Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher, we are very pleased this month to bring you the full outcomes and recommendations from the Careers in Research Online Survey 2017 which many of you participated in. We had an excellent response to the survey earlier in 2017 which gave us a wealth of information about your experiences here at Sussex. Please take some time to look at the presentation on the CROS website to get an overview of the key findings and recommendations.
We also had the welcome news this month that we have been awarded the European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award, which recognises the progress we have made in research staff support. We're not complacent though - whilst we've made some good progress, there are still lots of opportunities to improve your experiences, so we'll be continuing to work hard on new ideas to enhance the environment for researchers at Sussex.
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office Team (Natalie James, Catherine Pope and Alex Aghajanian)
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Featured Event
Introduction to the UK Higher Education Research Environment
Tuesday 21st November, 10:00am-12:00pm
This interactive and discussion led workshop aims to de-mystify the structures and complexities of the UK research environment. Participants will be introduced to key funding and policy issues affecting UK based researchers today and have an opportunity to discuss the implications for their own research activity.
Following this workshop participants will have:
- Have an appreciation of how university research fits within the broader context of the UK research environment.
- Understand how UK research is funded and have an awareness of the key policy drivers affecting UK research activity.
- Have an awareness of the implications for UK based researchers of key issues including:
- Know how to successfully ‘pitch’ themselves and/or their ideas;
- Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- The Impact and Knowledge Exchange Agendas
- Research Integrity and Governance
- Research careers and workforce development
- Collaboration, competition and concentration
- ‘Brexit’, Trump and other international developments
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Spotlight on Dr Stefano Caserta
Research Fellow in Infection & Immunology at Brighton and Sussex Medical School
My current research is focused on Sepsis, a devastating condition, which affects and kills more people than the top three cancers combined
I found that, based on the way in which the micro-RNAs behave in the blood, it is now possible to diagnose Sepsis much more easily than before. My work shows that the levels of micro-RNAs in the blood are massively reduced in patients with Sepsis, compared to other patients from the same intensive care unit. Thanks to my research, we now know that it is possible to diagnose Sepsis earlier and more efficiently, which will lead to better treatment options for individuals with Sepsis.
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Sussex Support for Researchers Recognised by European Commission Award
The University of Sussex has successfully retained the European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award for its work in enhancing institution-wide professional development support for research staff.
The award, announced on Thursday (12 October), recognises good practice by employers in supporting the professional development of researchers. To retain the award (originally obtained by Sussex in May 2013), the University underwent an external peer review of its progress and practice in supporting Sussex research staff. The review included a panel interview with external reviewers from other UK and EU higher education institutions.
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Careers in Research Online Survey 2017 (CROS) - Key findings from University of Sussex responses
Back in March 2017, 63% of you participated in the 2017 Careers in Research Online Survey of Research Staff. This was the highest response rate ever and one of the best amongst all participating UK institutions. We are now pleased to bring you the key findings and recommendations from the CROS 2017 survey, which you can access at the CROS webpage. Overall the 2017 survey results demonstrate considerable improvements over 2013 and 2015 outcomes across the majority of areas explored. In most instances Sussex responses compare well with the national aggregate response and exceed the national picture in a number of areas. Particular aspects of notable improvement include; awareness and clarity of promotions processes, equality and diversity, appraisal and professional development. Areas where the survey indicated challenges or room for improvement were; use of short-term contracts, involvement/engagement of PIs, involvement of research staff in decision making, support for career planning and support of EU researchers in light of Brexit. The Research Staff Office and Research Staff Working Group will be implementing the recommendations from the survey report over the coming months, to build on the progress made and continue to make improvements to your experiences here as Sussex Researchers.
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Career Planning Toolkit for Research Staff
We’re pleased to announce the launch of our new Career Planning Toolkit. This web-based resource is designed to help you identify and pursue your career goals. You'll be guided through deciding what you want, assessing your current skills, and developing a plan for further training. Alongside practical advice, there's tips from other researchers and lots of ideas to inspire you.
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Save the Date: Horizon 2020 Information Event – Visit by UKRO
23-24 November 2017
The University of Sussex and the University of Brighton will once again be jointly hosting this year’s visit by UKRO (the UK Research Office). UKRO is the European office of the UK Research Councils, providing support and advisory services to UK research organisations on EU research funding programmes. This event will focus on Horizon 2020, which is the current EU Research and Innovation framework programme and the main source of European research income for UK universities. A full programme will be published nearer the time, but the event will likely include: an update on EU funding during Brexit negotiations; Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Individual Fellowships; European Research Council (ERC) grants; the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) scheme; and an update on Horizon 2020’s interim evaluation and the next EU Research Framework Programme (FP9).
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15 Minutes to Develop Your Research Career
Created in collaboration with the Taylor & Francis Group, the 15 minute podcast series serves as a convenient bite-size resource for researchers.
Titles include 'public engagement in research', 'stepping up, moving on and alternative career paths for researchers', 'academic mentoring', 'overcoming imposter syndrome' and most recently 'publishing for the first time'.
The series provides provides a handy audio library for researchers to access.
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Fulbright-CRUK Scholar Award
These enable UK-based academic researchers to pursue cancer research at any accredited US higher education institution. The awards aim to build capacity and accelerate progress in priority areas in cancer research by facilitating collaboration and building links between UK and US research groups.
Deadline for Applications: 6th November 2017
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Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships
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. Funding covers 80 per cent of the basic salary costs up to £40,030 in the first year, research costs, estates costs and indirect costs.
Deadline for Applications: 16th November 2017
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Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government Laboratories Program
This provides emerging scientists in natural sciences or engineering with an opportunity to work in Canadian government laboratories or research institutions. The award is worth CAD 53,077 for one year and may be renewed twice.
Deadline for Applications: 9th January 2018
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Alain Bensoussan Fellowships
This enables early-career scientists to conduct research at leading European centres outside their own country. Fellowships last for one year and each fellow receives a monthly allowance of €1,230 to €3,550, depending on the host country, and is reimbursed for travel expenses.
Deadline for Applications: 30th April 2018
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