Faculty of Health Postgraduate Research Showcase – past events

Information from our past events; showcasing the next generation of health researchers
Hand holding light bulb and cog inside. Idea and imagination. Creative and inspiration. Innovation gears icon with network connection on human heads on metal texture background. Innovative technology in science and industrial concept
At the University of Plymouth, we address today's most challenging healthcare and psychological issues, through research-informed teaching and active, real-world learning.
Our annual Postgraduate Research Showcase is a great opportunity for postgraduate students from the Faculty of Health to present, meet and exchange ideas with both peers and staff. This enables postgraduates to communicate their research findings or work in progress, and to exchange ideas and experiences. 
Prizes are awarded to students for the best presentations – the yearly winners are listed below. 

2023

Faculty of Health PGR Showcase, 18 July

Over 100 staff and students from the Faculty of Health came together to celebrate our postgraduate research, with talks and posters showcasing the diversity and quality of research within the faculty.
Stories of both personal journeys as well as ground-breaking research were told, with lively discussions over lunch and refreshments. Congratulations to the prize-winners, and thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this event!
The Faculty of Health PGR Showcase team

Oral presentation prize winners

  • Libby Williams - Targeting Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in NF2-null Meningioma and Schwannoma Tumours 
  • Alex Mellor - Acute inflammation increases white matter sensitivity to ischaemia

Special mention to

  • Sarah Bastyans - Establishment of effects of microplastics on alveolar macrophage-like cell infection with human beta-coronavirus OC43 as a surrogate for SARS-CoV2 infection

Poster prize winners

  • Adam Elkin - How Neural Stem Cells Acquire and Maintain their Identity
  • Elliot Kearney - Control of the Blood-Nerve-Barrier and Inflammation in Tumours of the Nervous System
  • Clare Hornsby - Utilisation of Stand-up Paddle-boarding to promote health and well-being: A scoping review
 

2022

Faculty of Health PGR Showcase, 14 July

There were great talks, poster presentations and interactions on a wide variety of ongoing postgraduate studies across the faculty. 

Best presentation winners

  • Kevin Herrera Keane (PhD student, Peninsula Medical School), Best Oral presentation – title: Targeting TAM family receptors in spontaneous and NF2–related schwannomas and meningiomas
  • Evelina Valionyte (PhD student, Peninsula Medical School), Best Poster presentation – title: Caspase-6 is a novel dominant-negative regulator of SQSTM1/p62 droplet-based autophagy.
 

2021

Faculty of Health PGR Showcase, 30 June

Our postgraduate speakers presented their research throughout the day, covering a wide range of topics and methodologies from psychology to physiotherapy, nursing to neuroscience, dentistry to dietetics. 
We heard how our students are advancing research with real-world benefits, centred on the themes of 'Brain and Mind', 'Health Across the Life Course', 'Digital Health' and 'Frontiers in Discovery Science'.

Best presentation winners 

  • Prashanti Eachempati (Peninsula Dental School) - Best online only poster or video presentation
  • James Conway (Peninsula Medical School) - Best podcast presentation
  • James Butler (School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, co-supervised at School of Biomedical Sciences) - Best oral presentation.