The journey of pursuing a PhD is often marked by both challenges and triumphs. Yet, it can also be an isolating experience, primarily when students are spread across different years, locations, and research areas. Recognizing the importance of community and mutual support, this initiative was conceived to create a dedicated space for PhD students at CES to connect, share, and learn from one another.

This initiative aims to bridge the physical distance between students, many of whom are not based in Coimbra or in-person at CES, by promoting a virtual environment where we can share our research journeys, exchange experiences, and build a supportive network. Although all the events will be online, we will have the first session of each academic year in person at CES to warmly welcome new students who are starting their PhD journey.

This space is explicitly created for CES PhD students to connect, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations. This is not just a platform for presenting academic work, but a space to develop a sense of community among students. We aim to go beyond the traditional structure of panels and presentations. Instead, we imagine a dynamic, interactive environment where we can openly discuss our academic journeys, share experiences, and reflect on our challenges as PhD researchers.

The meetings will be in Portuguese and English, ensuring accessibility for all participants. Each session will feature reflections from 3 students; the presenters will introduce themselves while introducing the research. The proposal is to explore the links between the researcher and the research, reflecting on the path taken so far. The presentations will be followed by a collaborative discussion, allowing for questions, feedback, and sharing advice and strategies.

We invite students who are interested in sharing their journey to register using the form below application form

Organisation: Djamila Andrade, Jaili Buelvas Diaz and Mehmooda Khan


Programme

Session I | November 13th, 2024, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm, room 1 of CES-Alta + Online, will feature interventions from:

Pedro Fidalgo (Doctoral Programme Human Rights in Contemporary Societies)
Anna Di Franco (Doctoral Programme International Politics and Conflict Resolution) 
Iuri Lopes (Doctoral Programme em Feminist Studies) 
Link for streamming | https://zoom.us/j/87192146565 | ID: 871 9214 6565 | Password: 214204


Session II | December 10th, 2024, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm, Online,, will have its programme available soon
Link for streamming | https://zoom.us/j/86889739751 | ID: 868 8973 9751 | Password: 768366