Looking Back at the 2025 Postgraduate Research Festival
125 Years of Postgraduate Research: Past, Present, Future
Looking Back at the 2025 Postgraduate Research Festival
Read on to look back on our 2025 Festival, including announcing our UDS Awards winners, and ways to rewatch our key events
The Postgraduate Research Festival is the University of Birmingham’s flagship celebration of postgraduate research (PGR). Hosted by the University Doctoral School (formerly the University Graduate School) and co-designed with our PGR Scholars, the 2025 Festival marked two major milestones: the official launch of the University Doctoral School and the University’s 125th anniversary.
Taking place on 24 June, the Festival welcomed postgraduate researchers, taught postgraduates, University staff, prospective students, and external guests to a vibrant celebration of research. It brought together this diverse community to explore the past, present, and future of postgraduate research—recognising both the University’s rich research legacy and the innovation shaping its future
Welcome and Keynote: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future
The day began with a warm welcome from Professor Rachel O’Reilly, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, who shared her vision for the future of the University Doctoral School (UDS) and previewed the 2025 Festival.
Professor Jessica Blair, Director of the UDS, then delivered the keynote, reflecting on 125 years of postgraduate research at the University of Birmingham, exploring the civic legacy and pioneering possibilities of doctoral study.
If you missed the session or would like to revisit it, the recording is available online:
Watch the Welcome and Keynote
Research Poster Exhibition: Sharing Research Across Disciplines
The Festival featured 75 posters from PGRs across all five Colleges, each designed to share research in engaging, accessible ways with non-specialist audiences. The exhibition offered a valuable opportunity for researchers to practise public engagement and communicate the significance of their work beyond their disciplines.
Before the Festival began, over 60 academic and professional services staff from across the University helped judge the Research Poster Competition. We are incredibly grateful for their time and expertise in selecting three overall winners and five College-level prize winners. In addition, a panel of expert judges awarded four special prizes for Sustainability, EDI, Collaboration, and Civic Research.
You can view the full list of winners at the end of this news story. Explore the full Research Poster Catalogue and revisit the posters 
PGR Talks: Life-Changing Technologies, A Thriving Planet, and A Fairer World
PGR Talks featured current postgraduate researchers presenting their work aligned with three of the University Research Challenge themes: Life-Changing Technologies, Thriving Planet, and Fairer World. Speakers Christelle Bay Chongwain, David Dowson, and Katie Potts shared insights into culturally appropriate dementia care, environmental transparency, and virtual reality as therapy for autistic adults. The session concluded with a Q&A panel, offering a chance to engage with the researchers.
If you missed the talks or want to revisit them:
Watch PGR Talks
UDS Awards Ceremony: Celebrating Achievements
The Festival concluded with the UDS Awards Ceremony, recognising outstanding achievements across the postgraduate research community. The awards celebrated the breadth and excellence of PGR activity at the University, covering a wide range of contributions including research posters, publications, community champion efforts, excellence in supervision, and more.
UDS Awards Winners 2025
College of Arts and Law
Research Poster Competition
- People’s Choice Award (£150): Holly Gowland
- Special College Award (£150): Lily Kennedy
Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award (£250)
Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision
College of Social Sciences
Research Poster Competition
- Special College Award (£150): Kate Rowley
- Research in Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity Award (£100): Billy Reid
Three Minute Thesis
- Judges’ Winner (£500) Yuxuan Wu
PGR Community Champion Award
- PGR Community Champion (£100): Lucy Rabjohn
Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award (£250)
- Yun Chieh Lu (Catherine Lu)
Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Poster Competition
- First Place Winner (£400): Kanaeshvarr Devanand
- Special College Award (£150): Ossama Shafiq
- 125th Anniversary Award for Civic Research (£100): Deanne Brettle
- Sustainability in Research (£100): Ilhan Mohamed
Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award (£250)
Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision
College of Life and Environmental Sciences
Research Poster Competition
- Third Place Overall (£200): Octavia Brayley
- Second Place Overall (£300):Lamya Majeed
- Special College Award (£150): Andrea Rizzardi Orlandi
Three Minute Thesis
- Judges’ Runner Up (£250): Alison Fulop
- People’s Choice Award (£250): Naya Drestalita
Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award (£250)
Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision
College of Medicine and Health
Research Poster Competition
- Collaborative Research (£100): Samira Osman
- Special College Award (£150): Fatimah Asiri
Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award (£250)
Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision
Congratulations to all of our winners, and thank you to everyone who took part in making the 2025 Festival such a success. Stay tuned to the Postgraduate Research Festival page for updates on next year’s event!