This workshop provides the essential guides and practical tips on research pitching. Using the storyboard methodology, researcher can convert complex discovery into boxes of thoughts: ‘Big Why-Why-What’, with minimal or almost none for ‘How’.

In partnership with OPGPP, doctoral students are granted special access to selected PGPD workshops. These skills-based workshops are designed to expand the students’ network, horizon and skills in wide ranging key professional areas.

This workshop helps students to identify and avoid the common pitfalls when presenting in front of an audience. The trainer will introduce and impart various techniques to improve and boost students’ confidence during presentation.

This workshop help students to master the writing skills for scientific papers. More than just a course on scientific writing, this workshop aims to help students understand the ecosystem in which these papers exist, and even help increase their chances of publication. The trainer will bring students through the reviewer's process and help them to understand the editor's considerations. Students will learn how to write for the reader, not just in theory, but in practice. They will be doing some rewriting exercises with the reader scientist in mind (and especially the reviewer and editor). They will be given checklists and open-source assessment tools created specifically for this class (SWAN, etc.) to control the quality of their figures and of their manuscript’s title, abstract, introduction, structure, conclusions, and references. And finally, they will be looking at how to write fluidly to maintain the attention of the reader.

SMU Libraries in partnership with CGRS curated a series of research seminars which form part of the foundational research skills and methodology trainings for the doctoral students to embark on their research journey.

Students who wish to be considered for Graduate Instructors must pass the GI English Assessment, held in April and June each year. This assessment requires students to teach a topic suitable for SMU undergraduates, demonstrating competence in three key areas: pronunciation, classroom presentation skills, and use of Standard English. Failure to meet the required standard in any of these areas will result in failing the assessment.

This 30-hour course enhances the communication skills for Graduate Instructors so that they become better presenters and instructors in the classroom. This course is suitable for doctoral students who wish to develop their pronunciation and presentation skills.

This series will feature an invited panel sharing and discussing a wide range of topics, from sustainability to career planning, specifically for all doctoral students.  

These seminars are designed for the selected winners of the CGRS Presidential Doctoral Fellowships and Interdisciplinary Fellowships to present their research and engage in discussions with their peers in an informal setting.

CITI is an online programme that provides a fundamental understanding of protecting human subjects in research. ​​Students are required to complete CITI course comprising of 12 modules that focus on Financial Conflict of Interest, Social, Behavioural and Educational Research (SBER).