Hello everyone

Welcome to this month's issue of the Sussex Researcher newsletter.

March is going to be busy with lots of events and workshops, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you at these events.

We are also currently planning an event in April for your Principal Investigators/managers to raise awareness of the importance of research staff career development and to encourage them to share best practice in how they support the career development of their research teams. This will be the first event of it's kind and we are looking forward to some stimulating discussions; the outcomes of the event will inform how the University supports PIs in supporting their researchers, so watch this space for a report of the event.We can't believe it's been one year since many of you took part in the Careers in Research Online Survey. Take a look at the article below to see how we've been progressing with the changes you called for via the Survey. Work is obviously always ongoing and we welcome your feedback and ideas at any point, you don't need to wait until CROS 2017 to share your thoughts.

Best wishes,

Natalie James (Research Staff Officer) and Kirsty Bridger (Researcher Development Coordinator)

Getting Research Funded (Social Sciences) - Thursday 3rd March: 10:00-13:00

Adding your publications to Sussex Research Online - Tuesday 8th March: 14:00-15:30

Funding for Early Career Researchers - Thursday 10th March: 12:00-13:00

Introduction to Open Access publishing - Friday 11th March: 10:30-12:00

Maintaining your research identity and streamlining systems - Monday 14th March: 12:00-14:00

Introduction to NVivo for Qualitative Research - Monday 14th March: 10:00-12:00

Building a researcher web presence using social media - Wednesday 30th March: 14:00-16:00

Tuesday 8th March 14:00-15:30 - Book a place

Funders and institutions are increasingly mandating deposit of research outputs in repositories. This practical workshop will take you through the steps of adding your publications to Sussex Research Online (SRO), the University's institutional repository. We will demonstrate the quickest way to add items, as well as resources to check publisher policies on uploading the fulltext. The workshop will be hands on and allow plenty of time for you to upload your own publications to SRO.

Once added, your publications will display on your web profile and potentially reach a wider audience - last year the most downloaded item on SRO was downloaded by over 3500 people.

During this workshops participants will:

• Explore the most efficient way to add their publications to SRO
• Discover key resources for checking publisher policies
• Learn how to track downloads of their items from SRO
• Have the opportunity to upload their own publications with SRO staff available to help

Twitter

We will be using our new Twitter account to post relevant information from inside and outside the University, including news items, development events and resources to inform your research career, alongside some occasional local information and events to inspire your time out of work.

Please follow @SussexResearchr to keep up to date.

LinkedIn

We've taken on board the Research Staff Reps' comments that a lot of researchers use LinkedIn to connect with each other.

Please join our group University of Sussex Researchers to stay in touch with colleagues.

It's been one year since many of you completed the UK Careers in Research Online Survey 2015 at Sussex; so we wanted to update you on the significant progress that has been made so far against the recommendations arising from the survey analysis. Progress to date includes:

• Sussex CROS 2015 key outcomes and issues considered by Vice-Chancellor's Senior Management Group
• Increased information relating to research staff promotions including: promotions training workshops delivered by Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, and tips for successful promotion applications
• New 28 page welcome guide for researchers joining the university
• New webpage for international researchers
• Publication of guidance and templates to support career development discussions at the start of research contracts.
• Update to University regulations to ensure postdoctoral researchers are represented at School Research Committees
• Broadened programme of training and development workshops for research staff.

Please see the Sussex CROS website for full details of progress to date.

Research Staff Representatives are drawn from schools across the University and meet termly with the Research Staff Office. Reps advise on and influence university policy and projects relating to Sussex Researchers and share good practice of research staff support between schools.

We always welcome new reps from any school/department. If you would be interested in representing your fellow researchers and influencing University policy while enhancing your CV, take a look at the Research Staff Terms of Reference or contact researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk for more information.

Want to find out more? Come to the Postdoctoral Network's event:

Meet Your Reps - Thursday 25th February: 13:00-14:00

West Sussex County Council is supporting a Health and Life Sciences cluster event, which brings together around 70 businesses and researchers and academics from the University, taking place Thursday 10th March 2016, 5pm, Jubilee Building.

The event will be a great opportunity to network with local companies that are interested in health and life science research at the University of Sussex.

