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 – Alzheimer’s treatments: Game-changers or false hope?
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali examines new Alzheimer's drug treatments. Are they breakthroughs or just fueling false hopes? A balanced, must-read take on recent research
Blog – Presenting your Research to a Lay Audience
Dr Yvonne Couch on mastering the art of presenting science to non-experts: simplicity, visuals & relatability are key. Make research resonate!
Blog – Advocating for Yourself in Academia
Struggle to say 'no' in academia? Dr. Jodi Watt shares tips on self-advocacy. Learn tools to navigate your career & maintain work-life balance. Must-read!
Blog – How to find a PhD… an insider’s guide!
Unlock the secrets to finding your ideal PhD with Beth Eyre's insider guide. The best sources, leveraging social media and more. Your PhD journey starts here!
Blog – Using Time Tracking for Time Management
Master time management with tips from Ajantha Abey. Discover how Time Tracking can transform your academic and personal life. Don't just guess, measure!
Blog – Let’s Talk about Impact
Unlock the hidden power of research with Dr Clarissa Giebel's blog. Learn how small actions can change dementia care & empower lives.
Blog – Study Recruitment and the Sample Size Jinx
Dr Anna Volkmer unpacks study recruitment challenges in PCA. Learn about ethical dilemmas, sample size, and patient willingness. A must-read for researchers
Blog – Starting a PhD: How to Know Nothing
Navigating a PhD? Rebecca Williams' blog explores why "knowing nothing" is crucial in academia. A must-read for new researchers seeking reassurance and insight.
Blog – When to Find Funding as a Post-Doc
Navigating post-doc funding? Dr Yvonne Couch's blog is your essential guide! From small grants to junior fellowships, get insider tips to secure your future.
Blog – The Naked Truth About My Academic Confidence
Dr Jodi Watt explores academic confidence, from fast speech to imposter syndrome. Her surprising key to confidence? Life modelling.
Blog – The Role of Luck in Academic Success
Dr Yvonne Couch explores the role of luck in academia, highlighting that success is often a blend of skill, preparation & serendipity. A must-read for academics
Blog – World Alzheimer’s Day 23: A new era of optimism
For World Alzheimer's Day, Ajantha Abey zooms in to consider the progress being made in developing new drugs to beat the disease.
Blog – Be Your Own Benchmark: Measuring Your Career Journey
Dr Sam Moxon's talks about imposter syndrome, how job changes can bring a flare up., and why setting personal benchmarks is key to sustainable career growth
Blog – Beyond the manuscript: disentangling academic authorship
Dr Gaia Brezzo demystifies academic authorship. Sharing her experience to discuss key roles, navigating grey areas, and avoiding disputes - essential for ECRs.
Blog – Demystifying the PhD
Uncover the complexities of a UK PhD with Dr. Beth Eyre's blog "Demystifying the PhD." From funding to stages, it's your go-to guide for a doctoral journey.
Blog – Population Studies: Examples of how they are helping
Read Connor's blog on CFAS! Learn about a decline in dementia, challenges in MCI diagnosis, and dementia's complex neuropathology. A must for ageing research!
Blog – Sharing Time and Brain Space
Honest insights of parenthood in UK academia. In this blog Dr Vitor Zimmerer shares his journey of love, challenges, & hope for our Family LIfe & Research week.
Blog – Reconsidering The Leaky Pipeline
Dive into Dr Jodi Watt's blog, where they challenge academia's "leaky pipeline" metaphor, spotlighting queer experiences, inclusion, and diversity.
Blog – Barriers to Innovation & what it means for Dementia Research
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali uncovers barriers to scientific innovation in dementia research - resistance, funding biases, & cultural hurdles. Embrace change for progress
Blog – How Dogs Are Helping Us Understand And Solve
Discover dogs' vital role in dementia research through Ajantha Abey's blog, uncovering canine insights into human disease.
Blog – Self-Report: It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
Rebecca Williams' discusses self-report scales in psychological research, talking complexity & cautioning against assumptions and advocating tailored approaches
Blog – How to Prepare a Keynote Talk
Master the art of captivating keynote talks with Dr Sam Moxon's expert tips – engage your audience, tell a compelling story, and leave a lasting impact.
Blog – Cracking the Viva: Preparing for PhD Success
Join Dr (pending minor corrections) Beth Eyre on her triumphant viva journey, as she shares indispensable tips to conquer your PhD defense with confidence.
