Professional Development Events for Researchers
Trinity Laban offers an extensive programme of professional development events for research students and staff.
Events for each academic year are announced in the autumn term and take place in the spring and summer terms (between January and June).
We are also offering a specialist programme of Shared Postgraduate Research Training Events in collaboration with CUK in 2025-26, open to Trinity Laban research students alongside students from other UK Conservatoires.
Planning Your Research Project: Setting Milestones and Objectives
Wed 14 Jan 2026
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will have:
- An understanding of methods to manage time in the planning of research.
- Learnt the importance of deadlines and milestones, both external and self-imposed.
- An understanding of a pragmatic approach to plan and complete research projects.
Practice-Based Research in Musical Composition
Wed 21 Jan 2026
Facilitator: Sam Hayden (also part of the CUK Shared PG Research Training Series)
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
In this session you will:
- Be introduced to critical debates around the idea of Composition as ‘research’ (e.g. Croft, Reeves).
- Gain an understanding of the concept of Practice-Based Research in relation to Musical Composition.
- Gain an understanding of how to formulate a Composition project as a (Practice-Based) research project.
- Gain an understanding of Practice-Based Research methodologies and iterative research processes in relation to Composition.
- Gain an understanding of how to formulate relevant research questions in relation to Practice-Based Research projects in Composition.
- Be introduced to some indicative examples of (Practice-Based) research projects in Musical Composition.
Library Research Resources
Wed 28 Jan 2026
Facilitator: Richard Douglas
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
In this session you will:
- Be guided in best practice for finding research resources from Trinity Laban Libraries and beyond.
- Gain an understanding of accessing resources through QuickSearch using advanced searching techniques.
- Explore how to legally access additional resources for free using tools that search for open-access materials, and visiting other academic libraries through schemes like SCONUL Access.
Academic Writing for Research
Wed 4 Feb 2026
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
In this session you will learn the basics of professional academic writing practice for projects, essays and articles. Strategies for effective text structuring, argument formulation and narrative coherency will be introduced and discussed. Additional topics will include: effective citation practice; content of literature reviews; use of AI; bibliographic software and technological assistance for academic writing.
What is Plagiarism and How to Avoid it
Wed 4 Mar 2026
Facilitator: Jennifer Warren
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will:
- Understand what plagiarism is and that it is considered as academic malpractice
- Examine examples and activities of what are considered plagiarism.
- Understand what is meant by contract cheating or paid plagiarism.
- Understand how to avoid plagiarising.
Project-Based Work in the Performing Arts
Wed 25 Mar 2026, Research Hub
Facilitator: Charles Linehan
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will have:
- knowledge of the pragmatic nature of how independent artists work with management, funding bodies, promoters, producers and venues to realise work in the performing arts.
Thesis Formatting and Viva-Voce Examination Preparation
Wed 22 Apr 2026
Series: Professional Development for Research Students
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark
Who should attend: Research Degree Programme students
By the end of the session you will have:
- Familiarity with presentational issues in the final PhD submission.
- Preparation strategies for the viva examination.
- Strategies for handling the viva itself.
Disseminating Your Research – Ttraditional and New Communication Platforms
Wed 29 Apr 2026
Facilitator: Dario van Gammeren
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will:
- Have reflected on your use of professional networks to engage with the wider research community.
- Have examined innovative ways of communicating your research, using a variety of traditional and digital technologies.
Understand how digital communication platforms can be used effectively to share information and promote research presence.
Phenomenology as a Research Methodology in Practice-Based Research
Wed 6 May 2026
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark (also part of the CUK Shared PG Research Training Series)
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
Session Description: This session has a twofold intention. The first is to give a precise introduction to the disciplinary specialism of phenomenology in its classical exposition (Husserl, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty) and its core concepts. The second is to firmly situate the main methodology of phenomenology as a study of varieties of experience within aesthetics and performing arts research. The aim is to show how phenomenological methods can form fruitful intersections with practice-as-research methodologies, particularly in relation to research questions that centre on the experiences of performing arts practitioners, collaborators and audiences.
Conferences: How to Choose, How to Submit
Wed 13 May 2026
Facilitator: Michelle Meinhart
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will have:
- Gained an understanding of the benefits of attending and presenting your research at academic conferences, study days, symposia.
- Received advice on how to identify conferences that are relevant to you.
- Received advice on how to prepare an abstract and submit it to a programme committee.
Managing Your Research Project/ Collaborating and Co-authoring
Wed 20 May 2026
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students, MFA students
By the end of the session you will:
- Have an understanding of the key ethical and practical implications of working with others on research.
- Gain insight into the self-management of appropriate research timelines.
- Gain knowledge about planning budgets for research projects.
Careers Guidance for Doctoral Students
Wed 3 Jun 2026
Facilitator: Jonathan Clark
Who should attend: Staff, Research Degree Programme students
By the end of the session you will:
- Have reflected on options for viable careers post PhD graduation.
- Have had experience of a number of alternatives for careers other than traditional academic routes, and /or routes in the performing arts.
- Understand portfolio careers are becoming an increasing resource for doctoral students upon graduating with their PHD.