In this episode, Chloe Burke and Saba Ishrat introduce you to the basics of Mendelian Randomisation. They talk about how and why Mendelian Randomisation is used in addiction research to look at causal relationships, as well as its limitations.   They speak to two experts in the field. First, Dr Anya Topiwala talks about her experiences of using Mendelian Randomisation, including research assessing the relationship between drinking and telomere length. And second, to Dr Robyn Wootton who talks...

In this episode of PhD: Addicted to Research, Rachel Coleman and Zoe Swithenbank talk about smoking cessation in drug and alcohol treatment services. Zoe talks about how a day on the Recovery Walk first made her interested in this area. they talk about including smoking in a person’s recovery plan, whilst acknowledging some of the challenges for the workforce referred to in the Dame Carol Black review. Rachel and Zoe then talk to Dr Tom Ainscough about his research on using contingency...

Merve Mollaahmetoglu talks to Dr Carol-Ann Getty and Dr Basak Tas about the time immediately after your PhD. They discuss funding, how to look out for a permanent position and how to choose your post-doc university. They also talk about how competitive fellowships are and when you should start applying for them. “I’m in my final year and in the writing up process. but I can’t image doing that alongside writing up a fellowship or a grant application” They also cover the impact of the pandemic...

Chloe, Merve and Zoe talk about recent research into ketamine treatment for alcohol use disorder. They cover the background of this area before taking an in-depth look at the results published in Merve's recent paper. The team discuss how the experiences that people had on ketamine changed their relationships with alcohol. They discuss the role of qualitative research in understanding the impact of psychedelic therapies particularly when people have different goals. They also cover some of...

Chloe Burke talks to Dr Jenny Scott, Katy Penfold, Marie Jameson and Rebecca Dwyer about their experiences of conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic and about what changes they made along the way. Dr Scott discusses her research on the impact of the epidemic on people who use opiate substitute medications in rural areas. Marie Jameson talks about how moving to an online format was not appropriate for her research with kinship families affected by parental substance misuse, and how...

In this episode, Dr Ingrid Bacon talks to Ayan Ahmed and Chloe Burke about her work and research on co-dependency in addiction. Dr Bacon explains co-dependency as a 'chameleon concept' and talks about some of her experiences through her PhD (including changing the concept half way through - it's never too late?). They discuss factors that are common across co-dependency, depression and anxiety disorders and how co-dependency can encompass many other underlying issues. Finally Dr Bacon shares...

In this episode Ayan, Carol and Dan discuss the writing up stage of a PhD. At the time of recording Carol and Dan had just finished writing up so were able to give their different hints and tips whilst it was all fresh in their minds. Dr Nicola Metrebian joins the podcast to give a supervisor's perspective on this all important stage of doctoral study. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special episode, Chloe and Merve talk to Rachel Lees, an MRC funded PhD student at the University of Bath, about her research on Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). They discuss common misconceptions about CUD. They also cover treatment options including psychosocial treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapies as well as outlining the evidence base from clinical trials of pharmacological treatments.   The team discusses the emerging literature on cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment and...

In this episode Carol, Chloe and Dan discuss how to find, and apply for, extra funding during your PhD. They cover the different pots of money available to help you attend conferences and seminars, that will pay for collaborations, user engagement and that will sometimes make your PhD one that involves international travel. They talk to Dr Katie East who became an expert in securing extra funding during her PhD. Katie shares her tips for making funding applications, for how to cope with...

In this episode Chloe, Ayan and Merve talk about the different kinds of organisation and goal setting that are essential to completing your PhD. They outline some of the ways to organise the big things (like the overall PhD and thesis), the day to day tasks and short-term projects. They also discuss which apps, programmes and software have worked for them, resisting the temptation to descend into a reference management software discussion. Chloe also talks to Dr Tom Rusbridge, who, at the...

One of the most important aspects of any PhD is the relationship you have with your supervisors. Having an effective working relationship with all your supervisors can make all the difference to the three (and more) years you will spend on your PhD. In this episode Merve, Carol and Dan talk about their experiences of being supervised, as well as sharing their top tips for 'managing' your supervisors; from effective communication, to how to prompt a busy academic for a reply to an email you...

The first few weeks of your PhD can be confusing. In this podcast, Chloe, Carol and Zoe take you through what to do, where to look and what your priorities should be in those first few weeks. The team talk about the importance of meeting your supervisors, finding a computer that works, and making sure you complete all your inductions (including the ones you don't know about). They work hard to avoid making 'paperwork' a theme for the whole podcast. Chloe talks to Oli Schofield who is the...

Together, the SSA's annual PhD symposium and conference showcase some of the most up-to-date research by PhD students and by long-established researchers. In this episode of PhD: Addicted to research, Dan, Jo-Anne and Merve talk about their experiences at this year's conference picking out their highlights (including brain disease models, societal harms, cannabis use disorders, ethnography) and discuss what it is like attending a conference online. Jo-Anne talks to Dr Inge Kersbergen who has...

During your PhD there will be dozens of opportunities to do other things. How can you tell which are worth doing and which will consume all your time for little reward? This week Jo-Anne, Carol and Merve unpick the plethora of options facing PhD students everywhere, from teaching, to conferences and podcasting. They speak to Dr Rachel Orritt who now works at Cancer Research UK about her experiences during and after her PhD, and about which opportunities employers will look for. And which will...

Carol, Jo-Anne and Merve cover everything you need to know about getting funding for your PhD. They cover the many (many) routes to finding and applying for funding, as well as advice on how to make an application, which organisations to approach for funding and how to get used to rejection. The team shares their own experiences along the way. Merve interviews Professor Matt Hickman who gives his advice for PhD applicants on how to make sure your application is selected, and how to approach...

Zoe, Chloe and Dan discuss the first 6 months of a PhD. The team reflect on how they felt when they started and talk about exciting moments and challenges they encountered along the way. Dan interviews Professor Sally Cutler from the University of East London to get some expert advice on starting out including having realistic expectations, taking things step-by-step and the importance of the supervisory relationship. Listeners may also spot the guest appearance from Sally’s cat! There are...

In this episode, Dan, Carol and Zoe cover the why, what and how of academic conferences. From those yearly events that feel like you’re going home, to those that you struggle to make any sense of. Dan interviews Dr Sarah Fox to get a behind-the-scenes view of the Society for the Study of Addiction annual conference. There are also tips on how to make a prize-winning poster, how to make sure your abstract will be accepted and what to do when you want to see more of a city than the inside of a...

Merve, Chloe and Jo-Anne will discuss how to manage stress throughout a PhD, about maintaining a work-life balance and about how to cope with working from home during lock-down. Jo-Anne will interview Veenu, who works as a Peer Wellbeing Ambassador for PhD Students, about some of the common issues that PhD students have and some useful strategies. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This trailer episode introduces the team behind 'PhD: Addicted to Research' and gives you an overview of what's to come. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.