What is a "Postdoc"?

How similar/different is this across different disciplines, and with the increased focus on interdisciplinary research, how can we communicate and connect across divides?

Come explore with us in this event, kicking start with a comedic take on this topic by Dave Chawner, followed by conversations and discussion panel led by Prof Ian Sabroe and Dr Dieter Declercq, hosts of the podcast 'Conversations about Arts, Humanities and Health', on how to create collaborative environments, break preconceived ideologies, and rediscover the joy that drives us forward with what we do!

Speakers

Dave Chawner

Dave's a number 1 best selling author, award-winning stand up and presenter. He uses comedy to sensitively talk about difficult or seemingly dry subjects covering everything from mental health to the history of Western philosophy. His specialist course Comedy For Coping is specifically aimed at people with mental health problems to use stand up to improve their confidence, build communication and develop a connection with other people. This has already won funding from The British Academy and has been commissioned on the NHS. Dave has presented for BBC's Tomorrow's World and has appeared on BBC, ITV & Channel 4 on such shows as BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, Loose Women, The Jeremy Vine Show, Morning Live as well as appearances on Radio 1, Radio 2 & Radio 4.

Prof Ian Sabroe

Ian Sabroe is a recently retired NHS consultant and academic. His research has been in respiratory immunology, and later in medical humanities. Ian continues to do some research in the medical humanities, especially from the point of view of doctors experiences of healthcare and personal illness during the 20th century, working with medical students and close colleagues such as Dr Chris Millard. He also runs a podcast with Dr Dieter Declercq from the University of Kent, exploring medical humanities and the experiences of researchers around the world working in this field.

Dr Dieter Declercq

Dr Dieter Declercq is a Senior Lecturer in Film and Media, Co-Director Centre for Health and Medical Humanities, University of Kent. Dieter has a background in Literature & Linguistics, Philosophy and Film & Media. In his research, he investigates the important contributions of popular media and aesthetic activity to our lives, health and wellbeing. He has a particular interest in comedy, satire and play. He is passionate about collaborating with artists, professionals and researchers from a variety of backgrounds. He co-hosts Conversations about Arts, Humanities, and Health: a webinar-podcast series that fosters meaningful connections between humanities and medicine.

Panel

Dr Claire Burridge 

Dr Claire Burridge is a historian of health and medicine who focuses on the transmission of pharmaceutical information and the relationship between medical knowledge and practice in early medieval Europe. This research draws on a range of disciplines, bringing together textual, archaeological, and (bio)codicological evidence. Claire started academic life in the US, completing her BA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, before moving to Cambridge for her MPhil and PhD. She was a postdoctoral researcher at the British School at Rome, is currently a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow at the University of Sheffield, and will be starting as a Senior Researcher at the University of Oslo in January 2024. 

Dr Mukti Singh

Dr Mukti Singh (she/her) is a postdoctoral researcher in the Wellcome Centre for Cell Matrix Research at the University of Manchester specialising in extracellular matrix research. Beyond the lab, Mukti enjoys a variety of interests, from crafting and cooking, to hitting the gym for weightlifting. Mukti is not just passionate about science, but also about leading a balanced and fulfilling life. 

DR Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril 

Élaina Gauthier-Mamaril (she/her) is a disabled philosopher of disability. As an interdisciplinary postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society (University of Edinburgh) she is currently working on a scholarly research podcast on long COVID as a mass disabling event. Her interests range from Filipino philosophy, relational agency, and knitting.

Facilitators

Dr Fiona McBride and Dr Stefania Silvestri, Prosper team

Prosper, focused on creating a new career development model for postdocs, is now available for all to access. As a postdoc you can use the resources to hone your career development, creating a login if you wish to access some additional functions and track your own progress.