Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the April 2020 issue of the Sussex Researcher. It's been an unusual past few weeks to say the least, as we all get to grips with changes to both our daily and professional lives.
During these times, we are very keen to continue to support your training and development needs where we can. Which is why we have modified some of our scheduled workshops and events to an online format, and included two webinars (The Healthy Researcher & Productive Researcher) specifically addressed to support you working in times of a pandemic and being isolated.
Also in our a programme, an online interative workshop, hosted by Dr Sarah Robins-Hobden, Chartered Psychologist, will help you manage stress better, focus on your resilience when you need to, and create a greater sense of agency, whilst acknowledging and working with the very real limitations you might be experiencing.
Remember to keep an eye on the University staff pages for Coronavirus information and advice, which will be updated regularly as the situation unfolds. Human Resources have also compiled some excellent resources and advice for looking after your wellbeing while working from home. As always, if there is anything you are unsure of, or need help with, please contact us at any point.
Stay safe, and and take good care of yourselves.
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office Team (Hayley Cordingley and Alex Aghajanian)
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Workshops & Events - Spring term
- Preparing for leadership & management
- Improving your academic writing & communication
- Personal effectiveness
- Research skills development
- Understanding the academic context
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Community events
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Stress, Resilience and Strengths: an online workshop for researchers - Tuesday, 21st April, 10:00-12:00 In the acceleration of the COVID-19 pandemic you might be facing concurrent challenges of conducting your research from home, tutoring small humans, anxiety over the welfare of family members, a restructuring of your social life, dealing with persistent uncertainty and, it seems, a national shortage of toilet paper . Layered difficulties deepen stress and can rob us of our sense of control. This online interactive workshop, hosted by Dr Sarah Robins Hobden, Chartered Psychologist, will help you manage stress better, focus on your resilience when you need to, and create a greater sense of agency, whilst acknowledging and working with the very real limitations you might be experiencing. Engaging with this online workshop will enable you to:
- Clarify what you can control and influence, and take proactive steps to focus where your agency is strongest
- Explore your personal resilience and bust unhelpful myths in favour of coping strategies that work for you
- Define and deploy your personal strengths as super-powers to ease stress responses
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Spring 2020 Researcher-Led Initiative Fund deadline delayed The submission deadline for the Doctoral School's Researcher-Led Initiative fund has been delayed to 30th April to give you an extra month to consider any on-going applications. In addition to the three original themes, applications that address remote working, isolation and wellbeing are now strongly encouraged. This could take the form of an online network or community initiative, remote training opportunity, or podcast. See the RLI Fund website for more information and to apply, and contact researcher-development@sussex.ac.uk if you have questions or need advice on any aspect of your application.
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University of Sussex appoints next Deputy PVC for Research Professor Seb Oliver has been appointed as a Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Sussex. He will replace Professor Sriram Subramanian who is stepping down after six months in the role to focus on his other academic and professional commitments. Stepping into the role, Professor Oliver will focus on increasing the value of research grants captured by the University’s research community and improving research performance. He will work closely with Professor Anna Barnett, who is Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research with responsibility for business engagement and industrial strategy.
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New Elements profile pages now live The University have now replaced the current web profiles for all academic staff to the new research informations system, Elements. All your existing web profile information has been automatically migrated into your new Elements profile, and you are now able to make changes to your profile such as updating your biography or your research expertise from your internal Elements account. If you have need any support accessing elements, please see the Library support pages or contact the Library team via Library chat or email elements@sussex.ac.uk.
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UK’s next REF postponed ‘until further notice’ - Times Higher Education article The Research Excellence Framework 2021 is to be postponed “until further notice” amid the coronavirus crisis. In a letter published on 24 March, Kim Hackett, REF director at Research England, says that the UK-wide audit of research outputs will be postponed to allow institutions to divert staff into other areas, “including for those working in clinical and health-related fields". “We wish to reassure institutions that such activities should be prioritised without concern for the effect on REF preparations,” says Ms Hackett, adding that Research England was “putting the exercise on hold until further notice to enable this, and are now working on the adapted details of the framework.” In practice, this means that the original submission deadline on 27 November 2020 “will no longer apply”, her letter explains. “We will announce a new submission deadline no later than eight months prior to the deadline,” it adds, also confirming that the current REF census date of 31 July 2020 would remain unchanged. However, Research England will ensure that “full allowance is made for the impact of coronavirus across affected areas of submissions”, the letter says.
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Opportunities / External events
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Career Management for Early Career Academic Researchers - Free Online Course Being an early career academic researcher, whether you’re a doctoral student or research staff, can be challenging: should you pursue further academic research? What skills will help you progress in an academic career? What other career options are open to you? This free online course will answer these questions and more, considering how to manage you career and reflecting on what you want out of a career. You will be encouraged to consider different career options, both within and outside academic research, and build your confidence in marketing yourself in applications and interviews.
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Research Associate - Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives (deadline Friday 3 April 2020) Cumberland Lodge, a charity that empowers people through dialogue and debate to tackle the causes and effects of social division, seeks to appoint a freelance Research Associate to support a forthcoming series of events on ‘Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives’. In addition to the fixed fee for this work, the Cumberland Lodge will pay standard-rate travel expenses to attend the conference, consultation and report launch, and provide food and accommodation at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park, when required.
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'4 Skills for researchers of the future' - new podcast episode There are so many useful skills you’ll develop during your research – from critical thinking and being able to evaluate your work and that of others, to time management skills. But the research world has been, and is rapidly changing, so what skills can you develop now to make you ready for the future? Listen to VITAE's new podcast, made in conjunction with Taylor & Francis, to discover 4 key skills for researchers of the future, including advice on developing digital skills from Inger Mewburn, Managing Editor of the Thesis Whisperer blog.
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Vitae blog: Mental health and wellbeing – staying sane when working remotely Working from home is all about boundaries and balance. If you get it right, it can be very rewarding and productive. It’s important for your health and wellbeing to mentally prepare for timeworking in isolation the best you can. In this Vitae blog, Rachel Cox, Vitae Engagement and Policy Project Manager, shares a few of her tips on how to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing while remote working.
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Research Funding
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.
Do look at Research Development webpages for guidance around applications
For more information about ECR Fellowships, check out our new webpage:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/researchstaff/funding/fellowship-opportunities
For Coronavirus information for research grant applicants & grant holders check out:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/development/covid-19 |
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Research fellowships
These support early-career non-clinical researchers beginning an independent project on Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Fellowships include a salary and up to £20,000 per year for up to three years as a contribution towards research, animal and travel costs.
Deadline for Applications: 1st July 2020
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Investigator awards in science
These enable independent researchers with a compelling research vision to tackle the most important questions in science. Awards are worth up to £3 million for up to seven years.
Deadline for Applications: 16th July 2020
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Ernest Rutherford fellowships
These enable early-career researchers from the UK and overseas to establish an independent research programme. Fellowships are tenable for five years.
Deadline for Applications: 17th September 2020
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