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You will lead the Research Students' Network and oversee the development of an engaging, dynamic and rewarding community of research students within the Union and represent the needs and interests of research students. Working with the Postgraduate Officer, represent these collective interests to UCL and beyond.

To vote for this position you must be a you must be a Postgraduate Research student.

Read the role description here.

Candidates

Bohua Deng
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?

I would bring a combination of direct experience, strong communication skills, and a genuine commitment to representing research students effectively. As a current PhD student, I understand the research life at UCL, including the academic pressures, the uncertainty with long-term projects. 

I also have experience as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant. This has made me more aware of the importance of practical solutions, especially when working with both students and staff.

In addition, as an international research student, I also understand how important inclusion and accessible support can be.

Empowering Research, Enriching Experience
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?

If elected, I would hope to make the research student experience at UCL more supported, connected, and responsive to students’ real needs. One of my main priorities would be to improve support for postgraduate research students who also work as PGTAs. Another important goal would be to strengthen the sense of community among research students. Research can often feel isolating, so I would like to encourage more opportunities for connection, peer support, and cross-disciplinary engagement. More broadly, I would want to ensure that research students’ voices are represented clearly. 

Please summarise why students should vote for you.

I understand the real challenges research students face and I want to turn those concerns into practical improvements. As a current PhD student and PGTA, I have direct experience of balancing research, teaching, workload, and wellbeing, so I can represent research students from personal understanding. I am approachable, responsible, and committed to listening carefully to students across different departments and backgrounds. If elected, I will work to be a representative who listens, communicates clearly, and takes action on the issues that matter most to research students.