Blog – Organ-On-Chip and Organoid Technologies
Dr Yvonne Couch's blog emphasises the importance of mentoring in academia for mental health and academic success, advocating for compulsory mentoring programmes
Blog – Learning about dementia care in India
Explore Dr. Clarissa Giebel's insightful global research odyssey in dementia care, revealing the power of direct engagement & collaborations in India.
Blog – I didn’t know who I was after my PhD
Dr Jodi Watt's blog explores their path as a "dabbler," talking about academic pressure and their ongoing efforts for self-discovery after PhD life.
Blog – Navigating Collaborative Science
Dr Gaia Brezzo explores collaborative science's evolution, lab dynamics, and positive citizenship in this insightful blog full of top tips.
Blog – Improving clinician-academic partnerships
Explore the transformative potential of clinician-academic partnerships in advancing dementia research with Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali's insightful blog.
Blog – Why You Should Teach Alongside Your Research
Discover the joy of teaching: as a PhD student, embrace the classroom to enrich your research, communication skills, and future prospects - Ajantha Abey
Blog – Population Studies: What we have learned and why we need them
Dr Connor Richardson discusses population-based studies to understanding cognitive function distribution, and effective strategies for older individuals
Blog – How to Build your Academic Network
Dr Sam Moxon highlights the importance of collaboration in dementia research and offers practical tips to nurture effective partnerships.
Blog – Science Communication, Reaching Out of the Bubble
Rebecca Williams - Break Barriers and Inspiring Change: A Science Communication Journey from a Small Town Dreamer to Oxford, and How You Can Make a Difference.
Blog – Getting yourself a Senior academic promotion
Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez provides valuable tips for achieving senior academic promotions. Get the recognition you deserve.
Blog – More than a paper, co-designing a board game
How do you ensure your research findings have impact? Dr Clarissa Giebel tried a new approach, making research findings into a board game.
Blog – Isolation in Academia
Dr Yvonne Couch's blog emphasises the importance of mentoring in academia for mental health and academic success, advocating for compulsory mentoring programmes
Blog – Conference Countdown: Mastering the Art of Preparation
In this blog by Hannah Hussain, llearn how to prepare for a conference and when you get there, how to maximise your experience
Blog – Pivoting your research area
Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali shares her experience of pivoting research areas during postdoc positions, emphasising the importance of leveraging existing skills.
Blog – 5 things I wish I had known about writing up my PhD thesis
Beth Eyre gives tips for PhD thesis writing, emphasising routine, realistic expectations, separating writing and editing, and completion over perfection.
Blog – Why Dementia Patients Deteriorate in Hospital
In this blog Dr Sam Moxon shares his grandfather's experience of rapid dementia decline in hospital, emphasising the need for improved dementia care & support
Blog – Sustainable Travel to International Conferences
With the AAIC around the corner, Adam Smith talks about the importance of 'Carbon offsetting’ for conference travel, why you should, and how you can.
Blog – My experience as an LGBTQIA+ postgraduate & PhD student
As Pride Month comes to a close, Dr Jodi Watt shares some key key takeaways based on personal experience as a queer postgraduate student in science.
Blog – A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing for a Big Conference
This guide from Ajantha Abey provides strategies for maximising the conference experience - planning, prioritisation, effective networking, note-taking + more
Blog – Digital Biomarkers, A New Era in MND Research and Care
Mark Crook-Rumsey talks about his and the UKDRI work in Digital biomarkers, and their potential to revolutionise Motor Neuron Disease (MND) research.
Blog – Fading stars: disorder in the galaxy of the brain
Dr Chris Henstridge explores the connection between synapse loss, cognitive decline, and overlapping symptoms in Frontotemporal Dementia & Motor Neuron Disease
Blog – Are Sportspeople More Prone to MND?
Is there a link between contact sports, repetitive head trauma & diseases like Motor Neurone Disease & Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? Dr Sam Moxon explores
Blog – UK Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute
Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research from MND Scotland discusses the launch of the new UK MND Research Institute -accelerating the hunt for new treatments.
Blog – Searching for the ‘whole’ scientist, juggling academia
Dr Gaia Brezzo discusses the struggle of balancing multiple aspects of an academic career, and the importance of taking time for higher-level thinking.
Blog – Visiting other research labs, a personal reflection
Dr Anna Volkmer talks about visiting other labs as a valuable opportunity to enable collaboration, inspiration & personal growth, providing fresh perspectives.
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