The format includes:

• Plenary sessions including talks from research groups
• Networking sessions to facilitate engagement with company representatives
• Research team stands
• Open space for informal discussions with companies

Book your place here (Event contact is Eduardo Hernandez)

HR have produced some new guidance for managers and staff about maternity leave arrangements. The guidance includes information about how managers should support staff before, during and after the maternity leave period.

See HR family friendly policies for all information and guidance relating to maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.

We'd like to congratulate Psychology Research Staff Representative, Dr Leanne Proops and Research Assistant, Kate Grounds who were part of the Sussex team that had recent international publicity around their study of horses.

The BBC, Guardian and Telegraph reported on the research in which, for the first time, horses have been shown to be able to distinguish between angry and happy human facial expressions.

Full news story.

If you would like us to feature any new areas of research or achievements within The Sussex Researcher Newsletter, please get in contact with us: researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk.

You will also have the opportunity to maintain your research profile during your studies

Key points:

• 3 year programme
• Gain Qualified Teacher Status
• Undertake Research Leaders in Education Award
• Competitive salary of up to £33,900
• Research budget of £1,000
• Minimum 11 weeks paid holiday

Application is now open for the 2016/17 cohort.

See more information.

Researcher Poll

Vitae have a current focus on leadership and are inviting researchers to share their experience of being led in their current role and the benefits of effective leadership to you and your career in Vitae's quick, 2 question poll. Keep an eye on the poll page on 5 April to see the results.

(You will need to register with your Sussex email address to access the contents on the Vitae site. You will not be spammed as a result but you will gain access to a wealth of resources to support your research career)

Twitter Discussions

Experience of leadership often happens from the early stages of a research career, but is not necessarily accompanied by formal recognition and opportunity for leadership training. So how do researchers develop their leadership capabilities and articulate them to others?

Researcher, recognise and present yourself as a leader #vitaechat

How all researchers are leaders #vitaechat

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.

The L'Oreal UK & Ireland Fellowships For Women in Science are awards offered by a partnership between L'Oreal UK & Ireland, the UK National Commission for UNESCO and the Irish National Commission for UNESCO, with the support of the Royal Society. Five Fellowships are awarded annually to outstanding female postdoctoral researchers.

Each worth £15,000, the Fellowships are tenable at any UK or Irish university/research institute to support a 12-month period of postdoctoral research in any area of the life, physical sciences, mathematics and engineering.

The Fellowships have been designed to provide practical help for the winners to undertake research in their chosen fields. For example, winners may choose to spend their fellowship on buying scientific equipment, paying for child care costs, travel costs or indeed whatever they may need to continue their research.

Deadline for applications: 11 March 2016

More information

The ESRC wishes to improve the standards of research methods and to stimulate the uptake of National Centre for Research Methods training courses in research methods across the UK social science community.

Training courses can be found here.

The bursaries, for up to £500 each, enable staff in the UK social science community engaged in research, teaching research methods or supervising research to update their research skills. Contract researchers working in HEIs are also eligible for the bursaries.

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2016

More information

This Fellowship brings together the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust, in their shared commitment to supporting the future leaders of biomedical research.

For outstanding postdoctoral scientists wishing to build their own UK-based independent research career addressing an important biomedical question. Research can range from the molecules and cells vital to life and their role in the global spread of disease, to clinical and public health research seeking to improve the quality of healthcare. It can be based in the laboratory, clinic or field, and may involve experimental or theoretical approaches.

The scheme seeks to support individuals who would have previously applied for a 'biomedical' Royal Society University Research Fellowship or a Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship hosted by a UK academic organisation.

Deadline for applications: 12 April 2016

More information

Designed to bring together researchers, students, practitioners and academics this conference showcases research across all disciplines in pursuit of the special qualities of the National Park. This free event will take place at the South Downs Centre, Midhurst, West Sussex, on 6th July 2016.

Abstracts are invited for posters and platform presentations.

Submission deadline: 4 May 2016

More information

The Natural Environment Research Council Independent Research Fellowship (IRF) Scheme is designed to develop scientific leadership among the most promising early-career environmental scientists, by giving all fellows five years' support, which will allow them sufficient time to develop their research programmes and to gain international recognition.

Deadline for applications: 4 October 2016

Applicants can begin submission of their proposals on the Je-S System from 1 June 2016; prior to this date, the call will not appear on the Je-S system.

More information

If you have an article or information you would like included in The Sussex Researcher please send it to researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk