Category / BU research
New BU Physiology paper
Congratulations to HEMS’s Dr. Malika Felton, Dr. Vikram Mohan and Prof. Vanora Hundley on the recent publication of their academic paper ‘Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing in normotensive men and women‘ [1].
The BU authors outline that there differences in cardiovascular responses to different methods of slow and deep breathing (SDB) delivery. They query whether utilising a multi-parametric approach to measuring cardiovascular variables reveal new/different responses. Their key findings are that all SDB conditions elicited similar cardiovascular responses to each other when compared with spontaneous breathing. However, lower breathing frequencies elicit greater blood pressure oscillations, and higher breathing frequencies (∼8 breaths min−1) may not fully optimise cardiovascular responses. This has implications on the practice of SDB for management of hypertension.
Well done!
Prof.Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
- Felton, M., Mohan, V., & Hundley, V. A. (2026). Acute cardiovascular responses to slow and deep breathing in normotensive men and women. Experimental Physiology, 01–24. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP093086
Gender and street names


- van Teijlingen, E. (2002) Ondergang eerste pensioenfonds voor vroedvrouwen (in Dutch: Decline of the first pension fund for midwives), Tijdschrift voor Verloskundigen (in Dutch: Journal for Midwives), 27(12): 684.
- van Teijlingen, E.R. (2003a) Berichten – Francijntje de Kadt (1858-1929), Tijdschrift voor Verloskundigen (in Dutch: Journal for Midwives), 28(12): 630-633.
- van Teijlingen, E.R. (2003b) Francijntje de Kadt (1858-1929). Vroedvrouw te Vlaardingen en eerste voorzitter van de Nederlandsche vroedvrouwenvereeniging, Tijd-schrift (in Dutch: Time-Magazine) 88: 14-23.
Help Shape the Future of Research at BU: Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2026 Now Open
Today marks the launch of the 2026 national Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES). This is your chance to tell us what being a postgraduate researcher at BU is really like. Your feedback helps us build a better research community for everyone.
The survey is a national initiative led by AdvanceHE and managed at BU by the Doctoral College. Your honest feedback is vital, it helps us benchmark our performance against other universities and, more importantly, tells us exactly where we need to improve our research culture, resources, and support systems.
Key Objectives for 2026:
- Participation: We are targeting a minimum response rate of 40%.
- Focus Areas: Feedback covers supervision, resources, research culture, assessment, professional development, and wellbeing.
Last year, our researchers ranked us above the sector average in 9 out of 10 categories, with an impressive 87% overall satisfaction rate. This feedback directly drives improvements in supervision, research culture, and wellbeing.
What we want to hear about
The survey covers every angle of your journey, including:
- Supervision quality and Progress/Assessment.
- Resources, Research Culture, and Community.
- Professional Development and Wellbeing.
- Your primary motivations for pursuing a research degree.
How to take part
Check your inbox: If you are eligible, you will receive an email today (Monday 13 April) from doctoralcollege@bournemouth.ac.uk with your unique survey link.
Your responses are completely confidential and will be used to drive enhancements at both the Faculty and University-wide levels.
Deadline: Please submit your feedback by Friday 15 May 2026.
What’s in it for you?
We know your time is valuable. To say thank you for the 15–20 minutes it takes to complete the survey:
- Lunch meal option on us: Once finished, head over to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect a £4.25 voucher for any BU Chartwells outlet.
- You can also opt-in to a prize draw for a chance to win one of three £50 shopping vouchers T&C’s apply
Find out more
Check out the PRES webpage and the PRES 2026 privacy notice
If you believe you are eligible but have not received a link, please reach out to the team at doctoralcollege@bournemouth.ac.uk
We look forward to hearing your thoughts on what we are doing well and where we can do better.
3C Event: Research Culture, Community & Cherry Blossom – Tuesday 14 April
Join BU’s Research Community for an hour of reflection and connection at the next 3C event

Inspired by Hanami, the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom season which focuses on reflecting on growth, change. and the beauty of fleeting moments.
Breakthroughs in research, much like cherry blossoms, can be brief but they are always worth celebrating.
