ABOUT THE RESEARCH WORKSHOPS

These workshops are designed for oncology nurses who have identified an issue related to their clinical practice and would like to investigate it by carrying out a research project. Most of the nurses who attend the workshops are oncology nurses educated to degree level or above. The workshops take place each year, and are designed to support nurses with an interest in research to develop their research proposal and gain advice and new perspectives on their doctoral studies.

The EONS Workshops help nurses to build the confidence and skills they need to put together a proposal for their research project, which can then be used to apply for funding.

Of course, even with an intensive workshop it is not possible to complete a research proposal in three days, so participating nurses are asked to identify a mentor who will provide ongoing advice and support to develop the full proposal. Mentors do not attend the workshop itself, but must commit to a certain amount of support.

Participants must send EONS a short progress report within three months of completing the workshop.


5th EONS PhD Research Workshop 2024, Ghent, Belgium, 3-5th June 2024

Monday June 3 – Wednesday June 5, 2024: Ghent University Hospital/University Centre for nursing and midwifery Ghent University.

The 5th EONS PhD Research Workshop took place from the 3rd to the 5th of June 2024 at the Ghent University Hospital and the University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University. This workshop was designed for oncology nurses at any stage of their doctoral studies to network with other PhD students and improve their knowledge, confidence, and expertise in oncology nursing research. Over three days, participants discussed, developed, and shared ideas, gaining European perspectives on their research within a supportive learning environment. The event provided a platform to enhance research skills and broaden academic and professional networks, fostering collaboration and growth in oncology nursing research. The facilitators were  Sara Colomer-Lahiguera, Maura Dowling, Susana Miguel, and Eva Pape.

Some comments from participants at the Workshop:

  • “The EONS PhD Research Workshop was an extraordinary opportunity to develop my research capabilities, to extend my networking experience and to broaden my horizons regarding research topics in oncology nursing.”
  • “The EONS PhD Research Workshop was very well organised, with very skilled facilitators which mentored us towards success in our academic and professional careers.”
  • “All the students worked hard and with a mutual help spirit, which favoured our learning experience.”
  • “The EONS PhD Research Workshop was undoubtedly a major stepping stone in my PhD journey.” 
  • “Lovely people and fruitful days give me a fabulous experience in Ghent, Belgium. Thanks for EONS gathering us together, and everyone’s sharing. PhD journey is lonely, but you are not alone.” 

8th EONS 3-DAY RESEARCH PROPOSAL WORKSHOP 2023
Wednesday 31 May – Friday 2 June 2023, Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona – the beautiful, historic city where the workshop takes place

Venue: University of Barcelona campus of Bellvitge. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Free hotel accommodation provided!

Facilitators: Dr. Paz Fernández Ortega , Dr. Gülcan Bağçivan, Dr. Cherith Semple, Dr. Sara Colomer-Lahiguera

Purpose This event is specifically designed for oncology nurses with an interest in and aptitude for research, who would like to develop their confidence and skills in writing a research proposal to address a contemporary clinical issue in cancer care.

Content The workshop will provide a supportive and constructive learning environment, in which you will progress your ideas into a research proposal. To achieve this, we have put together a comprehensive program of interactive taught sessions, participant presentations, small group work, and structured feedback discussions.

Venue: University of Barcelona campus of Bellvitge. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

FREE accommodation:

Hotel AYRE – Barcelona in Gran Via, near Plaza España, 3 nights with check in on Tuesday 30 May, check out Friday 2 June, will be pre-booked and paid by EONS, based on double room, single use.

Requirements for the applicants:

To be eligible for participation, applicants must be:

  • A registered nurse with at least one year of clinical experience in cancer care;
  • Qualified up to masters level (MSc);
  • An EONS member, either through your National Oncology Nursing Society or Institute (Associate member) or as an individual EONS member, or willing to become an individual member;
  • Able to write and speak in English.

10 places are available.

Please find more information related to the Research Workshop in the Further information section of this webpage.

Applications now closed. Selected participants will be notified soon.


4th EONS PhD Research Workshop 2022, Barcelona, Spain

Wednesday June 1 – Friday June 3, 2022: University of Barcelona, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bellvitge, Barcelona.

The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) held its fourth three-day workshop for oncology nurses across Europe pursuing PhDs this year on the 1st-3rdof June 2022. This year’s event was hosted at the University of Barcelona, which provided the classrooms and facilities for this international group. 

This innovative three-day program provides a structured forum for European oncology nurses pursuing PhDs, to network, share common PhD experiences, and broaden methodological knowledge for PhD research.

The program’s selection of topics and interactive sessions were facilitated by four members of the EONS research working group (Nicolaos Efstathiou, University of Birmingham; Paz Fernández Ortega, University of Barcelona & Catalan Institute of Oncology; Eva Pape, Ghent University Hospital, and Maura Dowling, National University of Ireland, Galway).

Ten students were awarded a scholarship from EONS to attend the program.

The program provided students with the opportunity to present their projects to the group and receive peer and faculty feedback. Discussions on writing at the PhD level and various methodological approaches were also held, as well as PPI (Public patient involvement in research) and postdoctoral careers for oncology nurses. The program also focused on examining the PhD student’s responsibilities in the student-supervisor relationship and the importance of student self-care.


PhD Research Workshop – 3rd EONS Virtual PhD Research Workshop 2021

Three consecutive Fridays in July (2nd, 9th, 16th)

Facilitators:  Maura Dowling (Ireland), Paz Fernández-Ortega (Spain), Cherith Semple (UK), Sara Colomer-Lahiguera (Switzerland)

Some comments from participants at our PhD Workshop, 2021:

  • Thank you to all our lovely and helpful mentors.
  • The Workshop was very interesting and helpful. I felt reassured and supported. My understanding of PhD journey improved and hopefully it will help me to succeed in the future. THANK YOU!
  • I really really loved the workshop! Thank you so much […] I love hearing experiences and approaches to research across Europe.
  • It was more than I expected. Very well organised
  • I think the topics were the right ones so that every participant takes home something relevant to them.

7th EONS (Virtual) Research Proposal Workshop 2021

Three consecutive Tuesdays in June 2021 (15th, 22nd and 29th).

Facilitators: Dr Grigorios Kotronoulas (UK), Dr Nikolaos Efstathiou (UK), Dr Karin Dieperink (Denmark)

Call for applications now closed!

This inspiring, 3-day event is specifically designed for oncology nurses with an interest in and aptitude for research, who would like to develop their confidence and skills in writing a research proposal to address a contemporary clinical issue.

The workshop provided a supportive and constructive learning environment, in which you will begin to develop your ideas into a research proposal. To achieve this, we have put together a comprehensive programme of interactive taught sessions, participant presentations, small group work, and structured feedback discussions.

The draft programme is available in the Further Information section of this webpage.

Some comments from participants at the Workshop:

  • Very comfortable atmosphere from all participants so I was not embarrassed by mistakes, we helped each other, learned a lot.
  • Before I started this workshop I thought I knew more about research than I actually did. This workshop has definitely streamlined my thought process on how to start a good research project.
  • How approachable people who run the workshop are. It makes a huge difference.
  • All smaller groups, all exercises, very interesting to work and evaluate immediately.
  • Correct and just right balance of pace, guidance, and instructions from the management team.
  • All three days of the workshop were extremely useful, we have learned a lot through interaction, exercises, correcting each other, lecturers pointing us in the right direction with advice.
  • I felt very comfortable, team was excellent, lecturers, guests, participants, I will absolutely recommend it. I am thankful for this great opportunity.

Find out more about our previous workshops