July has been a defining month for NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre PhD student in Epidemiology, Sara Naderpour, marked by both recognition and growth.
She was first named runner-up in the University of Leicester Doctoral College’s Images of Research competition, a showcase celebrating researchers’ ability to communicate their work visually.
Soon after, Sara represented Leicester BRC at the NIHR Doctoral Research Training Camp, held from 7 to 9 July in Hinckley. This prestigious national event brings together selected PhD researchers from across the UK for an intensive three-day experience focused on developing skills essential for a research career in health and care.
At the heart of the camp is a distinctive challenge: form a multidisciplinary team, design a credible health research proposal from scratch, and pitch it to a panel of funders, public contributors and senior academics within 24 hours.
Describing the experience, Sara said: “It was one of the most intense, eye-opening, and rewarding parts of my PhD so far. It tested everything from strategic thinking to communication under pressure, while reinforcing how critical it is to shape research around real-world needs.”
Working closely with a PPIE (Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement) colleague and a mentor, Sara’s team anchored their proposal in lived experience, ensuring the research responded to patient priorities as well as NHS system needs.
For Sara, the camp offered several key insights:
- The importance of adaptability and clear communication when working with new teams.
- How to align research proposals with funders’ priorities, such as the NHS Long Term Plan.
- The role of public contributors in shaping meaningful, relevant research.
- The art of pitching complex ideas concisely and persuasively.
“I’ve come away with practical tools for grant writing and a stronger sense of how to navigate the funding landscape,” Sara said. “Just as importantly, it pushed me to think more strategically about impact, not only within academia but in policy and practice.”
Sara’s reflections speak directly to the BRC’s broader ambition which is to train researchers who are not only experts in their fields but who can also collaborate across disciplines, engage with patients and the public, and secure funding in a competitive environment.
We are proud to see Sara gaining national recognition and advancing her skills on this scale. These experiences strengthen both her individual development and the research culture we continue to foster at NIHR Leicester BRC.
Congratulations to Sara on a remarkable month of achievements.