The 3C Event offers a relaxed, informal space to recharge and share experiences alongside your colleagues.
What to Expect
- Creative Crafting: Get involved with paper blossom making and origami
- Meaningful Connection: A relaxed forum to exchange ideas and discuss your research journey
- Refreshments: Enjoy a selection of treats while you chat
All members of the BU Research Community welcome
Tuesday 14 April, 4-5pm
SUBU 5th Floor Space, Talbot Campus
REMINDER: 3MT® Competition – Deadline 9am Monday 20 April
Don’t let your research go unheard. You have until Monday 20 April to submit your three-minute presentation for the 2026 3MT® competition. It is a fantastic way to sharpen your public speaking skills and get your work noticed across the university.
Originally established by the University of Queensland, this globally recognised challenge invites doctoral researchers to condense their entire thesis into a high-impact, three-minute presentation designed for a general audience.
Prepare Your Submission
The first BU round of the competition will take place via pre-recorded presentations.
To participate, you must:
- Complete the online application form
- Submit your video to pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk via BU Transfer
Deadline: Both your online application form and video presentation must be submitted by 9am on Monday 20 April.
Please note: Applications submitted without a presentation will not be considered for Faculty selection.
A Faculty Panel will select a winner for each school. Finalists will be invited to the in-person BU Final on campus on Wednesday 17 June.
To ensure your presentation meets the official criteria and recording standards, please consult these resources
Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply if:
- You are an active PhD or Professional Doctorate candidate
- You have successfully passed your Probationary Review
Exclusions: MRes/MPhil students, graduates, and students currently on interruption are not eligible.
Remote & Part-Time Researchers: If you cannot attend the campus final due to your status, a pre-recorded video submission is permitted in accordance with official rules.
Why Join the Challenge?
- Refine Public Speaking: Master the “elevator pitch” for complex data
- Boost Your Profile: Gain visibility within the university and the wider research community
- National Recognition: The winner will represent BU at the National Vitae 3MT competition
- Earn Prizes: All finalists receive a Doctoral College backpack, plus a chance to win:
- 1st Prize: £150 voucher
- 2nd Prize: £100 voucher
- 3rd Prize: £50 voucher
- People’s Choice: £50 voucher
Learn More
For more on the history and global impact, visit the official Vitae and 3MT® websites.
Further information is available on Brightspace
Watch the 2025 BU winners here
Registration to attend the final will open in May.
If you have any questions, please contact the team at: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk
New academic paper on Nepal
Yesterday the international journal Health Policy & Planning published our latest article with the title ‘Understanding the formulation of non-communicable disease policies in Nepal: A qualitative study‘ [1]. The paper is part of the PhD work (at the University of Hudderfield) by the first author, Dr. Anju Vaidya, who is originally from Nepal. Anju’s thesis was supervised by Prof. Padam Simkhada (University of Chester), Prof. Andre Lee (The University of Sheffield) and by Bournemouth University’s Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.
The paper recognises that there is limited evidence about the process through which health policies were formulated in Nepal. This study used Kingdon’s multiple streams framework to explore how NCDs (non-communicable diseases) were recognised and prioritised, how policy alternatives were decided, how policy windows were opened, and which contextual factors influenced the policy formulation process. Anju’s PhD included a qualitative study to gain a comprehensive understanding of the formulation of major NCD-related policies in Nepal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 key stakeholders, and policy documents were analysed using framework analysis.
The NCDs were gradually prioritised through the convergence of global and local evidence, sustained advocacy, and international commitments. Policymakers encountered several challenges, such as competing health priorities, the chronic nature of NCDs, donor preferences for communicable diseases, financial constraints, and multisectoral complexities of NCDs. The Package of Essential Non-communicable diseases (PEN) interventions were adopted as a policy alternative, informed by global evidence, World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, and lessons from other countries. While coordinated efforts by stakeholders brought the problem, policy and politics streams together, the role of policy entrepreneurs was found to be less relevant in Nepal’s context.
