| Message from the Research Staff Office |
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Hello everyone
Welcome to the final Sussex Researcher newsletter of 2015. It has been a year of developments in the Research Staff Office and it looks set to continue in 2016. In January we will welcome a new member of the team, Kirsty Bridger, who will be taking on the new role of Researcher Development Co-ordinator, meaning we will have greater capacity to support the professional development of Sussex researchers.
The views you contributed through the Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS) earlier in the year will come to the attention of the University's Vice-Chancellor and members of Senior Management next week when I brief them on the CROS outcomes and recommendations. This is a very positive step as it demonstrates that research staff matters are being considered at the very top levels of the University. In 2016 we will continue to work at all levels of the institution to implement the changes you want to see to improve your experiences and career development.
I'd like to take this chance to thank you all for your enthusiasm and input into all of the research staff events and activities throughout the year and to wish you a very happy and relaxing festive break. I look forward to seeing you in 2016.
Best wishes,
Natalie James (Research Staff Officer, Research and Enterprise)
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| Live Q and A: How to stand out in the scramble for research funding |
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Wednesday, 9th December, 12-2pm - Online via Guardian Higher Education Network
The Guardian Higher Education network is running a live Q and A session with an expert panel of funders, research careers advisers and academics to discuss how early career researchers can get ahead with research funding applications.
The panel will be answering questions and providing advice on:
- What are the most common mistakes in funding applications?
- What is the right time to apply for funding?
- How long should you spend on an application?
- What small grants are available to boost your CV?
- What's the best response after an unsuccessful application? How can you learn from it?
- What are the different approaches from different disciplines? What can they learn from each other?
Find out more and join the discussion
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| News |
| Researcher Promotions 2015/16: Application tips from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor |
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The 2015/16 promotions round is now open for applications for research fellows, teaching fellows and academic teaching faculty. Applications must reach Heads of School by Friday 15th January. Visit the HR academic promotions webpage for all of the information you need to apply for promotion this year. Note that the process is exactly the same for research fellows as for academic teaching faculty, but the assessment criteria for research fellow promotions are different.
In November a number of you attended a workshop with the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Clare Mackie, who provided some clear guidance and information about the do's and don'ts of securing a promotion on the research fellow career pathway.
For the benefit of anyone considering making a promotion application this year or in the future, we have summarised the top research fellow promotions tips that arose from Prof. Clare Mackie's promotions workshop.
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| English language support for researchers |
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The Sussex Centre for Language Studies is now offering its English language support to Sussex research staff. This includes 1 to 1 language tutorials, small group workshops and online resources for researchers who are non-native English speakers.
You can find details of the workshops and tutorials available on the Academic Development Study Direct site.
Spaces for 1 to 1 tutorials are released in batches and fill up very quickly, so you may need to wait for a few weeks for an appointment with a tutor.
We will work with the Sussex Centre for Language Studies to monitor the demand for this service and if there is significant demand from research staff, will work with them to provide more tailored English language support in future. If you make use of this service and have any feedback please email researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk
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| Changes ahead for UK research funding |
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UK Universities welcomed the news from the Government's Spending Review announcement on 25th November that the budget for science funding was to be protected "in real terms so it rises to £4.7 billion".
However, changes to the way that science funding is managed and allocated are likely as the Government implements the recommendations of the Nurse Review of the Research Councils which was published on 19th November. One of the core recommendations of the review is to create a new public body called Research UK that will provide oversight of the seven Research Councils, manage funding for interdisciplinary research and societal challenges and formulate the overall research strategy for the UK.
This centralises some of the power of the Research Councils in the new Research UK and aims to simplify processes and administrative burden on the Councils and promote more effective formulation of research strategy and policy, whilst maintaining the integrity of the Research Councils.
How the structural changes will affect UK research funding processes is yet to be seen, but as the Government has committed to implementing all of the recommendations of the Nurse Review, it will be an interesting time for UK research.
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| Sussex Researcher achievements |
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We'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate some Sussex researchers on their recent successes:
- Dr Jillian Scudder, Physics Research Fellow, was recently awarded the South East Physics Network Newcomer Award for engaging the public with her research. She received the award for public engagement work that includes her outreach blog 'Astroquizzical', participation in outreach events such as Nerd Nite Brighton and Stargazing Live and her publications on the Conversation. Full article
- Dr Ceren Ozpinar, a Visiting Research Fellow in Art History, has received a British Academy Newton International Fellowship award for her research on Re-visiting Feminist Temporalities in Art and Art History in Turkey from 1970s onwards. Newton International Fellowships are very competitive and provide an opportunity for talented post-doctoral researchers working overseas to carry out their world-class research at UK institutions. Full article
- The Sussex Postdoc Network committee have successfully secured funding from the University's Researcher Led Initiative Fund to support the development of the Postdoc Network over the course of the academic year. Funds will be used to support the regular network meetings that aim to promote networking, career and personal leadership development for all non-permanent postdoctoral research and teaching staff across the University. For more information about the postdoc network email postdocs@sussex.ac.uk
Congratulations to all of the researchers above on their achievements.
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| Opportunities |
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If applying for funding, remember to check funders' eligibility criteria carefully and discuss the opportunity with your host institution/department prior to preparing any applications.
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| British Academy - International partnership and mobility scheme |
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This scheme aims to support the development of partnerships between the UK and other areas of the world where research excellence would be strengthened by new, innovative initiatives and links. Grants are worth up to £10,000 per year for a period of one or three years.
Applicants must be of postdoctoral or equivalent status and research must be in the field of humanities or social sciences
Deadline for applications: 10th February 2016
More information
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| Rosalind Franklin App Competition |
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National app competition for teams and individuals from all backgrounds to take advantage of the telecommunications revolution to reach out to a global audience through apps, empower and recognise a new generation of women leaders, and change public perceptions of women in the digital space.
The competition is split into two challenges:
- Challenge 1: To develop new mobile phone apps to empower women in STEMM.
- Challenge 2: To recognise leading women in STEMM who have pioneered new apps for research, societal good and enterprise.
The winning apps will be awarded a fully subsidised place in The Mobile Academy where you will learn everything you need to know about progressing your digital ideas.
Deadline for applications: 4th January 2016
More information
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| Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships |
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These enable early-career scientists who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstance to take the first step into an independent research career. Research may address any subject in the natural and physical sciences; however, excluding clinical medicine. Up to 10 awards are available. Fellowships include coverage of salary costs, estate costs and indirect costs for a guaranteed maximum period of five years.
Deadline for applications: 12th January 2016
More information
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| Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships |
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These enable newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to make an early start in developing their independent research careers, working in the best laboratories in the UK and overseas. Fellowships provide £250,000 over four years, covering salary and research expenses.
Deadline for applications: 2nd May 2016
More information
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