Postgraduate researchers from all stages and disciplines are invited to share their research at the festival. We welcome submissions from MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorate researchers.
Complete the call for submissions form below by Tuesday 7 April.
Call for submissions
Choose from one of the following formats to share your research:
Posters
An A1, landscape poster offering a taster of your research. Posters should be visually engaging and accessible to a non-specialist academic audience, and contain no more than 500 words.
Posters will be displayed at the festival venue in two groups: early stage and mid-later stage. If you are in the early stages of research and don’t yet have findings to report, your poster can focus on the aim of the research, reasons for undertaking it, where it fits within a broader field, and methodology. If you have already collected some data, your poster can include initial findings and analysis.
You can find lots of poster resources and examples on the Researcher Development Programme Canvas site (If you’re not already enrolled, join canvas).
We are also running training sessions on research posters:
Friday 10 April, 11am to 12pm
Register for the Friday 10 April session
Thursday 7 May, 11am to 12pm
Register for the Thursday 7 May session
Micro-tutorial
A seven-minute tutorial for peers on an element of your research (choose a small, interesting sub-topic rather than your entire project!). The focus is on teaching, not presenting, so no PowerPoint slides allowed, but you may use props, handouts, or visual images if helpful. Your tutorial should be pitched at other doctoral researchers from any subject area. If you have undertaken the 3is course, this is similar to the microteaching element (but even shorter!). Audience members will be asked to complete a short anonymous peer feedback form on your tutorial.
‘Imperfect presentation’: conference presentation in progress
If you have a conference presentation coming up and would like to get some feedback on it, this format is for you! This is an opportunity to practise a seven-minute section of your presentation and receive some constructive feedback on your delivery and presentation style from peers in a supportive space.
The festival will also host the LJMU Final of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. The overall LJMU winner will receive £500 and will go through to the UK 3MT semi-finals. There will also be a People’s Choice vote on the day for a £250 prize.
To be eligible for the 3MT final, you need to take part in your faculty 3MT heat. The Health, Innovation, Technology and Science 3MT takes place on 25 March and the Society and Culture 3MT is at the Faculty PGR day on 13 April.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a communications competition for doctoral researchers, originating at the University of Queensland. It challenges researchers to tell an intelligent, non-specialist audience what the research is about, why they are doing it, and why anyone should care in just three minutes.
You can find more 3MT information and resources on the Researcher Development Canvas site. You can also find lots of examples of 3MT presentations on the previous PGR Festivals pages below.
Rio Foster
I am a PhD candidate in my final year. Throughout my career so far, I have worked in the NHS for 7 years delivering general and mental health services to adults, children and young people. I also have experiences delivering school-based interventions in primary and secondary schools to support young people with special educational needs and test-anxiety. To maintain my own wellbeing, I enjoy exercising, travelling, and going to live music concerts.
Ellie Glover
I am a fifth year Professional Doctorate student in Sport and Exercise Psychology. My research looks at the longitudinal practitioner development of trainee and qualified Sport and Exercise Psychologists.
Zhitian Hu
I am a third-year PhD student in the School of Biological and Environmental Science. My research focuses on the effects of the environment on animal physiology and behaviour. I am excited to be a member of the committee for the 2026 PGR Festival, and my team and I will work together to create a captivating and memorable event. Looking forward to seeing you on May 19th.
Che Spencer Pote
I am a second year PhD candidate in the International Relations and Politics department. My doctoral research draws on critical theory to explore the dynamics of US power and its impact on Colombia's pursuit for domestic peace. I focus on US INCLE Aid and its impact on Colombia's post-accord peace process. I'm excited to be part of the PGR Festival 2026 committee!
