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@nihr.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. You can subscribe to our narrated blogs in your podcasts app, look for Dementia Researcher Blogs, or visit one of these platforms, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify and Goodpods.
Blog – An introduction to Social Return on Investment
SROI is a mixed methods framework for measuring the social value of an intervention. Nathan Stephens talks us through the process
Blog – When to leave academia, and how to return if you change your mind
Traditional academic careers are no-longer the norm, you need to find your own path, which can include leaving and returning. Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali discusses
Blog – How to Develop Research Independence
Dr Sam Moxon considers how to breakfree of doing other peoples research, and progress to being a PI and following your own research path
Blog – Academic Life and the Problems of Perpetual Post-Docing
Dr Yvonne Couch, discusses some of the challenges faced by postdocs, problems you may face in a science career and how to avoid them
Blog – 3 Tips for a PhD interview
With many doctoral training programme deadlines approaching, this blog from Beth Eyre might just help you ace the interview.
Blog – Squid Game, Player 001, Dementia
Did you watch Squid Game? Warning this blog contains spoilers! Hannah Hussain explores the image of dementia portrayed on television.
Blog – Conversation analysis, tips & lessons learned
Felicity Slocombe shares the progress she is making in her research, and the lessons she has learned so far from analysing conversations.
Blog – Tips on Job Hunting after Grad School
In the last post from Morgan Daniel's MSc journey blogs, she discusses job hunting, the challenges, ups and downs and a few things she learned along the way.
Blog – Another year, another Liverpool Dementia Conference!
Dr Clarissa Giebel reflects and updates on the recent Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Conference - catch-up now to learn about the work
Blog – Err On the Side of Patronising: Writing Tips
Dr Yvonne Couch provides a series of writing exercises, hints and tips for everyone starting out on their first paper, grant or project report.
Blog – How does the brain clean itself? And is this linked to Alzheimer’s?
Beth Eyre provides insights into the brains waste system – and how it may be important in Alzheimer’s disease. So, saddle up for some fascinating science!
Blog – Disrupting Dementia Research Careers
Today Adam Smith is speaking at the World Dementia Council global dialogue on ECRs. In this blog he talks about career challenges for dementia researchers
Blog – Intervention planning in dementia
If your research discovers something that could help people what happens to it? Anna explores the challenges of translating research into clinical services
Blog – Preparing for your PhD confirmation review
In this blog Hannah Hussain discusses how to prepare for the exam that comes at the end of the first year of your PhD, the dreaded confirmation review
Blog – Can we 3D print revolutionary research?
Dr Sam Moxon introduces us to 3D Bioprinting, and work to print human tissue-like structures in the lab. But could this revolutionise dementia research?
Blog – Social Value: a vehicle for social change
Nathan Stephens discusses the progressive shift towards more equitable health systems and why now is a good time for change.
Blog – Grant Rejections, the norm in academia
How to deal with grant application rejecttion, some funders proudly claim to fund 1 in 4 - but what if you're in the other 75%? Clarissa discusses.
Blog – The Edge of Anxiety
Dr Yvonne Couch writes about the stressors, how they affect performance and how this fits into academic life, mental health & what we can do about it
Blog – Studying Memory using conversation analysis
Felicity Slocombe discusses her work on collective remembering or co-remembering and how it can be used in interactions with people living with dementia
Blog – Has a reliance on animal models delayed dementia research?
Why have preclinical studies using Alzheimer’s disease mouse models failed to translate into successful clinical trials? Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali explores
Blog – Dear Scientist… celebrating Ada Lovelace Day
It's Ada Lovelace Day and to mark the occasion Dr Yvonne Couch writes of some of the women that have inspired her & what she hopes might change
Blog – The way we think about dementia has changed for the better
Dr Sam Moxon discusses how our approach to dementia has changed - pick an organ and you can probably find studies showing its potential roles in dementia.
Blog – 5 transferable skills you can gain from a PhD
Beth Eyre reflects on the skills she has gained through her PhD, and how they could be transferred into the job market (over and above awesome lab skills).
Adam Smith adds to the World Dementia Council Global Voices
Our Programme Director Adam Smith was asked to write a blog for the World Dementia Council, take look to see how he connected ECRs to Space X Inspiration 4.
