There are many sources of research and related skills training around the University.
Visit our Library induction and training website to find out what is available from the Chemistry Library.
Cambridge University Libraries deliver an expanded programme of webinars on research skills to support graduate students and other researchers in STEMM disciplines each term. It covers topics such as note making for theses and dissertations, how to nail your literature review, writing for publication, copyright and Creative Commons, referencing, and sharing your research online. All courses are free but please book a place.
The Cambridge University Libraries Research Skills Programme offers online modules in Publishing in Journals, Publishing in Academic Books, Copyright and Licences, Research Data Management, Searching the Literature, Build Your Online Profile, and Research Metrics.
There is Physical Sciences support, find out how they can help you by watching this very short video.
The West Hub Library (see below) has termly programmes offering workshops covering topics such as managing study stress, revising like a pro, making effective use of your study break time, researching your future employer, LinkedIn, designing posters, giving presentations, referencing skills.
There are a couple of courses designed by Cambridge Libraries to help you develop literature searching and critical reading skills when locating and reading the literature you have found:
- Literature Searching online, self-paced course, self-enrolled. Aimed at undergraduates but suitable for all.
- Critical Reading introductory, online, self-paced course, self-enrolled. Suitable for all.
Topics include bioinformatics, data management, lab notebooks, research impact, Twitter, scientific writing, publishing research papers, research data management, literature searching, reference management, systematic reviews and critical appraisal of the literature, current awareness, and more.
Training providers:
- 23 Research Things programme
- Cambridge University Library and other libraries throughout Cambridge
- The Graduate School of Life Sciences
- The University's Researcher Development Programme
- The Department of Chemistry Teaching page provides information on transferable skills for undergraduates
- The Cambridge University Skills Portal supports the personal, professional and career development of all members of the University, including undergraduate and postgraduate students, and research staff (including PDRAs)
- The Chemistry Library provides library induction and training for our undergraduate and postgraduate students, and PDRAs
- The Department of Chemistry's Graduate Education Programme
- FOSTER open science e-learning platform
- Literature Searching online, self-paced course, self-enrolled. Aimed at undergraduates but suitable for all.
- Critical Reading introductory, online, self-paced course, self-enrolled. Suitable for all.
- The University of Wolverhampton has produced a great guide called Social media: tools for researchers. It highlights tools which you may find useful to gather, collate, access, manage, share and disseminate your work and research findings.
Research Support Handy Guides
A series of handy guides on key topics in research support with titles on everything from how to spot a predatory publisher to demystifying the peer review process.
PhD On Track
PhD on Track is a web resource aimed primarily at PhD candidates and early career researchers. The aim is to enable beginning researchers to easily access information on searching and reviewing scholarly literature, on academic writing, and on sharing and publishing reports and data. There are three sections: Search and Review; Share and Publish; and Open Science.
Scientific writing
Advice on scientific writing
How to write a good scientific paper, by Chris A. Mack
Citing and referencing advice
The University has a subscription to Cite them right online - the essential referencing resource. This site will help you to reference just about any source, and understand how to avoid plagiarism.
Find the right journal for your research
Think. Check. Submit. is a campaign to help researchers identify trusted journals to publish their research. It is a simple checklist researchers can use to assess the credentials of a journal or publisher.