The Society for Post Medieval Archaeology is committed to supporting its research community, and a big part of that community begins with the students who are undertaking new and exciting Post Medieval research around the world. To support these researchers the SPMA maintains a dedicated PhD Group. This is a space within the Society for members who are currently undertaking PhD level research on any Post Medieval topic to connect with other students around the world, and become part of a network of potential collaborators. The PhD Group offers monthly workshop sessions, designed in collaboration with Group members at the beginning of each academic year to address current interests and training needs.

The Group’s activities include sessions on topics such as adapting your thesis for publication, turning research into teaching, specialist subjects presented by academics in the field, research data collection, processing and management best practices, and insight into obtaining postdoctoral employment. As part of the SPMA PhD Group, members also have opportunities to gain experience in international conference organisation and session chairing, as well as book and peer reviewing. Additionally, social and networking events are a part of the SPMA PhD Group membership. This can include opportunities to present research at work-in-progress seminars and receive feedback from others, opportunities to contribute to the SPMA newsletter and engage an audience beyond academia, and events with other related societies.

Members from anywhere in the world are welcome to join the SPMA PhD Group and we look forward to meeting you soon. To see what some of the Group members are doing in terms of their research, check out their contribution to the Newsletter.

The Group is managed by the SPMA Membership Secretary, Dr Lenore Thompson. To join PhD students simply need to become a member of the society and then contact Dr Thompson with a request to join at: l.thompson3@derby.ac.uk

See the draft SPMA PhD Group programme for 2023-2024 below, more detail to be added as it comes: