Development Needs Analysis

Yes: the DNA process replaces the TNA process that we previously used.

Development can take a number of forms – it can be skills that you learn, knowledge you acquire, or values that grow or change over the course of your PhD.  We encourage you to reflect on all aspects of your development as part of this DNA.

The Vitae Researcher Development Framework describes the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers, and provides a useful starting-point for thinking about your development.

No. We recognise that your development may well cover a broader range of skills, especially looking forward to careers beyond your PhD. However, you should discuss the training that you do with your supervisor, to ensure that it doesn’t get in the way of completing your PhD within the funded period.

You will have access to this DNA throughout your PhD, and the questions evolve slightly as you progress through the different stages of your PhD.

For students who commenced their awards before August 2024, reflection points are at 3 months, 12 months, 24 months and more than 30 months into your PhD (pro-rata for Part-Time students). For students who commenced their awards from September/October 2024, reflection points are at 3 months into your MA programme (for students in receipt of 1+3.5 year awards only), and 3 months, 12 months, 24 months and 36 months into the PhD (pro-rate for Part-Time students). These reflection points have been chosen to align broadly to key milestones in your PhD. At each stage, you are encouraged to reflect on your development in relation to the changing priorities and challenges of your PhD and, towards the end of your project, on your preparedness for life beyond the PhD.

If you are studying part time, or have taken periods of absence from your PhD, you should take this into account in terms of when you complete your DNA. For instance, a part time student would complete their “3-month” DNA 6 months into their studies. 

You should reflect on the answers to the questions within the DNA form, and discuss them with your supervisors. You should consider your answers to any previous DNA rounds in your reflections. Please also use any training and development analysis process that your own university may have  to help guide what you are doing – they should complement each other.   It may make sense to complete this form alongside your university’s own process if the timings allow.

You may want to complete the questions initially in the Word document provided above , and you should save this document somewhere safe so that you can return to it later. However, please remember that you must also complete and submit the appropriate DNA Google form to the WRDTP, since that is how we know that you have engaged in the DNA process.

Each year, you will be reminded when the DNA submission window is open. Typically, you will be expected to complete and submit your DNA form between mid- November and mid-January.

The Google form has a word limit of 1000 words per question, but you should be writing significantly less than this, and we would encourage you to be concise in your answers. In general, a paragraph or two to answer each question would be plenty. Bullet points are encouraged.

The information provided via the annual DNA process is used to assess the training needs of WRDTP-funded students, and the ways in which those training needs are being met.  Information from submitted forms will be aggregated, shared with the WRDTP Training Group and/or the WRDTP Academic Quality Committee, and used to develop our training offer. 

You should complete the form for students whose studentship commenced before August 2024, and for Jan 2025, 3 months into your PhD.

You should complete the same DNA forms as someone on the +3.5 pathway – that is, at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months into your PhD.

You should fill in the form that best allows you to reflect on your development needs. For students that didn’t begin their PhD in Sept/Oct or whose funding end date has been adjusted due to a period of absence and/or additional funding (e.g. due to an Overseas Institutional Visit), we encourage you to select the most appropriate milestone point for you (i.e. 3, 12, 24 or 36 months).

You should fill in these forms every year of full-time equivalent study, so you would only have to fill in the form approximately every other year. However, we would still encourage you to reflect on your development needs more regularly, throughout your PhD, using the word document to structure your thoughts.

Students on LOA should not complete their DNA whilst on a Leave of Absence. Those DNAs should be completed in the first 3 months after returning from LOA. This will usually occur as part of a conversation with your supervisors about your training and development needs, and ensure that you continue to access training and development opportunities that meet your needs as your PhD progresses. In situations where the LOA leaves only a short gap (<3 months) until the next general DNA submission, students do not need to submit an additional DNA and can wait until the general submission. If you are unsure, please email training@wrdtp.ac.uk, and we’ll be able to confirm.

Please still fill in the DNA if you are not on LOA currently. However it is absolutely fine for some sections of the DNA to state that you have been on LOA so have not made much progress. Treat the DNA as an opportunity to take stock of your circumstances on return from LOA, in discussion with your supervisors, and work out a plan for your training and development going forwards to help ensure your PhD progresses smoothly. If you are unsure, please email training@wrdtp.ac.uk

In the first instance, you should discuss the DNA with your supervisor. However, if you need more advice please contact us at: training@wrdtp.ac.uk