Research Students' Summer Conference
Our Research Students Summer Conference (RSSC) is an annual event for all research students.
RSSC 2021 edition was a virtual conference to showcase the research being carried out by research students across the Faculties and our Collaborative Partner Institutions. It was an opportunity to share ideas, create fruitful collaborations and celebrate research.
RSSC 2021 - An International Research Gathering
On 23rd of June 2021, we gathered online to celebrate the research carried out by Middlesex University researchers. 2021 marked the 10th year of the Research Students' Summer Conference and after more than a year of world-changing events and challenges brought by the covid-19 pandemic, colleagues and students came together to make this online gathering possible. Looking towards the future while making the most out of the circumstances we were experiencing at the time, we brought to life an online event like none other, with 120 research students and early career researchers from our overseas campuses, our Partner Institutions and our London campus who presented on their projects progress, with high engagement levels throughout the day as well as in the days leading up to the Conference.
More than 300 attendees and presenters registered for RSSC2021, representing 29 countries. Our Vice-Chancellor Prof Nic Beech delivered the opening keynote speech, setting out the position of research in the University's strategy and in the years ahead. Approximately 130 participants attended this very 
engaging speech and had the opportunity to dialogue with the VC on the MDX strategy and Research.
25 poster presentations and 90 oral presentations were delivered, across three time slots of 8 parallel sessions each. It was a remarkable demonstration of the diversity of disciplines and the multidisciplinarity or research projects carried out in MDX Research Community: sports science, psychology and psychotherapy, theatre and drama, computer science, business and management, law and criminology, covid-19 related studies, organisational theology and theological studies, design, engineering and mathematics and so much more that can be viewed in the RSSC2021 Programme and Book of Abstracts.
32 prizes were awarded to the best presentations and posters and the details of winners can be found here.
DProf alumna and Chief Pharmacist at NHS Barts trust, Dr Raliat Onatade gave the closing keynote speech with more than 100 attendees and announced the winners. Raliat was introduced by Prof Hemda Garelick and another engaging conversation followed her inspiring and thought-provoking speech.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for participating in any way in the Summer Conference!
We are looking forward to RSSC2022!
RSSC2021 Organising Committee
RSSC2021 Winners
RSSC2021 was made possible and was successfully delivered online, thanks to the amazing participation of our Researchers, from attending preparation sessions, to abstract submission and finally to poster or oral presentations on the day. It was indeed very difficult to select the winners for outstanding posters and presentations and this is evidenced by how close the final results were.
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Best RSSC2021 Poster Presentations
- Reem El Baba. Exploring the lived experiences of hearing mothers of Deaf children in Lebanon: A phenomenological study (Department: Psychotherapy and Counselling).
- James Collins. A survey into the use of priming techniques implemented by athletes and coaches to improve athletic performance (Department: Sports Science).
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Best Oral Presentation of the Conference
Jack Suparman, Ajit J. Shah, Richard Bayford and Darshna Yagnik. Development of LC-MS/MS method for measurement of biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of sepsis (Department: Natural Sciences).
Outstanding Poster Presentations
- Neha Nitika Nathaniel, Ghadat Elayat, Richard Bayford and Sandra Appiah. Antibody-based biosensors for the detection tau and visinin-like protein 1 as an investigative device for monitoring Alzheimer’s disease progression (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Shannah Anico, Lizi Smith, Laura Wilson, Emma Eyre and Danny Holmes. The effectiveness of school-based running programmes (S-BRP) on physical literacy and physical activity components: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Department: Sports Science).
- Kajal Mistry. Making the world smarter using Technology: Use of IoT for Children’s Independent Mobility & Children`s Well-being (Department: Computer Science).
- Tareq Saadoon Aldlimi, Costas Priporas, Shing-Wang Chan, Franco Beschizza. I want to be verified too! Influencer marketing on Snapchat and the role of verification status (Department: Marketing).
- Leanne Myers. A discursive examination of the role of the psychologist when working collaboratively with Probation Officers on the Offender ‘Personality Disorder’ (OPD) Pathway (Metanoia Institute).
