Early Stage - Graduate School Career Development Framework

Early candidature is the time to lay the groundwork for successful completion of your degree. It is important that you take the time to think about where you are headed after graduation, and what steps you may need to take to get there. It is also your chance to develop skills that will help you manage your time and avoid procrastination.

Upcoming sessions
Past sessions

Impactful presentations: Script Development [St Lucia]

5 May 2026 9:30am–2:00pm

in Communication

This interactive and highly practical workshop will help you to convert detailed technical research into an audience-friendly and audience-centric script. Presented face to face at the St Lucia campus.

New International HDR students: Compulsory info session [webinar]

6 May 2026 10:30am–12:30pm

in Orientation

This session is compulsory for all newly commencing HDR students and is a requirement of your visa.

HDR Orientation [webinar]

6 May 2026 2:00pm–3:30pm

in Orientation

Orientation is strongly recommended for all commencing HDR candidates, both domestic and international.

HDR Orientation Welcome BBQ [St Lucia]

11 May 2026 12:00pm–1:00pm

in Orientation

Join the Graduate Research School for the opportunity to meet your fellow commencing candidates, Graduate Research School staff who will be assisting you in the HDR journey and also enjoying lunch within the beautiful St Lucia Campus.

Research ethics: Human [St Lucia]

12 May 2026 10:00am–11:30am

in Integrity and ethics

At UQ, you MUST have Ethics approval BEFORE conducting Human research! Human Research is research conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue.

Logistic Regression (DSCRP) [St Lucia]

14 May 2026 9:00am–5:00pm

in Statistics and modelling

This workshop offers a practical introduction to logistic regression, combining theory with hands-on exercises in R to explore its use in modeling binary outcomes for inference and prediction. Presented face to face at St Lucia campus. Registration closes 7 May at 9am.

Effective time management [webinar]

15 May 2026 10:00am–11:30am

in Candidature management

Discover time-management strategies that will help you to ‘work well’ during your research degree.

Publishing your research, part 1: Writing and submitting [webinar]

18 May 2026 10:00am–11:30am

in Publishing and authorship

Equip yourself with the tools and practical knowledge to assist you through the writing and submission phase of the publication process. This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Consider attending Promoting Your Publications after this.

Presenting your research [webinar]

19 May 2026 10:00am–12:00pm

in Communication

This session provides an introduction to the secrets of great research presentations. Learn how to craft a message that targets your audience. (Formerly known as Planning and Presenting Persuasive Research).

Advanced literature searching [webinar]

19 May 2026 1:00pm–2:30pm

in eResearch and data management

Learn how to use and navigate the UQ Library search engine. Learn strategies to find and identify what you’re looking for, and like a skilled investigator, identify and track down promising additional material. This session is targeted at new HDR students who have little experience with Library searching.

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How to Make the Most of Your Data: Practical Skills for Research Impact and Visibility [St Lucia]

29 April 2026 10:00am–12:00pm

in eResearch and data management

Learn how to publish high‑quality research data by applying FAIR principles and effective data management to boost impact and visibility.

Exploring and predicting using linear regression in SPSS (DSCRP) [St Lucia]

24 April 2026 9:00am–5:00pm

in Statistics and modelling

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to use SPSS to explore, analyse, and interpret statistical relationships between variables through linear regression, guided by practical exercises and expert instruction. Presented face to face at the St Lucia campus. Registration closes 9am 17 April.

An introduction to qualitative research design [St Lucia]

23 April 2026 10:00am–12:00pm

in Research design

This interactive workshop is designed for HDR candidates who want to use qualitative methods in their research. This workshop is delivered face to face at St Lucia campus.

Writing a literature review for HDRs [webinar]

22 April 2026 10:00am–11:30am

in Writing skills

Learn how to critically read and note-take when writing your literature review. Examine the unique features of a literature review as a frame for your research.

The Principles of Machine Learning (DSCRP) [St Lucia]

16 April 2026 9:00am–5:00pm

in Research software and programming

Learn the core principles of machine learning through practical, Python‑based activities that take you from data preparation to building and evaluating real predictive models. Presented face to face at the St Lucia campus. Registration closes 9am, 7 April.

Planning and Delivering Successful Projects: Lessons from Practice [webinar]

15 April 2026 1:00pm–2:30pm

in Research design

Learn how to plan and manage health projects with clarity and resilience by structuring ideas into actionable frameworks, anticipating risks, coordinating stakeholders, and adapting effectively when conditions change. This workshop is delivered in two parts over two consecutive weeks. Attendance at part one is required for part two.

