New training opportunity for PhD students:

University of Cambridge ThinkLab & Homerton Changemakers

Student researchers are invited to join the University of Cambridge ThinkLab. It offers you a
unique opportunity to work on a live challenge and develop innovative solutions alongside
professionals and a small team of PhD students.

The Reading Agency ThinkLab: inspiring creative reading

Our latest project involves working with a team of specialists from national charity, The
Reading Agency, to design a national programme that will inspire young people to be excited
and engaged in reading about science. Partners including UK libraries, The Natural History
Museum, the British Science Association, DK publishers, The British Library and scientist Dr
Maggie Aderin-Pocock are supporting this innovative reading programme.

Your challenge is to support the national charity as they design and develop plans to roll out
the new programme nationally to reach over 1000 young people and parents, targeting areas
without a university and in the most socio-economically deprived regions of England. This will
be a new approach for the Charity, engaging a unique network of partners to deliver the
programme.

Through analysis of primary and secondary research, you will work alongside a team of
specialists from the Charity to increase their understanding of the potential challenges and
novel solutions that they can employ as they prepare to design and roll out the programme.

Stand out from the crowd when you apply for your next career position:

• apply your expertise as a researcher;

• network with leading organisations from the charitable and private sectors;
• demonstrate your PhD capabilities in a new context;
• and explore opportunities for engagement and future research.

Who is this opportunity for?

We are looking for up to ten keen and committed Cambridge University PhD students from
any discipline and we are particularly keen to include students from the breadth of disciplines.
Please note that you do not need to be receiving Research Council funding for your PhD to
take part in the programme.
Watch our ThinkLab video to find out more about the programme…
https://youtu.be/C0Zx0UuAgKo

Programme Outline

Session 1: Introduction to the ThinkLab model 23 Jan, 3pm-5.30pm HC

Session 2: Researching the challenge 30 Jan, 3pm-5.30pm HC

Session 3: Meet The Reading Agency project team 6 Feb, 1.30pm-4.30pm TRA

Session 4: Preparing data collection & presentations 13 Feb, 3pm-5.30pm HC

Session 5: Presenting data and analysing the challenge 27 Feb, 3pm-5.30pm HC

Session 6: Adding value – your career ambitions 5 March, 3pm-5.00pm HC

Session 7: The Reading Agency Away Day 19 March 10.30-4.00pm HC

Codes for the locations of each ThinkLab session:

HC Homerton College
TRA The Reading Agency, London

Please note that some additional time, outside of the sessions, will be required but this is a
flexible part of the programme. Please make sure that you can attend all of the sessions but
do contact us if you would like to discuss your availability.

How do I find out more?

For more information please contact Catherine Hasted catherine.hasted@admin.cam.ac.uk or

call Tel: 01223 763307

How do I apply for a place?

Please return the completed form below to Catherine.hasted@admin.cama.ac.uk no later

than 5pm on 15 December. Please note that you must be able to attend all sessions. Also,
please be aware that the ThinkLab is part of an education research project, exploring
learning between doctoral students within the University and non-academic professionals.

For more information please contact Catherine Hasted catherine.hasted@admin.cam.ac.uk

The University of Cambridge ThinkLab & Homerton Changemakers

Application Form
Please complete all sections and return no later than 15 December to
Catherine.hasted@admin.cam.ac.uk

1. Personal Details

Title: First name: Family name:

Address (for correspondence): Email:
Tel. no:

2. Details of your current research degree

Please state if your PhD is funded

Date of
PhD subject Department and, if so, the name of the funding
Registration
source.

3. Supporting Statement

Please state the skills that you would bring to the ThinkLab programme and how you would benefit
from taking part (no more than 200 words):

4. Signature

Signature of applicant (electronic is acceptable) Date:

Please submit this form to Catherine.hasted@admin.cam.ac.uk