Writing Support

MPC offers a variety of opportunities to refine papers and receive substantive feedback in a supportive research setting.

Paper Surgery Groups

Paper Surgery Groups bring together five to six MPC faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate student members from across the disciplines to provide writing support and feedback on group members' writing. The goal of the groups is to produce high-quality population studies research papers ready for publication (or dissertation). Groups generally meet once a month to review one member's paper. Papers are circulated at least one week before each meeting to allow group members time to read and provide thoughtful feedback. Procedures and practices may vary slightly from group to group.

Writing Hunker

MPC hosts biweekly Writing Hunkers to provide a dedicated time and space for writing through the shared accountability of working in a group setting. There will be snacks!

Writing Hunkers meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays every month from 1:00-4:00 in Room 29. You can join either in person or via Zoom here: https://umn.zoom.us/j/97334067515 

Paper Hatchling

MPC Paper Hatchling brings together a small group of faculty, research staff, and student members to assist individual members with the early stages of paper and grant design. Each week one member signs up to pitch a new paper idea to fellow researchers who provide feedback on project design, theoretical framing, data, and methods. Come with an idea you can briefly describe, and a group of experienced researchers will help you pinpoint gaps in the literature, design your project, operationalize variables, or locate data. Members are encouraged to sign up to present a paper idea or to listen and provide feedback on a new paper idea. This is intended to be an incubator space for new ideas, so think of it as a very safe space for rough ideas.

Paper Hatchling meets at 12:15pm on select Fridays throughout the semester.

One to One Writing Support

The MPC Program Development team offers one-to-one writing support for all faculty, staff, and graduate student members working on population studies-related research publications and grant proposals. Our team can provide assistance at any phase in the writing cycle, from conceiving and outlining a new paper or proposal to addressing a revise and resubmit. Need a final copy edit? We can help with that too! Please notify MPC (mpc@umn.edu) at least two weeks before your deadline if you would like to use this service.  Due to volume of requests, we will prioritize those who have given us advanced notice.

To learn more about MPC writing support services, please contact mpc@umn.edu.