Health Policy & Planning is an Open Access journal, hence the paper is available worldwide to anybody with internet access.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health
References:
- Vaidya, A., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Lee, A.C.K. (2026) Understanding the formulation of non-communicable disease policies in Nepal: A qualitative study, Health Policy and Planning, [online first] czag048, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czag048
3C Event: Research Culture, Community & Cherry Blossom
Join BU’s Research Community for an hour of reflection and connection

Inspired by Hanami, the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom season which focuses on reflecting on growth, change. and the beauty of fleeting moments.
Breakthroughs in research, much like cherry blossoms, can be brief but they are always worth celebrating.
The 3C Event offers a relaxed, informal space to recharge and share experiences alongside your colleagues.
What to Expect
- Creative Crafting: Get involved with paper blossom making and origami
- Meaningful Connection: A relaxed forum to exchange ideas and discuss your research journey
- Refreshments: Enjoy a selection of treats while you chat
All members of the BU Research Community welcome
Tuesday 14 April, 4-5pm
SUBU 5th Floor Space, Talbot Campus
Boost Your Research Profile: Training Sessions with The Conversation
The Conversation is a premier news and opinion platform featuring content written exclusively by academics, researchers, and PhD candidates
Backed by professional journalists, it offers a high-impact way to share research with the public, build a media profile, and develop confidence in external communication.
BU’s impact on the platform is already significant: over the last year, BU academics have published 32 articles, reaching nearly 1 million page views. To help more staff get involved, two dedicated training sessions led by editors from The Conversation are being offered. These sessions are a perfect opportunity to learn the ropes and discuss specific article ideas.
Writing for The Conversation: Interactive Workshop
In this session, attendees will learn how to translate complex research for a general audience and how to structure articles for maximum engagement. Participants will also have the chance to pitch story ideas directly to a Conversation editor.
Wednesday 22 April, 2-4pm
Online
Please note: Spaces are limited to 20 attendees
Find out more and register here
One-to-One Meetings with the Editor
For those with specific projects in mind, the team is offering eight individual appointments (15–20 minutes each). This is a rare chance to get personalised feedback and expert advice on how to take your article ideas forward. 8 individual appointments available.
Wednesday 20 May, 2-4pm
Online
ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026: An Opportunity to Engage New Audiences
Public engagement is an increasingly important part of demonstrating research impact, and national initiatives such as the ESRC Festival of Social Science provide valuable opportunities for researchers to connect their work with wider communities.
The 24th annual ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) will take place from Saturday 17 October to Saturday 7 November 2026, with the theme ‘Money, Finance and the Cost of Living’. This year marks our 15th year of participation in the festival and our fourth year partnering with the University of Southampton to deliver an extended programme of events across Dorset and Hampshire.
The festival offers researchers the opportunity to take part in the UK’s largest celebration of social science research and to engage with a wide range of non-academic audiences, including young people, members of the public, the third sector, businesses, and government. For many researchers, the festival also provides a practical way to explore new approaches to engagement and to build confidence in communicating research beyond academia.
To support colleagues who are considering taking part, we are hosting an information session for academics interested in achieving real-world impact through public engagement. The session will be co-hosted by the Research Engagement and Impact Team at Bournemouth University and the Impact Funding Team at the University of Southampton. We will also hear from some of last year’s event leads, who will share their experiences and lessons learned.
Date: Friday 24 April 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
To register, please complete the form below. We will then be in touch with further information.
ESRC Festival of Social Science 2026 – Information Session – Fill in form
If you have any enquiries, please contact: researchengagementandimpact@bournemouth.ac.uk
New HIV paper by BU PhD student
The editor of HIV Research & Clinical Practice informed us that the paper ‘Stigma in UK health care: A key barrier to reaching zero HIV transmission by 2030’ has been accepted for publication [1]. This paper is based on the PhD research currently conducted by Mr. Tom Weeks in the Faculty of Health, Environment & Medical Sciences (HEMS). Tom’s thesis focuses on the perceptions of stigmatisation of People Living with HIV in care settings in the UK and the kind of education health care staff (clinical and non-clinical) receive in relation to HIV. His long-term aim in the PhD is to help improve education to reduce such stigma. Tom is being supervised by Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.
