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 – Waving the flag for better social care in dementia
Dr Clarissa Giebel discusses her research into social care during the pandemic, providing a reminder that social support services are key, and they themselves need further support.
Blog – Brexit: a noose slowly strangling academic research in the UK?
New blog from Michelle Naessens reflecting on her personal experience of how leaving the European Union is affecting her as a Dutch national, living and studying in the UK.
Blog – Applying for a NIHR Development Skills Enhancement Award
Dr Anna Volkmer blogs about her experience of completing her PhD, and how she worked to ensure she didn't 'fall off the edge'.
Blog – Anti-Racism in STEM
Maya Gosztyla is working to facilitate more productive conversations (and in turn, tangible systemic changes) toward addressing racial discrimination in STEM
Blog – The research insider debate in qualitative research
Dr Emily Oliver explores the advantages and disadvantages of being an insider researcher, exploring issues of being inside looking out or outside looking in.
Blog – Doing a virtual viva and completing PhD amendments
Anna Volkmer (now Dr Volkmer) shares the story behind her on / off viva, and working on amendments, parenting and work during lockdown.
Blog – PhD applications: what I learned through success and rejections
New blog from Siliva Anderle sharing what she learned during her my PhD application journey. Great advise for anyone thinking of starting a PhD.
Blog – Hit the ground running: starting your Dementia MSc
Michelle Naessens shares advise for future MSc students, learn from decisions she made and what she would do differently given the chance all over again
Blog – Researching Dental Care in Dementia
Andrew Geddis-Regan writes about his NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship work to improve decision making and dental care for people living with dementia.
Blog – Anxiety Vs. The Internet: How Social Media Gets Mental Health Wrong
Sarah reflects on how Mental Health advice on Twitter often contradicts her own experiences, and shares some things that do and don’t work for her.
Blog – Looking into inequalities in dementia care pathways
James Watson is investigating the socio-economic and geographic variation in care pathways and the resulting health and economic outcomes for older populations.
Blog – Ways to avoid rubbish video calls
Adam Smith has turned to blog writing to try to share some good general rules for video calls, he assures us this wasn't aimed at anyone specific.
Blog – Covid & dementia, impacts from research to care
Clarissa Giebel shares details of how her covid-19 dementia research studies have been conceived, funded, approved and started recruiting in under two weeks.,
Blog – Preparing for a virtual viva
At this slightly strange time, Anna Volkmer shares (from experience) her top tips for preparing for the virtual viva, as she prepares for her own this week.
Blog – Tech Support for People Living with Dementia
Joanna Sun discusses her work exploring if care homes fulfil the needs of people living with dementia, families and staff & how tech is being utilised.
Blog – Stress and Alzheimer’s, what do we know so far?
Can stress increase dementia risk? Sarah Gregory explores cortisol, Alzheimer’s, and what research reveals about this complex connection.
Blog – Dementia researcher’s mental health and productivity in Covid-19 times
Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez talks about her experiences of staying home for 16 days, with tips to stay physically and mentally healthy.
Blog – Liverpool Dementia going Dutch
Clarissa Giebel updates on her recent trip to Maastricht for her Alzheimer’s Society funded project, and discusses differences in study recruitment.
Blog – Why are we excluding the best brains from dementia research?
Is to possible to have security and stability while also pursuing a career as a researcher? Anna Volkmer discusses research culture, and what needs to change.
Blog – Teaching while going after the sword (PhD) in the stone
Ester Bellavia shares some of her reflections on the learning experiences of her second year of PhD and her imminent annual progress review.
Blog – Reflecting on the first UK Dementia Care Research Summit
Adam Smith discusses what he learned from the recent UK Dementia Care Research Summit, and his top 10 take-aways that could improve dementia care research.
Blog – Accessing routine data for dementia across the globe
Dr Clarissa Giebel shares her exploration of dementia cohort datasets, and discusses how they are supporting her latest research and could help yours
Blog – Tips from inside the ARUK grant review board
Dr Fiona McLean reflects on her observations from a recent Alzheimer's Research UK review board, sahring advise that might help your next grant application.
Blog – Tips & hints on surviving life post-thesis, pre-viva.
Do you get a sense of loss after hitting those major milestones? In this Blog Anna Volkmer reflects on dealing with the pre-viva lull.
Blog – VOICEland: A Journey Through PPI in Dementia Research
PhD researcher Ester Bellavia shares how storytelling helped her explore PPI in dementia research, navigating the ‘Research Involvement Ocean’ to VOICEland.
Blog – Cognitive Impairment at the foot of Kilimanjaro
Dr Iago Rego García interviews Dr Judith Boshe, the sole psychiatrist at KCMC in Tanzania, on diagnosing dementia in low-resource settings.
Blog – One small DPUK grant can kick-start a big career
Luke Whiley tells the story of how a relatively small grant has taken him far in his career in dementia research – to the other side of the world in fact!
Blog – Things I learned while writing my first publication
Katrina Deane shares some things she learned while writing her first publication, and recommending the mantra 'Flexibility is a Sign of Greatness'.
Blog – Cognitive Accessibility, person-centred care and gaining consent in dementia research
Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez gives a personal account of her experiences in taking research participant consent, how this has changed overtime.
Blog – Getting consent right!
There are many things that researchers can do to maximise the person’s ability to participate in decision making. Here are some top tips from Anna Volkmer
Guest Blog – Goodbye 2019, hello new decade and more dementia research!
From Lebkuchen to lab visits, Dr Clarissa Giebel reflects on 2019’s milestones in dementia care research and looks ahead to global collaborations in 2020.
Guest Blog – Getting ready for my PhD roller coaster ride
PhD life is a roller coaster. Ester Bellavia reflects on fear, growth, self-kindness and learning to take control, one twist and turn at a time.
Blog – How do you report your PPI in dementia research? Meet GRIPP2
Research is significantly enhanced and enriched using a public participatory approach. Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez discusses how to report PPI
Blog – Curious, innovative, empowering drive to DEEP change
Ester Bellavia discussed her recent engagement with people from the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP for short).
Blog – Preventative Neurology Unit Symposium, QMUL
Phazha Bothongo shares a highlights, news and updates from the Queen Mary University of London Preventative Neurology Unit Symposium
Blog – Setting up a dementia and ageing network
From little local connection to a thriving forum: one researcher’s effort to grow dementia and ageing network in Liverpool uniting researchers & clinicians
Blog – Creating Zines for the Neighbourhoods: Our People, Our Places Study
Domenique Brouwers shares how visual metaphors & co-creation with people living with dementia brought research stories to life in the Neighbourhoods study
Blog – Bridging Research and Empathy
Ester Bellavia, inspired by The Good Place & a chance meeting with Chris Roberts, this blog explores how trust and empathy reshape dementia research involvement
Blog – PhD to Postdoc transition
Dr Katie Askew discussed her experience of not only transitioning from PhD to Postdoc, but also a new labs and new city - sharing tips and advice
Blog – Cultivating a research culture in the NHS
Can the research culture inside the NHS be improved? What role can non clinicians play? Blog from Anna Vollkmer discussing research culture inside the NHS
Blog – Catch-up on the 29th Alzheimer’s Europe Conference
Ester Bellavia shares her first experience at the 29th Alzheimer’s Europe Conference in The Hague, exploring research, connections, and involvement in dementia.
Blog – Managing Anxiety (For Stress Awareness Week)
Amy Kizildagli explores anxiety during Stress Awareness Week, sharing insights, practical tips, and how yoga and Pilates can help manage anxious thoughts.
Blog – Slicing up your thesis for publication
Kellyn Lee reflects on the challenge of turning her PhD thesis into journal articles, sharing struggles, lessons, and how planning helped her progress.
Blog – You’ve passed your PhD, now what?
Guest blog from Dr Emily Oliver who recently completed her NIHR Clinical Academic Doctorate at the University of Southampton. Discussing her thoughts on how handle completion and what comes next.
Blog – My PhD plans and improving care
James Watson, PhD student at the University of Liverpool, explores how geography and inequality affect dementia care pathways and outcomes for older populations
Blog – Knowledge Exchange between Liverpool and Maastricht
Blog from Clarissa Giebel, sharing news from her recent visit exchange visit to Maastricht University to catch up on recruitment, and all things study-related.
Blog – Meeting of minds: Qualitative Research in Dementia
Anna Volkmer - sharing further info from last weeks 1st meeting of a group of researchers all interested in using qualitative research methods with people with communication difficulties and dementia.
Blog – Preparing for your Viva Voce Examination
New blog from Naomi Gallant - having just gone through the Viva, Naomi shares some snippets from her own experience which we hope may help you along the way. Adding to this weeks Viva theme.