Effective time management [webinar]

Cancelled

13 April 2026 1:00pm–2:30pm

in Candidature management

Discover time-management strategies that will help you to ‘work well’ during your research degree.

Effective time management [Dutton Park]

Cancelled

13 April 2026 1:00pm–2:30pm

in Candidature management

Discover time-management strategies that will help you to ‘work well’ during your research degree. Presented face to face at Dutton Park campus.

Making the most of the advisor/student relationship [webinar]

31 March 2026 1:00pm–2:30pm

in Candidature management

Learn how to develop a close working relationship with your advisors.

Assertiveness: Finding Your Voice [St Lucia]

25 March 2026 10:00am–12:00pm

in Working with others

This workshop provides strategies to think and behave more assertively, set healthy professional boundaries and resolve conflict in professional contexts. This workshop is delivered face to face at St Lucia campus.

Pondering procrastination productively [webinar]

17 March 2026 11:00am–12:30pm

in Candidature management

Are you plagued by procrastination? Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Learn tools and strategies to get you started in making change, feeling in control and creating new, more productive habits.

Story Moods with Kathleen Jennings [St Lucia]

27 November 2025 10:30am–12:30pm

in Communication

Explore a technique for quickly understanding what makes a short story work, start building up your own stories, and learn tricks you can adapt to other forms of writing.

Strategic networking: How to connect for impact [webinar]

25 November 2025 10:00am–12:00pm

in Impact and influence

Understand the strategic value of networking. Identify networking opportunities.

Optimising Wellbeing throughout your HDR Journey [Gatton]

20 November 2025 10:00am–11:30am

in Candidature management

This workshop aims to assist HDR students to manage stress, to open conversations about wellbeing and to access UQ support services and resources. This workshop is delivered face to face at Gatton campus.

How to navigate an academic career [webinar]

17 November 2025 1:00pm–3:00pm

in Career planning

Explore specific ideas, tools and techniques to navigate an academic career.

Career strategy: Plan for your Future [webinar]

12 November 2025 10:00am–12:00pm

in Career planning

Successful careers are a result of good planning. Get started early with your career strategy.

Effective writing strategies in research [St Lucia]

23 October 2025 2:00pm–4:00pm

in Writing skills

Join an interactive workshop where experienced academics share practical writing strategies and time-management tips to help HDR students boost research productivity, connect with peers, and put learning into action.

Enhancing academic writing with AI: Strategies, opportunities and considerations [webinar]

29 September 2025 10:00am–11:30am

in Writing skills

This workshop aims to improve the academic writing skills of Higher Degree by Research students by integrating Generative AI tools like ChatGPT into the writing process, while maintaining academic integrity.

Pitching and storytelling [webinar]

11 September 2025 10:00am–12:00pm

in Entrepreneurship

This session provides best practice on how to build a pitch deck and how to deliver it compellingly.

R U OK - Building your skills [webinar]

10 September 2025 12:00pm–1:30pm

in Candidature management

R U Ok Day is a national day of action to encourage conversations with those who may be struggling. This workshop will build skills on mental health awareness, ways we can have difficult conversations with each other and ways to access support.

Design thinking [webinar]

4 September 2025 10:00am–12:00pm

in Entrepreneurship

Learn how to solve complex problems in a creative, user-centric and curious manner.

Postgrad life in the Great Southern Land [St Lucia]

2 September 2025 10:00am–11:30am

in Working with others

This workshop explores common challenges for international students, such as the experience of homesickness and culture shock, as well as the differences in the Australian workplace and academic cultures. This workshop is delivered face to face at St Lucia campus.

Working with large scale text for research [webinar]

25 August 2025 12:00pm–3:00pm

in Research software and programming

Learn how to process, structure, and analyse large-scale text data for academic research using AI, machine learning, and Python-based NLP tools in this hands-on, accessible workshop.

Career shaping: Understand your skills and identify opportunities [webinar]

30 July 2025 10:30am–12:30pm

in Career planning

Increase your chances of a positive career on completion of your HDR.

Resilient researcher: Becoming a Resilient Researcher [Webinar]

17 July 2025 12:00pm–1:00pm

in Candidature management

Build your resilience for your research degree and beyond.