- Xiang Yao, Christopher Curtis, Anthony Turner, Chris Bishop, Alex Austerberry and Shyam Chavda. Anthropometric Profiles and Physical Characteristics in Competitive Female English Premiership Rugby Union Players (Department: Sports Science).
- Esther Pozzani. An exploration of the motivations of counsellors working in primary schools (Metanoia Institute).
Outstanding Oral Presentations
- Michael Eden. The Reproachful Head of the Green Knight (Department: Art and Design)
- Ewa Dalek-Trudnowska. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of Artificial Intelligence systems and the future of work (Department: Law).
- Sam Hepenstal, Leishi Zhang and William Wong. An Evaluation of System Transparency to Support Intellectual Judgements (Department: Computer Science).
- Alejandra Gonzalez, Leonardo Pantoja, Hemda Garelick and Diane Purchase. Bioleaching of rare earth elements (REE) from electronic waste: a greener approach for the recovery of critical materials (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Vicki Jackman-Galvin. Relationships and Power: A thematic analysis of the social processes that impact the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities in residential services (Metanoia Institute).
- Margarita Chacin Fuenmayor. The Forgotten Parent: exploration of the lived experience of fathers during the early childhood of their first-born (Metanoia Institute).
- Rahaman Mohammed. Becoming a Social Worker: Learning Social Work Practice in the Placement Environment (Department: Social Work and Mental Health).
- Dionysios Sourelis. A search for meaning during financial crisis: An interpretative phenomenological study of highly educated and unemployed Greek young professionals (New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling).
- Tija Hubej. A Mixed Methods Investigation in Physical Activity in Carers for those with Dementia (Department: Sports Science).
- Kaan Low, Helen Roberts, Frank Hills and Britta Stordal. Development and Characterisation of Multi-Drug Resistant Osteosarcoma Cell Lines (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Regina Foard. The Role Of Cultural Intelligence, Xenophobia, and Other Factors on Engagement Capacity of Church Leaders with Migrant Communities in the U.S. (Department: Theology).
- Najat El Mahdy. An Exploration of the Human Resource Management Landscape: Professionalisation in the context of the Qatar National Vision 2030 (Transcidisciplinary DProf).
- Thanh Nguyen. Effects of Metacognitive Reading Strategy Instruction on L2 Reading Comprehension and Motivation: A Meta-Analysis and An Empirical Investigation (Department: Media).
- Jwaad Hussain. A robot assistant for music therapy session (Department: Design, Engineering and Mathematics).
- Yathushigan Kulatheepan, Beata Burczynska, Stephen Baines, Richard Meeson and Helen Roberts. Analysis of Autophagy in Canine Osteosarcoma (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Adam Philpot. User Experience of 360° video: The development of a conceptual framework (Department: Computer Science).
- Alexandre Villiere, Barry Mason, Nimai Parmar, Niamh Maguire, Danny Holmes and Anthony Turner. The Physical Characteristics Underpinning Performance of Wheelchair Fencing Athletes: A Delphi Study of Paralympic Coaches (Department: Sports Science).
- Stefan V. Mihai. Improving efficiency and productivity in Industry 4.0 through Digital Twins (Department: Design, Engineering and Mathematics).
- Emmanuel Portelli and Mark Borg. Detecting Illicit Cryptocurrency Transactions (Department: Computer Science).
- Patrycja Brodka, Rocco Venizelos, Frank Hills and Lygeri Dimitriou. Clinical evaluation of Boswellia serrata, Curcuma longa and Vitis vinifera in patients with osteoarthritis. A prospective, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Ivan Punev. DNA methylation profile of chorionic gonadotropin beta genes in non-trophoblastic cancers (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Ruth Gyereh and Zhanzhong Shi. Investigating the anti-leukaemic effect of Antimicrobial Peptides and the underlying mechanisms (Department: Natural Sciences).
- Ioana Crivatu, Miranda Horvath and Jeffrey DeMarco. Deciding to not rape in groups. A qualitative account from experts and professionals (Department: Psychology).
Key dates
- By 07 June 2021: Presenters (All): register as a presenter for the conference using this link.
