Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher, I hope that you've all had a good start to 2018.
I've taken over this message section of the newsletter this month to let you know that, following 4 brilliant years building up the activities of the Research Staff Office and support for Sussex Researchers, it is now time for me to move on to new challenges. I will be leaving my role as Research Staff Officer on 28th February to focus my attention on my coaching, training and consultancy business. This isn't a complete goodbye, because I'll still see those of you that come along to the ECR mentoring circle sessions or access the 1:1 coaching service, both of which I will continue to deliver for the Research Staff Office over the coming months, along with some training workshops in the spring.
It's been excellent getting to know you all and hopefully you'll agree that there have been some positive developments for research staff over the last few years. I'd like to thank all of you that provided feedback and ideas to shape University support for research staff during my time here. Your contributions and enthusiasm continue to be essential to make the case for enhancing the enviroment for Sussex Researchers, so please keep sending your ideas to the Research Staff Office via email, Research Staff Reps, in person, or by contributing to future surveys. From the end of February, the Research Staff Office will be in the capable hands of my colleagues Paul Roberts (research staff policy and strategy), Catherine Pope (training and development programme) and Alex Aghajanian (events and research staff office coordination).
Best wishes,
Natalie James, Research Staff Officer
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Featured Event How to Create an Effective Podcast: An Introductory One-Day Workshop Friday 23rd February, 09:15am-17:15pm Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing means of communication for universities, be it a recorded series of lectures, a snapshot of research, or an advertisement to attract new students and/ or funding. There is no doubt podcasts are one of the most accessible windows through which to view your university, and your podcasts should reflect the quality of your institution. This one-day interactive workshop, run by two experienced journalists, helps you build the skills to present a podcast in either a talk or interview format. It will help you:
- communicate effectively in your podcasts
- pitch your podcasts correctly to the intended audience
- choose the best format for your podcast
The session will be complemented by online resources on the technical aspects of recording, editing, and distributing your podcast.
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Spotlight on Dr Leena Al-Hassan
Research Fellow in Global Health and Infection
I am currently researching antibiotic resistance. I look at two types of Gram-negative bacteria, Acintobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are highly resistant to antibiotics and cause hospital acquired infections.
I’d like to raise awareness that other countries have alarmingly high antibiotic resistance rates. A bug here, in the UK, may have a 20% antibiotic resistance rate, compared to in Egypt or Sudan where this bug may have up to a 90% resistance rate. Often this is due to the infection control within hospitals. In some instances clones of bacteria have been allowed to accumulate over the months and years, without any surveillance. This leads to a larger diversity of organisms present within a single hospital in the countries we work with compared to the UK.
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Research Staff Development Series We are very pleased to launch the spring programme of development events for Sussex researchers. The programme includes workshops covering the themes of:
- Manage stress, challenge ‘imposter’ feelings
- Preparing for leadership
- Creating an effective Podcast
- Boosting your productivity
- Interviewing techniques for qualitative researchers
- Mentoring skills
- Getting started as a freelancer
- And more!
All events are free to attend and are now open for booking. Places are limited so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. See the research staff training and development page for the full programme, workshop outlines and booking information.
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Group Mentoring for Early Career Researchers
The Research Staff Office is pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the January to July Sessions of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Mentoring Circle.
The Mentoring Circle is a regular group (mixed-discipline) mentoring session where early career researchers meet to discuss professional experiences and challenges in a supportive peer group as well as with more experienced colleagues (mentors).
The mentoring circle meets regularly and discussions focus on a different topic each session. Circle meetings are led by two academic mentors and a researcher development coach. Bookings are on a session-by-session basis; spaces are limited to 10 participants per meeting, so make sure to register for your preferred sessions early. Please see the information below regarding session topics, dates and to make your bookings. |
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| Career Planning
Wellbeing and Resilience
Leadership and Leading Teams
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| Building your Professional Profile
Effective Time Management
Securing Research Funding
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Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) Fund
The Spring call for applications is now open.
The fund is available to support our doctoral researchers and early career research staff to organise activities that will enhance their professional and research skills. Initiatives must be for the benefit of groups of researchers across Schools (although applications for initiatives benefiting a broad group of researchers at School level will also now be considered). Up to £10,000 will be available for each funding round with a maximum of £1,000 available for any one project.
Deadline for Applications: Wednesday, 28th February 2018
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Soapbox Science will be coming to Brighton Seafront Saturday 2nd June 2018 Imagine yourself stood upon Brighton Seafront, the Pier behind you, talking about science with passers-by and inspiring them to find out more about your research…sound inviting? Well, this summer you have your chance as Soapbox Science comes to Brighton! Soapbox Science host events across the UK and the world that celebrate women in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Medicine), breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes about who a researcher is. What is Soapbox Science? Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women scientists and the science they do. Soapbox Science events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. No middle person, no powerpoint slide, no amphitheater – just remarkable women in science who are there to amaze you with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions you have been burning to ask. 2017 speaker Dr Sam Furfari talks about her experience: read the blog
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2nd BME Early Career Researchers Conference - How to stay in academia?
The second BME Early Career researchers (ECR) – How to stay in academia conference is to be held April 3rd 2018 supported by Wellcome Trust and King’s College Centre for Research Staff Development and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
The morning session will have inspirational talks by BME ECR and Academics from various disciplines.
The keynote speaker for the day will be Ms Chi Onwurah, the Labour MP for Newcastle Central & Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science & Innovation.
The afternoon session will consist of workshops to encourage and nuture talented BME researchers and signpost available resources, including the importance of accessing a good mentor and networking skills.
In the evening there will be networking on the terrace of Bush House from 5pm - 7pm.
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Opportunities
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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Writing workshops
These support development of training and research workshops in the Global South to further interaction between researchers in the UK and in the Global South, and promote the uptake of research from the Global South in academic journals. Awards are worth up to £20,000 each.
Deadline for Applications: 14th February 2018
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L’Oréal UK and Ireland fellowships for women in science
These promote, enhance and encourage the contribution of women pursuing their research careers in the UK or Ireland in the fields of the life and physical sciences, including mathematics and engineering. Five fellowships, worth £15,000 each, are available.
Deadline for Applications: 16th February 2018
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International exchanges scheme – standard programme
This stimulates new collaborations within the natural sciences between scientists in the UK and overseas. Grants are worth between £3,000 and £14,000.
Deadline for Applications: 13th March 2018
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Research grants
These support innovative ecological research and pump-priming projects, as well as help early-career ecologists to establish an independent research career. Grants are worth up to £20,000 each.
Deadline for Applications: 21st March 2018
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UK intelligence community postdoctoral research fellowship programme
This supports the promotion of unclassified basic research in areas of interest to the intelligence, security and defence community. Fellowships are worth up to £100,000 per year each over two years.
Deadline for Applications: 26th March 2018
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Sir Henry Dale fellowships
These support postdoctoral researchers who aim to become independent scientists leading their own groups in the field of public health. Fellowships are tenable for five years and cover salaries and all associated research expenses.
Deadline for Applications: 4th April 2018
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Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships
These enable newly qualified postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to start independent research careers, working in high quality research environments. Fellowships are worth up to £250,000 over four years.
Deadline for Applications: 18th April 2018
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New Investigator Research Grant
This supports researchers who are capable of becoming independent principal investigators and who are ready to take the next step towards that goal. Grants are for three years.
Deadline for Applications: 2nd May 2018
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