Workshops
Join us for Paper in a Day
Monday 11 December 08h30 - 17h00
Applications Close on 1 November 2023. Please view below on how to apply
What is Paper in a Day?
Paper in a Day (PIAD) aims to bring together junior researchers to work together on a defined project, such as a review or commentary, that can then be submitted for publication. The intention is to lay the groundwork for collaborations and teamwork among an upcoming generation of researchers. The approach was pioneered at an International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies annual meeting and has since grown.
What is this project?
We would like to invite you to participate in a PIAD activity organised ahead of the first Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress conference, which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa on 12 – 14 December. The aim of the PIAD workshop will be to write a systematic review on early biological and psychosocial mechanisms of posttraumatic stress disorder onset and persistence in youth.
Exposure to trauma is a global phenomenon and has the potential to exert long-lasting effects on mental health. The cardinal trauma-related psychological disorder is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which includes symptoms related to reexperiencing, avoidance and arousal, as well as negative alterations to cognition and mood. Though it is estimated that more than 70% of the population worldwide will be exposed to at least one trauma in their lifetime, only a subset of individuals will go on to develop PTSD. This PIAD project will collate published literature on the biological and psychosocial factors that may drive relative risk or resilience towards developing PTSD in trauma-exposed children and adolescents.
The project will be led by Dr Jacqueline Womersley and Dr Muneeb Salie, and will also include Dr Eva Alisic (original developer of PIAD) and Prof Soraya Seedat (Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University). The leaders of the project will develop the search terms, perform the searches in PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science, and screen the search hits for eligibility. The full-day workshop will be held at the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences located in Tygerberg, South Africa.
What will be expected of me?
This activity will include preparatory work in the weeks prior to 11 December, an intensive one-day group meeting, as well as follow-up work after the meeting. Tasks include writing the introduction to the topic; summarising the key findings of and extracting data from the selected publications; assessing the quality of the studies; and drawing the relevant information together in the discussion.
The success of PIAD is dependent on the involvement of the participants.
We ask that you commit to:
• Attending a virtual meeting to be scheduled 4 weeks before the meeting
• Approximately 10 hours of work in preparation for the meeting
• In person attendance of the full workshop on 11 December
• Contributing to the writeup and final editing of the manuscript prior to submission
• Working with the team on manuscript submission and addressing reviewer comments
The in-person workshop on 11 December will also include a hands-on three-hour workshop offered by Prof Rens van de Schoot of Utrecht University on “Using artificial intelligence to quickly get a systematic overview of the literature”.
Is there a fee?
There is no fee for the workshop, however successful applicants will be expected to cover their own travel costs. Meals and refreshments will be provided.
Who can apply?
This PIAD event is aimed at early career researchers or academics and is targeted towards current PhD candidates and those who have completed their PhD within the past 5 years.
How do I apply?
Please send your application to Jacqueline Womersley (jsw1@sun.ac.za) and Muneeb Salie (muneeb@sun.ac.za). Your application should include:
• A short CV (maximum 3 pages), including any manuscripts you may have published
• A description of your research experience and interests and how these may relate to the PIAD project
• a statement confirming your commitment to attend the workshop in person, and to work on the manuscript pre and post the workshop
The closing date for applications is 1 November. A maximum of 10 participants will be selected and the outcome of applications will be communicated within 10 days of the application closing date.