Both supervisors have a long experience in studying social and health promotion aspects of HIV and AIDS. Thirty years ago Prof. van Teijlingen worked in the NHS as a researcher in the Centre for HIV/AIDS and Drugs Studies based in Edinburgh. Whilst Dr. Regmi conducted his PhD research on sexual health and health promotion in young people in Nepal. Both supervisors themselves have published widely on the topic of HIV and AIDS [2-23]. The first of these many publication was a letter on community care for people living with HIV in the community which was published in the Lancet in 1993 [2].
References
- Weeks, T., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2026) Stigma in UK health care: A key barrier to reaching zero HIV transmission by 2030, HIV Research & Clinical Practice (accepted).
- Huby, G, van Teijlingen E, Porter M., Bury, J (1993) Care for HIV in community (letter) Lancet 342: 1297-1298.
- Huby, G, van Teijlingen, E, Robertson J, Porter, AM (1993) Community care & support for women, In: Johnson F & Johnstone M. (Eds.) HIV Infection in Women, Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 123-32.
- Bury, J.K., Ross, A., van Teijlingen, E., Porter, AMD, Bath, G. (1996) Lothian GPs, HIV infection & Drug Misuse: Epidemiology, Experience & Confidence 1988-93 Health Bulletin, 54: 258-269.
- Huby, GO, van Teijlingen E, Porter, AMD, Bury, J. (1997) Co-ordination of care on discharge from hospital into the community for patients with HIV/AIDS in Lothian, Health Bulletin, 55:338-50.
- van Teijlingen, E, Huby, G. (1998) Evaluation within a policy-making and contracting culture: reflections of practice, In: Barbour R.S., Huby G. (Eds.), Meddling with mythology: AIDS & the social construction of knowledge, London: Routledge, 218-33.
- Lowis, G, van Teijlingen, E, Sheremata, W. (2000) AIDS in developing countries: A comparative epidemiological analysis, In: Rose, J. (Ed.), Population Problems, Reading: Gordon & Breach Science Publishers: 133-61
- Scotland, G., van Teijlingen E., van der Pol, M, Smith, WCS. (2003) A review of studies assessing costs & consequences of interventions to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, Aids, 17: 1045-52.
- Nicholson, D., van Teijlingen E. (2006) Comparing level of expenditure on HIV health promotion & incidence of HIV in Greater Glasgow & Lothian Health Boards (1988-98), Salusvita, 25(1): 13-22 usc.br/Edusc/colecoes/revistas/salusvita_pdf/salusvita_v25_n.1_2006.pdf
- Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E. (2008) Sexual & reproductive health status among young people in Nepal: opportunities & barriers for sexual health education & service utilisation, Kathmandu University Medical Journal 6(2): 248-256.
- Wasti, S.P., Simkhada, P.P, Randall, J., van Teijlingen E. (2009) Issues & Challenges of HIV/AIDS Prevention & Treatment Programme in Nepal, Global Journal of Health Science 1(2): 62-72. http://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/gjhs/article/viewFile/2460/3474
- Regmi P, Simkhada PP, van Teijlingen E (2010) “Boys Remain Prestigious, Girls become Prostitutes”: Socio-Cultural Context of Relationships & Sex among Young People in Nepal, Global Journal of Health Science 2(1): 60-72.
- Regmi P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E. (2010) “There are too many naked pictures found in papers and on the net”: Factors encouraging pre-marital sex among young people of Nepal. Health Science Journal 4(3): 162-174. hsj.gr/volume4/issue3/437.pdf
- Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen E. (2010) Dating and Sex among Emerging Adults in Nepal. Journal of Adolescence Research 26 (6): 675-700.
- Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E, Simkhada, P., Acharya, D. (2010) Barriers to sexual health services for young people in Nepal. Journal of Health Population & Nutrition 28: 619-27.
- Wasti, SP, Simkhada, PP, van Teijlingen E (Eds.) (2015) Socio-Cultural Aspects of HIV/ AIDS. The Dynamics of Health in Nepal, Kathmandu: Soc Sci Baha/Himal Books: 47-62.
