Welcome back postgrads! The summer closedown is over, more and more people are filtering back onto campus, and yet the full Orientation frenzy is still a good few weeks away. This is a prime moment to enjoy research life with the full services of the university and yet also, in relative peace and quiet.
The January calendar features some excellent workshops for postgraduate research students, with (increasingly) a focus on using AI in your writing. There are also a couple of sessions diving into the world of systematic literature reviews; so if you’re considering this as an option in your research for 2026, make sure you book in!
If you’re keen to form some connections with postgraduate colleagues this year, now is a great time to explore the network of Research Students Peer Groups. There are currently 11 groups to choose from, each run by fellow research students and organised around a shared interest or theme. For example: if you’re a bit of a bookworm, don’t miss the meeting of the PhD Book Club this January 30th, 12-1pm in WF309. (No need to read an assigned book in advance!) There’s also an International Students’ Group preparing to launch – so watch this space.
Don’t forget that Auckland Anniversary Day is coming up on Monday 26 January. This is a public holiday, so many parts of campus (including libraries) will be closed. If you’d like to use that day to get out and enjoy our beautiful city, here’s a list of what’s on!
Postgraduate Research Workshops in January 2026
| What? | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started with writing Focuses on strategies to help researchers digest reading in preparation for writing about what you’ve read. Try freewriting and mapping concepts as strategies to get words on the page and then create more structured writing. We will also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device and an article you have read recently. | Online | Tue 13 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for Discussion sections Explores how we can use Copilot for aspects of the research writing process. We begin by summarising important knowledge about Discussion sections and then introduce a ‘choice map’ to outline the types of tasks we could ask Copilot to perform. Together we will craft and refine prompts and continuously critique responses. Bring your own reading and writing. | Online | Tue 20 Jan 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM |
| Thesis writing: Introductions An overview of the structure of an Introduction section of a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device! | Online | Wed 21 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Thesis writing: Literature reviews An overview of the structure of literature reviews within a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse, discuss and relate text examples to their own writing, and explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Systematic reviews are not covered. | Online | Thu 22 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Systematic Review 1: An introduction What is a systematic literature review and how is it different from a literature review? Why do people use the same terminology but seem to have different ideas on what a SLR actually is? This workshop outlines key differences between types and involves activities to help you decide which one is right for you. This workshop is one of a series of three SLR workshops. Attend any one or all three. | Online | Wed 28 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for research significance We begin by summarising important knowledge about arguing for the significance of your workshop and then introduce a ‘choice map’ to outline the types of tasks we could ask Copilot to perform. Together we will craft and refine prompts and continuously critique responses. Bring your own reading and writing as we dynamically use Copilot for research writing. | Online | Thu 29 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Systematic Review 2: The search process Part 2 of a three-part series. Learn advanced literature searching and search strategies; search databases in a systematic way, where to locate existing systematic reviews, how to create alerts and learn best practices for recording and managing results. | Online | Thu 29 Jan 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM |
