but what about the mental health challenge...
Blog – A Mental Health Update
A new blog from Adam Smith for Mental Health Awareness Week, updating on his own experiences and the importance of talking.
Blog – Who cares for the carers?
As part of our focus for #MentalHealthAwarnessWeek Dr Clarissa Giebel considers support for carers, and what recent research tells us.
Blog – The Curse of the Three-Year Fellowship
Advice for those of you currently applying or considering applying for Fellowships. Pre-warning, Yvonne wasn't very happy when writing.
Blog – The importance of including both sexes in preclinical dementia research
Could the bias towards studying male animals account for poor translation of preclinical dementia research to clinical? Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali explores
Blog – How to get the most out of your PhD experience
Beth has finished her last PhD experiment, prompting her to reflect on her PhD experience, and the oppertunities that others should keep an eye open for
Blog – What is value? A Concept Analysis
Have you ever been questioned about what a certain term actually means? For Nathan Stephens, this word was value. In this blog he explores what is means
Blog – Cannabinoids for better sleep?
Sleep is increasingly recognised as important in dementia but do Cannabinoids help? Masha Burelo, PhD Student from University of Aberdeen explores
Blog – Dementia in Down syndrome and the role of neuroinflammation
In her first blog Clíona Farrell discusses her research and why inclusion of people with Down syndrome is a key to understanding Alzheimer's Disease.
Blog – Can fasting help prevent dementia?
We are in the middle of the holy month of Ramadhan, which prompted Hannah Hussain explore diet and fasting, and the benefits for health.
Blog – Aphasia, public awareness
Aphasia, Apraxia and Dysarthria something the public may be more aware of since news of Bruce Willis's diagnosis. and it's Dr Anna Volkmer's specialist subject.
Blog – How to Present Your Research
Dr Yvonne Couch has a new blog which will help you avoid boring your colleagues, giving you the ins and outs of a good scientific presentation.
Blog – How to Nail Your Conference Abstract
Blog from Dr Sam Moxon providing top tips on how to write and prepare the perfect conference abstract, that WILL get accepted - Read or Listen.
Blog – How to approach networking as a PhD student
Beth Eyre shares some of the things she has learned about networking and what might help you during your own PhD - Read or listen.
Blog – The impact of furry friend’s on people living with dementia
Are you a proud pet parent? Hannah Hussain has been exploring how pets can help people living with dementia - read or listen.
Blog – Evaluating Complex Interventions
Nathan Stephens presents the explores how we evaluate complex interventions. Traditional techniques have there merits, but are they the ‘best’?
Blog – On feeling qualitative research, being naïve, and a wee bit of crying
Marianne Cranwell, sharing the unexpected emotions & feelings that have come from undertaking qualitative research with carers & people living with dementia
Blog – Do EDI policies provide sufficient support for ECRs?
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali explores whether EDI policies provide sufficient support for ECRs & considers the wider impact they might have on dementia research
Blog – Judging capacity: Insights from face-to-face and remote recruitment
Judging capacity & seeking informed consent from people with dementia can be challenging, Leanne Greene & Alex Gude share advise from the D-PACT Study
Blog – Knowing When to Quit in Science and Career
Don’t panic Yvonne isn't quitting, but she has been thinking about the motivation to quit, is there a good way, and would it make you happy?
Blog – Pesticides in Cannabis
Masha Burelo from University of Aberdeen has an interest in Cannabis an Cannabinoids in her latest blog in this series she discusses some of the risks
Blog – The making of the clinical academic…the façade is slipping
Dr Anna Volkmer questions how you sustain the Academic element of being a 'Clinical Academic', and how many hours per week justifies keepin the title?
Blog – Do we need to peer review the process of peer review?
Dr Sam Moxon discusses the process of how we publish new scientific data, the rigour and complexity, the process and the flaws
Blog – What is “brain health” and is it important?
In this blog Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali discusses the challenge of trying to understand brain health, some of the latest research and why it is important.
Blog – Am I doing PPI or Was that PPI?
Nathan discusses Public Patient Involvement, unpacking what that actually means in respect of other similar concepts such as participation and engagement
Blog – Running a Journal Club and how to be Reviewer 2 in a safe environment
Thinking of starting a journal club? Attending your first and not sure what to expect? Dr Clarissa Giebel shares her experiences
Blog – Dementia and stigma through the lenses of neuro-culture and neoliberalism
PhD Students Felicity Slocombe and Chloe Waterman explore neuro-culture and neoliberalism arguing these are negatively impacting people with dementia.
Blog – Dementia Champions, Inspiring or a false narrative?
Adam Smith talks about Dementia Champions, their work, living well with dementia and the overall narrative and how dementia is perceived as a result
Blog – Cannabinoids and Anxiety
Masha Burelo, PhD Student from University of Aberdeen is back with her second blog exploring the use of cannabinoids in anxiety.
Blog – Brain Imaging, Inside The Black Box
New blog from Dr Yvonne Couch bringing her usual fun to explore different types of brain imaging and how they’re applied.
Blog – Overseas collaborations
Anyone who knows Clarissa know's that she is a big believer in collabroations, the pandemic may have changed how we work but its hasn't dampened her enthusiam.
Blog – Women and Girls in Science: Agents of Change
Happy International Day of Women & Girls in Science! Hannah Hussain shares some of the science greats who have inspired her & shares stats on the challenges
Blog – The perils of ‘what next’…?
The last year of your PhD can be challenging, researching, writing, the viva... and the hard part... what next? Beth Eyre shares her thoughts and plans.
Blog – Research ‘Flies’ When You’re Having Fun
Jodi Parslow explains why Flies are one of science’s most useful model organisms & gives insights into the kind of research they contribute to
Blog – The Academic Interview
Dr Anna Volkmer goes through her approach for preparing for the NIHR Advanced Fellowship Interview, and shares her experiece of the process.
Blog – Hospital in a Time of Covid (from my own experience)
Sam has previously shared his challenges of living with ulcerative pancolitis, this landed him in hospital & in this blog he shares experiences from his stay
Blog – Beating the Winter Blues
Hannah Hussain provides her top 5 tips for boosting your productivity, and help you to get on track and smash out those research goals in 2022.
ISTAART Blog – The Trials and Tribulations of Doing an Academic Postdoc Abroad
STAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers Blog, Dr James Quinn reflects on his move from the UK to the USA and his time as a postdoc.
Blog – Don’t Say the ‘D’ Word
Much has been done to improve dementia awareness, but in this blog Nathan discusses the narrative, and asks if this has been improved or could it be misleading?
Blog – The Blood Brain Barrier
New blog from Dr Yvonne Couch discussing all things blood brain barrier, the history, how it works and why it is important for her research.
Blog – What neuropathology can tell us about the brain diseases which lead to dementia
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali describes what neuropathology can tell us about the brain diseases which lead to dementia, and what this means for dementia diagnosis in life
Blog – The highs and lows of scientific research
An insight into the highs and lows of scientific research – from Beth Eyre's perspective as a third year PhD student in Neuroscience.
Blog – From the plant to the lab
Masha Burelo, PhD Student from University of Aberdeen first blog on the topic of cannabinoids and the science behind them... with more to come.