- Aryal, N., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Dhungel, D., Ghale, G., Bhatta, G.K. (2016) Knowing is not enough: Migrant workers’ spouses vulnerability to HIV, SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS 8(1):9-15.
- Ochillo, M., van Teijlingen, E., Hind, M. (2017) Influence of faith-based organisations on HIV prevention strategies in Africa: systematic review. African Health Sciences 17(3): 753-61.
- Sathian, B., Sreedharan, J., Asim, M., Menezes, R.G., van Teijlingen, E., Unnikrishnan, B. (2018) Estimation of burden of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kerala state, India. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 8(3): 738-44.
- Hamidi, A., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) HIV epidemic in Libya: Identifying gaps, Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 20 :1-5 https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582211053964 .
- Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E.R., Silwal, R.C., Dhital, R. (2022) Role of social media for sexual communication and sexual behaviors: A focus group study among young people in Nepal. Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1):153–166. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v10i1.50995
- Hamidi, A., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2023) Facilitators and barriers to condom use in Middle East and North Africa: a systematic review, Journal of Public Health, 32: 1651-81 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-01923-3
- Hamidi, A., Regmi, P, van Teijlingen, E. (2024) Islamic perspectives on HIV: a scoping review, Discover Social Science & Health 4:6 https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s44155-024-00063-7.pdf
BU Annual Research Conference: Poster Exhibition Call for Applications
Research & Innovation Services invite submissions for the poster exhibition at the inaugural BU Annual Research Conference, taking place on Tuesday 9 June 2026. This event is a landmark celebration of our Research Excellence and a key step in our collective journey toward BU2035
How to Participate: Poster Exhibition
The poster exhibition features two distinct categories:
1. Research Excellence
All researchers from PGRs to Senior Academics are invited to submit posters or table presentations highlighting:
- Innovative methodologies or interdisciplinary work
- Tangible impacts on society, policy, or industry
To apply, please complete and submit an application form by 5pm on Monday 27 April.
As this is a multidisciplinary conference, please ensure your content is accessible to a broad academic audience.
2. Research Centre
Each Institute or Research Centre is invited to submit one poster presenting:
- Mission and focus areas
- Key projects and achievements
- Opportunities for collaboration
- Contact information
No application needed. The Head of each centre will be contacted, please get in touch directly with them to share your ideas about a poster submission.
Submission Process & Guidelines
Abstracts should be strictly no longer than 200 words and include an overview of your research, your approach, and your contribution to the field (references are not required). Submissions will be shortlisted by your Faculty Associate Dean (Research, Innovation & Enterprise), and you will be advised of the outcome following the closing date. We may also consider arranging live table presentations, provided a minimum number of applications are received.
Poster Guidance:
- Format: A1 size (594mm x 841mm), landscape or portrait
- Design: Visual clarity and accessibility are strongly recommended
- Display: Posters will be exhibited on the day of the conference from 9am-4pm
Why Get Involved?
Participating in the conference allows you the opportunity to increase the visibility of your work within the BU community, help shape the future of the university’s research priorities, and build new interdisciplinary partnerships.
Key Dates
- Monday 27 April: Call for abstracts closes
- Friday 22 May: Deadline for final presentation version
- May (TBC): General registration for attendees opens
- Tuesday 9 June: Conference Day
Provisional Programme
9-9:30am: Registration & Coffee
9:30-11am: Poster Exhibition (FG04 & FG06)
11-11:20am: Opening Remarks & Welcome – Andy Scott & Professor Niamh Downing (Share Lecture Theatre)
11:20am-12:45pm: Symposium: Research Excellence & BU2035 – Chair: Professor Einar Thorsen (Share Lecture Theatre)
12:45-1:30pm: Lunch & Poster Viewings (FG04 & FG06)
1:30-3:45pm: BU Research & Future Challenges – Oral Presentations (FG04 & FG06)
3:45-4pm: Closing Remarks
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact the Researcher Development and Culture Team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk
Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition: Applications Now Open
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is back. Originally established by the University of Queensland, this globally recognised challenge invites doctoral researchers to condense their entire thesis into a high-impact, three-minute presentation designed for a general audience
The first BU round of the competition will take place via pre-recorded presentations.
