PG Research Festival 2026
The PG Research Festival ran throughout June 2026 with an expanded programme designed to celebrate, support, and highlight postgraduate research at the University of Birmingham. This year marked the relaunch of the Festival as a month-long series of events and opportunities dedicated to our postgraduate research community.
The PG Research Festival complemented UoBXtra by bringing together a wide range of PGR-focused activities, including:
- Careers and researcher development workshops
- Networking and community-building events
- Guest speakers and panel discussions
The Festival also included the University Doctoral School Showcase, our flagship celebration of postgraduate research, featuring the annual Research Poster Competition, PGR Talks, and UDS Awards - read on for further information.
University Doctoral School Showcase 2026 - Tuesday 16 June
Our 2026 theme of ‘Impact and Innovation’ recognised the groundbreaking research being carried out by postgraduate researchers across the University of Birmingham.
The Showcase explored the exceptional depth and quality of PGR research, highlighting the dedication, creativity, and expertise which underpins our postgraduate community – and recognising how postgraduate research creates innovation and impact both locally and globally.
The Showcase was open to all postgraduate researchers, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University. If you were not able to join us in person but would still like to hear from our speakers and help celebrate postgraduate research, the talks from the day can be watched back via our UDS YouTube channel.
The 2026 Schedule
13:00-13:45 - Keynote: Translating Research into Impact - how research makes a difference. Our Keynote featured a panel of academic and postgraduate research alumni who shared how they have transformed their research projects and experience into real world impact, both locally and globally - including:
- Professor Yemisi Takwoingi (Professor of Test Evaluation and Evidence Synthesis and Head of Applied Health Sciences in the College of Medicine and Health)
- Dr Alana Farrell (Assistant Professor at Birmingham Law School, winner of the Outstanding Research Impact by an Early Career Researcher at the 2026 Research and Impact Awards)
- Dr Tom Goodman (Birmingham alumnus and winner of the 2026 British Empire Medal for services to technology in the West Midlands)
13:45-14:30 - Research Poster Competition (Public Viewing). Featuring posters from across our five Colleges, the Research Poster Competition represented an opportunity to meet and ask questions of our postgraduate researchers as they presented their projects and findings.
14:30-15:15 - PGR Talks. The 2026 edition of PGR Talks celebrated the innovative, Black-led research happening across the University. Delivered as a collaborative effort between the Black PGR Network, the 125th Anniversary Scholars and the University Doctoral School, PGR Talks demonstrated why representation is key in inspiring the future of research.
15:30-16:15 - University Doctoral School (UDS) Awards. Celebrating excellence through announcing the winners of Research Poster Competition, which included the new AM Award for Digital Scholarship (sponsored by AM Digital), alongside the Michael K. O’Rourke Best Publication Award, the Award for Excellence in Doctoral Research, and prizegiving for the 2026 3MT Finalist and 3MT People’s Choice Award.
16:15-17:00 - Drinks Reception. All registrants were invited to join us to close the Showcase with our annual drinks’ reception, where they could connect and discuss their favourite parts of the day over free drinks.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch at doctoralschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk.