Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher, we are very pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the October 2018 to March 2019 Sessions of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Mentoring Circle. The sessions are an excellent opportunity to meet other researchers to discuss professional experiences and challenges in a supportive peer group as well as with more experienced colleagues (mentors).
The Concordat Strategy Group, has launched a consultation to inform a revision of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Submissions are welcome from individuals, organisations, and other representative groups, including all staff engaged in research, as well as those managing or supporting research and researchers.
Lastly, if any of you are interested in representing your fellow researchers and influencing University policy, do take a look at the Research Staff Reps Terms of Reference or contact us for more information.
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office Team (Alex Aghajanian and Paul Roberts)
|
|
Featured event
Informing and inspiring the public through Outreach
Wednesday 12th December, 11:00am-13:00pm
Outline: Outreach is a term used for a variety of activities aimed at promoting public awareness and understanding of research. It enables staff and students to disseminate their work to a wider audience, providing an opportunity to inspire and inform others.
In this 2-hour interactive workshop participants will explore outreach and discuss a variety of methods that can be used in a range of settings including, but not limited to: festivals, school activities, performances and community events. The workshop will provide the opportunity to consider how to construct an effective outreach activity, looking at the various types of audiences you will encounter and how to engage with these audiences.
Learning outcomes: Following this workshop participants will:
- understand a range of methods for engaging people through outreach
- appreciate the different elements required to plan engagement activities
- test some current university outreach activities
- have started to develop their own outreach activity
- have assessed options for evaluating outreach activities
- have greater confidence and skills for use during engagement activities
- have an awareness of where funding can be obtained for outreach activities
Facilitator: Dr Katy Petherick, Public Engagement Coordinator, School of Life Sciences
|
|
|
Please note that this is the first 2-hour Public Engagement session organised on the day and lunch will be provided between both these sessions. The format of the day is as follows:
11am-1pm – Informing and Inspiring the Public Through Outreach
1-2pm – Lunch with Q&As
2-4pm – Embedding Public Engagement into Research
If you would like to attend the second session between 2-4pm please book here.
|
|
|
|
Spotlight on Dr Ahmed Hashim
Hepatology Clinical Research Fellow at Brighton and Sussex Medical School
I am currently working on a dedicated hostel-based liver service for homeless and vulnerable people; the Vulnerable Adults Liver Disease (VALID) study.
I believe that if you can prevent diseases in the community then you can relieve the burden on the hospitals. I would like to emphasize the need for community-based services in order to pick up diseases in an early setting, thereby, allowing for timely and effective interventions.
|
|
|
 |
Group Mentoring for Early Career Researchers The Research Staff Office is pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the October 2018 to March 2019 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 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 visit our mentoring for researchers web page regarding session topics, dates and to make your bookings.
|
|
 |
Online consultation launched: Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers The Concordat Strategy Group, has launched a consultation to inform a revision of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The report from the Independent Review Panel, published in September, made a strong case for how the Concordat can make a real difference in improving the environment and career development for researchers. However, revisions are needed to reflect the changing research environment and ensure the UK remains the world leader in developing policy and practice to support the career development of researchers. The online consultation will be open until 12 noon on Monday 7 January 2018, at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Concordat2018. Submissions are welcome from individuals, organisations, and other representative groups, including all staff engaged in research, as well as those managing or supporting research and researchers. In addition to the online consultation, there will be a number of events and activities taking place. Details of these activities will be available at www.vitae.ac.uk/events.
|
|
 |
Researcher-Led Initiative Fund 2018-19 The Researcher-Led Initiative Fund (RLI Fund) gives researchers greater input into their development by supporting them to organise activities that will enhance their professional and research skills. Open to early career researchers, the RLI Fund aims to complement the training and development opportunities provided through the Researcher Development Programme and within Schools. Up to £15,000 is available for this funding round with a maximum of £750 available for any one project. Deadline for Applications: Friday 16th November 2018 Please note: from September 2018, the RLI has been merged with Sussex Public Engagement Fund. Researchers interested in public engagement activity should now apply to the RLI Fund for support.
|
|
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, and provides a handy audio library for researchers to access. LATEST EPISODE: Making your research open Hear insights from open research experts on what is open research? How can research be made more open? What are the opportunities and challenges of adopting more open research practices?
|
|
|
Search for blood cancer cure receives University funding Congratulations to Director of Postdoctoral Development at the School of Life Sciences, Dr Erika Mancini, who has received funding from the University of Sussex to help discover a cure for an aggressive and incurable type of blood cancer; multiple myeloma. Dr Mancini received over £19,000 from the University’s Research Development Fund and her work is particularly timely, given September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. This time of year is used to further raise awareness of the key issues affecting the 240,000 people in the UK living with blood cancer, and Dr Mancini hopes her work will lead to treatments for one of the more aggressive, and difficult to detect, types.
|
|
|
'Champion of Science' recognised for positive impact of research communication Dr Mahmoud Maina, Research Fellow in Biochemistry, has won a competition recognising research in Africa which makes a positive impact on society. Dr Maina entered the ‘Champions of Science – Africa Storytelling Challenge’ submitting notes on his research and community work in Nigeria. In the letter notifying him that he’d won, the research fellow was told that his submission was ‘deemed by an independent selection committee as engaging and inspirational, clearly communicating passion for science as well as views on the important role of science in society.’
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Career development fellowship
This enables scientists without a salaried independent position to set up their first independent cancer research group. The fellowship covers salaries for the fellow, one postdoctoral researcher and one technician, and associated running expenses and equipment costs over six years.
Deadline for Applications: 5th February 2019
|
|
|
|
Career establishment awards
These enable new group leaders with a salaried independent position to establish their own independent research group. Awards cover salaries for one postdoctoral researcher and one technician, associated running expenses, and equipment costs of up to £25,000, over six years.
Deadline for Applications: 5th February 2019
|
|
|
|
Senior cancer research fellowship
This enables scientists to further develop their own research programme in any area of the CRUK’s funding remit, with the exception of clinical trials and drug discovery. The fellowship is typically worth up to £2 million over six years.
Deadline for Applications: 5th February 2019
|
|
|
|
Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships
These enable newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to start independent research careers in high quality research environments. Fellowships are worth up to £300,000 over four years.
Deadline for Applications: 17th April 2019
|
|
|
|
|