To participate, you must:
- Complete the online application form
- Submit your video to pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk via BU Transfer
Deadline: Both your online application form and video presentation must be submitted by 9am on Monday 20 April.
Please note: Applications submitted without a presentation will not be considered for Faculty selection.
A Faculty Panel will select a winner for each school. Finalists will be invited to the in-person BU Final on campus on Wednesday 17 June.
Prepare Your Submission
To ensure your presentation meets the official criteria and recording standards, please consult these resources
Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply if:
- You are an active PhD or Professional Doctorate candidate
- You have successfully passed your Probationary Review
Exclusions: MRes/MPhil students, graduates, and students currently on interruption are not eligible.
Remote & Part-Time Researchers: If you cannot attend the campus final due to your status, a pre-recorded video submission is permitted in accordance with official rules.
Why Join the Challenge?
- Refine Public Speaking: Master the “elevator pitch” for complex data
- Boost Your Profile: Gain visibility within the university and the wider research community
- National Recognition: The winner will represent BU at the National Vitae 3MT competition
- Earn Prizes: All finalists receive a Doctoral College backpack, plus a chance to win:
- 1st Prize: £150 voucher
- 2nd Prize: £100 voucher
- 3rd Prize: £50 voucher
- People’s Choice: £50 voucher
Learn More
For more on the history and global impact, visit the official Vitae and 3MT® websites.
Further information is available on Brightspace
Watch the 2025 BU winners here
Registration to attend the final will open in May.
If you have any questions, please contact the team at: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk
Applications are now open for 2026 ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowships
The ESRC invites applications for 9-month postdoctoral fellowships (PDF) to be based at the SWDTP institutions of University of Bath, University of Bristol, University of Exeter, Plymouth University, University of West of England, Bath Spa University, Bournemouth University and Plymouth Marjon University.
Fellowships are aimed at providing a development opportunity for social science researchers in the immediate postdoctoral stage of their career, to consolidate their PhD through developing publications, their networks, and their professional skills.
At Bournemouth University, we run a dual stage application process. Candidates must be aligned to one of the SWDTP pathways to which BU belong. For BU, this means that we would be able to support applicants in one of three pathways:
- Climate Change, Sustainability & Society – Pathway Leads: Dr Sarah Upson (supson@bournemouth.ac.uk) & Dr Stephen Axon (saxon@bournemouth.ac.uk)
- Health, Wellbeing & Society– Pathway Lead: Professor Michael Silk (msilk@bournemouth.ac.uk)
- Psychology– Pathway Lead: Professor John McAlaney (jmcalaney@bournemouth.ac.uk)
We ask potential candidates to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. The deadline for submitting the EOI form is Friday 24 April, 2026. The form is available from the pathway leads.
Prior to submission of your EOI it is a good idea to have identified a mentor who will support you to develop your application. If you are uncertain on how to identify a mentor, then please contact one of the pathway leads listed above.
Following a review of all EOI received, we will nominate successful applicants (capped at 2) and support the development of a full application to the ESRC (via the SWDTP). The full application is due on Monday 1 June 2026. Only nominated applicants are able to complete this second stage.
For further information, please refer to the SWDTP web pages dedicated to the postdoctoral fellowships award.
Please also note that you can register for an online information event hosted by the SWDTP. This takes place at 1pm on Monday 30 March 2026. (A recording, slides and full eligibility criteria will be available on the SWDTP website).
Please submit EOI by Friday 24 April 2026 to: SWDTP@bournemouth.ac.uk and cc: msilk@bournemouth.ac.uk
3C Online Social: Thursday 26 March 1–2pm – Research Culture, Community & Can you Guess Who?
Could you describe your research in just 7 words? The Doctoral College’s 3C Event returns this Thursday 26 March, bringing our research community together through Culture, Community, and Connection.
This session offers a playful, online social where we use images and short clues to “Guess Who” is behind the work. It’s a fantastic way to showcase your projects creatively and meet potential collaborators in a relaxed environment.
How it works
- Submit an image that best represents your research (think abstract, literal, or symbolic).
- Provide a 7-word description of your work
- Join us online to see if the research community can match the clues to the right researcher
Whether you contribute, or simply join as an audience member, it’s a great opportunity to share your work and spark new connections.
Event details
Thursday 26 March, 1-2pm
Online
Find out more and register here
We’re looking forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Research Development & Culture Team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk
Four BU students at national midwifery conference
This week four postgraduate midwifery students from Bournemouth University attended the Royal College of Midwives annual Education & Research conference in London. Their contributions included studies on: (1) ‘A Unique Approach to Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy’ by Ph.D. student Louise Barton; (2) Investigating how women make decisions about prescribed psychiatric medication use during pregnancy by M.Res. student Jessica Correia; (3) Harnessing midwives’ research delivery expertise to encourage medics’ participation in research’ by M.Res. student Susara Blunden; and (4) ‘Personalised care for women of advanced maternal age, from conception to postnatal care: A mixed-methods study’ by Ph.D. student Joanne Rack. Joanne was also at this conference in her capacity of the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Practising Midwife.
Congratulations to these postgraduate students and their supervisors.
Profs. Vanora Hundley & Edwin van Teijlingen
INRC book roundtable/presentation by Drs Jonathan Cole and Catherine Talbot, Wednesday 22/04/2026, 13:00h, P426
Dear colleagues,
We warmly invite you to the event organised by the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre on Wednesday, the 22 of April 2026, from 13:00 h to 15:00 h at P426 (Poole House).
The exciting event will focus on the interface between clinical and social neuroscience from the standpoint of new neuroscientific and technological leaps. The schedule is:
13.00 – 13.45 Dr Jonathan Cole (Visiting Professor, Bournemouth University) book presentation and roundtable: Hard Talk – When speech is difficult.
13.35 – 14.00 Coffee break.
14.00 – 14.45 Dr Catherine Talbot (Senior Lecturer, Bournemouth University) talk: Dementia in the digital age: the promise and pitfalls of social technologies.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk or Emili Balaguer-Ballester, eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Thank you very much; we are looking forward to debating with you there.
The 4th INRC symposium: “From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation”, took place last Wednesday, 16th of January 2026. Thank you very much for your interest and especially to the fantastic speakers. It was great to see you there, and we hope you enjoyed it.
Kind regards,
Ellen and Emili, on behalf of all of us.
BU M.Res. student’s evidence to UK Parliamentary Women & Equalities Committee
Last week, to coincide with International Women’s Day, the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Committee of published its report on improving menstrual health [1]. This report ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ includes a submission by BU M.Res. student Susara Blunden [2]. Susara is currently conducting her M.Res. research on endometriosis, a condition which affects more women than many people realise.
Susara Blunden balances her job as a women’s health research midwife at University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust with a place on the National Institute for Heath and Care Research (NIHR)’s INSIGHT programme.
Endometriosis is not a problem unique to the UK, as last week a national newspaper in the Netherlands also under the heading ‘So much pain that you can’t to anything anymore’ [3]. This same newspaper article added that on average women suffer seven years of pain before they are diagnosed with endometriosis. A similar delay can be found in the UK and the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Labour MP Sarah Owen noted more generally that: “The Committee is not convinced that the menstrual and gynaecological needs of young women and girls has been sufficiently prioritised in wider reforms to the healthcare system.”
References:
- Women and Equalities Committee (2026) ‘Menstrual health of girls and young women‘ Twelfth Report of Session 2024–26 [HC 1265], See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/51887/documents/287889/default/
- Written evidence from Susara Blunden RM, Women’s Health Research Midwife and Dr. Edwin van Teijlingen, Professor of Reproductive Health, Bournemouth University, Fiona Yelnoorkar RN, RM, Senior Research Leader, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Priscilla Fernandez, RN RM, Specialist Research Nurse/Midwife, Edinburgh University [RGW0073] See online: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/149205/html/
- Melse, N. (2026) Zoveel pijn dat je niets meer kunt, AD [dinsdag 3 maart/Tuesday 3rd March].













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