- By 16 June 2021: Poster presenters: Email your digital poster and YouTube link to your 2-3 audio/video summary to Sofia Atsopardi
- Practice sessions for Judges and Chairs: 17 June at 12:00-13:00 and 21 June 2021 at 11:00-12:00.
- 18 June 2021, 11.00-13.00: Oral presenters: Presenters’ practice session, to check conference platform (book here)
- 22 June 2021: Changing World Café - pre-conference student networking event. Book Here!
- Conference: 23 June 2021!
Keynote speakers
Opening keynote speech
Prof Nic Beech, Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University
Nic is Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University. He has held a range of senior higher education leadership roles including Vice-Principal of the University of St Andrews and Provost of the University of Dundee. He is President of the British Academy of Management, a member of the Council of the Academy of Social Sciences and a board member of London Higher and the Chartered Management Institute Race Network. His academic background is in business and management and his research focused on identity, diversity, change leadership and learning. His work has been funded by AHRC, ESRC, EU, Nesta and industry partners and he was Lead Fellow of the ESRC Advanced Institute of Management.
Closing keynote speech and presentation of awards
Dr Raliat Onatade, Group Chief Pharmacist NHS Barts
Dr Onatade is a recent alumna of MDX, receiving her Professional Doctorate (Health) in Advancing Clinical Pharmacy Practice in 2019. She is a fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, a Clinical Lecturer at King's College London, and prior to Bart's was for 12 years Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Clinical Services, at King's College Hospital. She is currently researching Validity and Reliability of IMPACCTS, a tool used to rate the clinical significance of pharmacy clinical contributions to care
Important links
Guidelines for Presenters and FAQs and troubleshooting tips for Hopin conferencing platform
Everything presenters need to know to prepare for the Summer Conference. Whether you are participating by poster submission, or doing an oral presentation, make sure you have read the instructions carefully ahead of the Conference. Please also have at hand the link to the FAQ document for the conference platform Hopin.
Guidelines for presenters!
FAQs and troubleshooting
RSSC2021 Schedule and Book of Abstracts
Check out the full schedule of the Conference, make sure you know which one is your slot if you are presenting and find out which presentations you are interested to attend. There are 8 parallel sessions for each slot of the schedule, with 4 presenters in each and we only wish we could attend them all!
Schedule and book of abstracts!
RSSC 2021 edition | Research in a Changing World | 23 June 2021
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Research in a Changing World’. Students from all disciplines and at any stage of research have submitted their abstracts considering this theme and how it interacts with their research area. Prizes will be awarded for the best presentations. We have had a record number of submissions and a wonderful range of topics, from our Partner Institutions, from our overseas campuses and from our Hendon based students.
For more information please visit our Summer Conference website. The full schedule and book of abstracts is available online!
RSSC 2021 Schedule | Wednesday 23 June 2021
All times are UK London.
09:00 - 09:30 - Registration: welcome to the online platform environment
09:30 - 10:00 - Keynote speech by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nic Beech
10:10-11:30 - Oral presentations sessions A-H
11:40-13:00 - Oral presentations sessions I-P
13:00-14:00 - Lunch break and poster expo
14:00-15:20 - Oral presentations sessions Q-X
15:30-16:00 - Opportunity to approach Poster Presenters and ask questions
16:00-16:30 - Final keynote by Dr Raliat Onatade introduced by Prof Hemda Garelick
16:30-17:00 - Presentation of awards
Preparation seminars
For all authors and MDX Research Students, we delivered the following sessions prior to the conference to help you prepare your abstracts, posters and presentations.
These sessions were useful to gain essential knowledge and tips. This year has a special focus on online presentations and posters.
- Writing a good abstract - Paula Bernaschina | Tuesday 16 March 2021
- Creating a good poster - Paula Bernaschina | Friday 21 May 2021
- Giving effective presentations - Peter Thomas | Tuesday 25 May 2021
Resources
Writing a good abstract - Paula Bernaschina
Creating a good poster - Paula Bernaschina
Giving effective presentations - Peter Thomas
