| Message from the Research Staff Office |
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Hello Everyone
Welcome to this issue of the Sussex Researcher. It was excellent to see those of you that attended the REF themed Research Staff Forum on 21st May. We heard a very interesting talk from Dr Ian Carter about the policy and procedures surrounding the Research Assessment Framework (REF), which, however closely you are involved, affects all researchers in Higher Education. If you missed it, you can find out more about the REF and how Sussex fared in 2014 on the Sussex REF webpages.
Before you head off for your summer of conferences/fieldwork/holiday, I hope to see you at the final researcher events/workshops of this academic year. If you are able to invest two days in your professional development on 14/15th July, I would highly recommend participating in the Preparing for Leadership course. This new Vitae programme is specifically designed for postdoctoral researchers and has had excellent feedback from participants of pilot workshops across the UK. This will be the first time the programme is run at Sussex and we are hoping for an excellent turnout to ensure it can continue to run in future years.
Best wishes,
Natalie James (Research Staff Officer, Research and Enterprise)
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| Preparing for Leadership |
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Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th July, 09.30 - 17.00 - Book a place - Please register before Friday 12th June
Are you keen to take on more leadership responsibilities now or in the future? Are you looking to enhance your existing leadership skills?
If so, join us for this two day intensive preparing for leadership programme specifically designed for postdoctoral researchers, which will take you though many aspects of leadership including:
- Leading yourself
- Intellectual leadership
- Team Leadership
By the end of this programme you will be better able to:
- Appreciate the critical situations that have led you to be successful to date
- Consider what leadership might mean to you and others
- Understand your preferences to enable you to exercise leadership in a way that suits you
- Identify the areas of competency that are required for the next steps into leadership positions
- Create a vision and strategy to implement and consider the culture you want to create
- Decide how to get the best out of other people
- Decide how to develop yourself to do all of these things more effectively
- Develop a peer network
Book your place before 12th June
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| News |
| New Appraisal Documents for Researchers |
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In response to your feedback, the Research Staff Office, Reps and Working Group have been collaborating with HR to produce some new documentation to support the appraisal process for researchers.
The new research staff appraisal documents have been approved by the University and are now available for you to use in your appraisal meetings and include:
All documentation can be found on the research staff appraisal page of the HR website. Research staff appraisal is still covered by the overarching University appraisal policy and guidelines.
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| Interim Director of Research Staff Development - 2015/16 |
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Professor Michelle O'Malley, the University's current Director of Research Staff Development has been awarded a one-year research fellowship at the National Humanities Centre in North Carolina. While Michelle is away, she will be leaving her responsibilities for research staff development in the capable hands of Dr Lucy Robinson, whom some of you met at the recent Research Staff Forum.
Lucy will chair the Research Staff Working Group and work with the PVC Research, Research Staff Office, researchers and academic colleagues across the University to implement further enhancements to the institutional support for researchers over the 15/16 academic year.
I'm sure you will join us in wishing Michelle all the very best with her fellowship and will welcome Lucy into her new role when you meet her at the various Research Staff Office meetings and events throughout 15/16.
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| Opportunity to join University's Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team |
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The University's Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SAT) is seeking an early career postdoctoral researcher within a science, technology, engineering, medicine or mathematics (STEMM) discipline to join the SAT.
The Athena SWAN Charter is dedicated to the advancement of the representation of women within higher education, and was launched in 2005 with over 100 universities and research institutes - including Sussex - having signed up as members.
The University's Self-Assessment Team consists of members of staff and postgraduate students who represent each STEMM discipline, and includes male and female members, both full and part-time staff, and those with recent experience of the University's recruitment and promotions processes. Responsible for the implementation of the University's Athena SWAN action plan, the SAT normally meets once a month.
If you are interested in this opportunity and would like further information please contact N.A.James@sussex.ac.uk
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| Key figure in UK research policy to speak at the Sussex Impact Day |
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Dr Steven Hill, Head of Research Policy at the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), is to share his vision for the impact of UK research with Sussex researchers.
Dr Hill's keynote speech will begin the Sussex Impact Day on Tuesday 16 June - a day of seminars, workshops and training to help faculty, researchers and research support staff from across the University to celebrate, share and develop the impact of their work on the world beyond the academy. Sussex Impact Day attendees will have the opportunity not only to hear from Dr Hill but also to ask questions about the future of impact (and broader research policy) in the UK, and about the implications for their own work.
The keynote speech will take place at 10am on 16th June in the Jubilee Lecture Theatre. The event is open to all faculty, research staff, research students and Professional Services staff. Pre-booking is essential and is available via the Sussex Impact Day webpages.
Full news story
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| Sussex to launch LGBT Staff Network |
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An informal LGBT Staff Network group is being established to help develop a positive working environment for Sussex staff who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans.
The group will be open to all staff on campus and the primary aim of the network is to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for LGBT staff. The blend of activities and events that it involves is entirely up to the membership.
This initiative has been led so far by Professor Peter Coles (Head of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences) but, to be a success, it needs as many members of the campus community as possible to get involved.
In order to bring together LGBT staff to plan the future direction of this network, a launch event has been arranged for the evening of 18 June, from 6-8pm in the Creativity Zone (Pevensey 3). If you plan to attend please email LGBT-Staff@sussex.ac.uk You should also email this address if you are not able to make the launch event but would like to join the mailing list to keep informed.
Full news story
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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.
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: 9th October 15
More information
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| Researcher Links: Workshop in Brazil on Innovation in Neglected Diseases |
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The British Council invites applications for its researcher links workshop in Brazil on science, technology and innovation in neglected diseases, under the Newton Fund. This enables UK and Brazilian researchers to attend a workshop in Belo Horizonte, Brazil from 17 to 20 November 2015 on science, technology and innovation in neglected diseases related to policies, funding, and knowledge creation.
Deadline for applications: 17th August 15
More information
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| Contributions |
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If you have an article or information you would like included in The Sussex Researcher please send it to N.A.James@sussex.ac.uk
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