I'm a doctoral researcher at the Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College London. My PhD is funded by ARC South London, sitting within the palliative and end of life care theme. My research focuses on the interplay between physical function and quality of life among people living with cancer cachexia and the role of supportive interventions in this under-researched but highly impactful area. My background is in biomedical science and nutrition, and I’m particularly interested in improving quality of life through person-centred research.
I recently attended the 2025 NIHR Doctoral Research Training Camp — an intense three-day course designed to help doctoral and postdoctoral researchers develop the skills needed to write and pitch competitive grant applications.
I was keen to take part because writing funding applications is a core skill for any researcher — but it’s also something many have to learn through trial and error. I wanted the chance to practice in a supportive but realistic environment.
The challenge was ambitious: work in a team of researchers we had never met, develop a full (fictional) grant application in just 24 hours, and present it to a panel of funders, public contributors, and senior academics. It was fast-paced, demanding, and at times completely overwhelming — but it was also one of the most valuable professional development opportunities I’ve had
I put myself forward to present my team’s pitch to the panel. This was daunting but rewarding. The experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me strengthen my skills in communicating ideas clearly, confidently, and under pressure.
There was a lot packed into those three days, but here are some of my key takeaways:
The camp was designed to be high-pressure, but with excellent support from mentors, patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) advisors, and organisers. It created an environment where researchers could think quickly, work collaboratively, and develop the core skills needed for competitive grant writing.
Photo: Megan Bowers (centre in black) with colleagues in her team at the NIHR doctoral training camp.
The skills and insights I gained at the training camp will be useful not only for future funding applications, but also in how I approach collaborative research more generally. I feel more confident now in how to build a proposal, communicate its impact, and work effectively with people from different disciplines and backgrounds.
I'm grateful to ARC South London for funding and supporting my doctoral research and for making it possible for me to attend this event.
I would highly recommend the camp to other current or recent PhD students linked with NIHR infrastructure who want to develop their grant writing and collaborative research skills and grow their confidence in a fast-paced but supportive environment.