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 – 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.
Blog – Singing and dancing with people with dementia
Blog from Clarissa Giebel, discussing new dementia care services and how researchers can support service evaluation, and don't always have to lead the development of interventions.
Blog – Alzheimer’s Research UK Scotland Network: Growing Dementia Research in Glasgow
New blog from Dr Fiona Kerr, and Dr Lorraine Work sharing news from the recent ARUK Scotland network meeting.
Blog – Consenting study participants in dementia research
New blog from Anna Volkmer - tips and hints and guidance (and how to use them) for anyone attempting to produce an information or consent form for their study.
Blog – ARUK North-West Network ECR Day
New blog from Jo Sharpe - sharing news from the recent Alzheimer's Research UK Network day in Manchester.
Blog – The Reading University ARUK Dementia Research Day 2019
New blog from Anne-Marie Greenaway - sharing her key take-aways from the recent Alzheimer's Research UK Network day in Reading.
Blog – International collaboration: Managing primary progressive aphasia
New blog from Anna Volkmer - An international collaboration: Spreading the word on speech and language therapy approaches to managing primary progressive aphasia.
Blog – Health inequalities in dementia care – Knowledge Exchange
Blog from Dr Clarissa Giebel, sharing feedback from a recent knowledge exchange trip between Maastricht & Liverpool addressing health inequalities in dementia care
Blog – Co-Production Week #CoProWeek
Blog by Ester Bellavia, PhD student from Newcastle, discussing #CoProWeek and how share uses co-production in her own dementia research.
Blog – Qualitative research methods in dementia: how does conversation analysis help?
Monthly blog from Anna Volkmer, from University College London, discussing her research, work and getting through her PhD.
Blog – Don’t just see, observe.
Dr Josie Fullerton shares her insights from behind the scenes of the ARUK grant review board, with helpful tips for writing your next grant application.
Blog – Thoughts on the The Australian Dementia Forum (ADF)
Blog from first time contributor Katherine Lawler, Lecturer in Dementia Studies at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Australia. Sharing her thoughts and news from the recent annual Australian Dementia Forum (ADF) meeting.
Blog – Shaping young onset dementia support by involving the public
Blog from Dr Clarissa Giebel, discussing her work at the NIHR CLAHRC in the North West, engaging people with Young-onset Dementia and sharing the outputs of earlier research.
Blog – Preparing for conference attendance – right from the start of a project!
Blog from Anna Volkmer, from University College London, discussing her conference and talk preparations.
Blog – Scientist Media Training
Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez shares her experience and tips from her recent ESRC funded media training with Inside Edge Media.
Blog – PhD Student Reflections on the Alzheimer’s Society Annual Conference 2019
Blog from Katie Gambier-Ross reflecting on last weeks Alzheimer's Society Conference at the Kia Oval in London.
Blog – Interviewing people with dementia
Blog by Sarah Griffiths discussing her experience of qualitative research interviews with people living with dementia. Sharing advise and tips for others who may need to do the same.
Blog – Mental capacity & consent in dementia research
Blog by Victoria Shepherd from Cardiff University discussing dementia research and the exclusion of people with cognitive impairment
Blog – My experiences of applying for my fellowship.
Anna Volkmer, discussing her experience of successfully applying for a fellowship from the NIHR - sharing tips that could help you get NIHR Funding
Guest Blog – Retaining research study participants
New Blog from Anna Volkmer, talking about her experience of finding and retaining dementia research study participants.
Blog – People with dementia are still able to engage in daily tasks – so let’s stop doing everything for them
Blog from Dr Clarissa Giebel, exploring the fine balance between caring, helping, empowering and disempowering people with living with dementia.
Blog – Dissemination: Building up to a podcast
Anna Volkmer, talks about her experience of podcasting with Dementia Researcher. How could podcasting help you reach more people?
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