Blog – Green & Gold: Issues with open access publishing
Publishing your research is great, but its even better if read. Dr Anna Volkmer discusses her current efforts to make a new publication open access.
Blog – Top 10 tips for new PhD students
Hannah Hussain is about to finish the 1st year of her PhD, in preparing for her confirmation meeting, she shares her top 10 tips for new PhD Students
Blog – Exploring the Meeting Centres Support Programme
In this blog Nathan Stephens discusses The Meeting Centre Support Programme, which also happens to be the focus of his PhD research.
World Alzheimer’s Day Special Research Update
For World Alzheimer's Day we asked our bloggers to reflect on they thought had progressed in their research fields & what should be the focus next year
Blog – Dementia Reporting Season
Dr Clarissa Giebel discusses the latest report from the UK APPG and WHO, and reflects on what made the spotlight, and what didn't.
Blog – Why does brain injury increase the risk of dementia?
Experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the strongest modifiable risk factor for developing dementia. Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali introduces her research
Blog – What the ethics? Negotiating ethics submissions
Research ethics are the moral principles that govern how researchers should carry work. Felicity Slocombe has some advice for getting your ethics approved
Blog – What I wish I’d known before starting my PhD
Beth Eyre is about to start the 3rd year of her PhD, in this blog she shares some advice that she wishes she'd received when she was starting out.
Blog – How to engage participants remotely, lessons learnt during the pandemic
Jessica Rees shares tips for getting great engagement in online workshops - for people living with dementia, carers and researchers.
Blog – Eat your vegetables, trust Me… It’s Important!
Sam was diagnosed with Ulcerative pancolitis, he ask what could help... and was told "not much" so he did his own research, and found diet makes a difference.
Blog – Anxiety dreams & short terms contracts
Dr Anna Volkmer had a strange dream... one we fhope won't come true. In this blog Anna share her tips for surviving the unstable & insecure life as an ECR
Blog – What does a health economist do?
Hannah Hussain provides an introduction to the principles of health economics - how to measure & deliver cost effective care & treatments.
Blog – Rebalancing Gender in Dementia Care
Nathan Stephens unpacks the complex topic that is males in care work, or more to the point the lack of them; and some key considerations in the area
Blog – Your Résumé Needs You!
With news that the UKRI is adopting the Royal Society Résumé for Researchers format. Dr Yvonne Couch endeavours to outline its purpose
Blog – Taking care of yourself during Grad School
As we almost reach the end of our year long journey with Morgan Daniel, she shares some tip tips for taking care of yourself during a Masters.
Blog – From aspiring psychologist to neuroscientist
We welcome Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali as our latest staff blogger, Kamar brings a wealth of experience, spanning NHS, Academia and a Research Funder.
Blog – Hybrid care, the future of dementia care?
Dr Clarissa Giebel discusses how dementia care is changing in the short and long-term as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blog – If research is so unpredictable, why do it?
Dr Sam Moxon writes about motivation, what inspires people (and him) to pursue a career in science and research, and what it takes to keep going.
Blog – Is blood flow the missing link to helping understand Alzheimer’s?
In the first of our blood flow blogs, Beth Eyre discusses her own research and gives a whistle stop tour about the importance of blood flow.
Blog – Go with the flow
Blood enters the right atrium, flows through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle & the heart beats. Dr Yvonne Couch discusses blood flow & dementia
Blog – My experience of online learning
When Morgan started her MSc, she had no idea how it would work (UCL probably didn't either) in this blog she reflects on studying during the pandemic
Blog – AAIC 2021 Round-up
In a change to our usual AAIC review format, Adam Smith has narrated his blog sharing top stories from the week, discusses the platform and his own highlights.
Blog – My first in-person event, experiences & reflections
Catch-up with Felicity Slocombe, as she discusses what she discovered at her first face-to-face dementia conference & experiences of presenting her work
Blog – Future funding: Applying for an NIHR advanced fellowship
Dr Anna Volkmer discusses her career path & provides tips for Clinical Academics navigating the NIHR Academic Training Programme

