Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher, and the last of 2017. This month saw the publication of the decisions on the shape of the REF 2021 excercise. This will have an impact on all UK based researchers as institutions prepare for the nationwide assessment of research excellence. Take a look at the article below for more information.
In the Research Staff Office we are busy preparing for our spring programme of events, along with making plans for another 'Spotlight - Celebration of Postdoctoral Research' event towards summer. We are also looking forward to launching the Early Career Research Mentoring Circle Scheme in January and will be busy training the mentors in the lead up to the Christmas break. Watch this space for information about all of these events and more....
We look forward to seeing you all at the various events and activities in the New Year. Until then, we hope you have a good December and a restful break over the festive period.
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office Team (Natalie James, Catherine Pope and Alex Aghajanian)
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Featured Event
Feeling Empowered at Work: Building Self-Awareness and Confidence to Reach your Goals
Friday 15th December, 10:00am-13:00pm
In this workshop you will learn to raise your empowerment levels and overcome emotional baggage that gets in the way of reaching your goals. Through practical techniques and exercises you will be able to make personal empowerment a habit rather than an exception and feel inspired by your work.
This workshop aims to facilitate doctoral and postdoctoral researchers on their personal development journey to instil confidence, proactive behaviour and enjoyment at work.
Following this workshop participants will have:
- An understanding of how empowerment can increase enjoyment and productivity at work
- Greater self-awareness and confidence in your decisions and actions
- Learned to regulate self-defeating emotions that hold you back in your career
- The psychological tools to cultivate feelings of empowerment and high self-worth
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Spotlight on Dr Sebastian Weidt
Research Fellow II in Ion Quantum Techonology at the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
I always wanted to know how the world works and why it works the way it does while also being interested in the business world, so I thought I’d study physics with management studies.
I think my real aspiration is developing quantum technologies and bringing them into the commercial world. The quantum computer is often seen as the Holy Grail but there are other amazing quantum technologies which will impact us on a much shorter timescale. We’re building a portable quantum sensor (magnetometer) right now, a device which can detect anomalies in structures under the ground. It could also be used for example within the healthcare, environmental, geological and security sector.
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New decisions on the shape of REF 2021 The UK higher education funding bodies have made the final decisions on the operation of the next Research Excellence Framework process, REF 2021. The REF is the UK's national exercise for research assessment, and has both direct funding implications and reputational significance for universities. The conclusions, which follow a year of consultation, confirm the arrangements for returning research staff, research outputs, and impact case studies to the exercise. The publication ‘ Decisions on staff and outputs’ released on 21st November, together with the ‘ Initial decisions on the Research Excellence Framework 2021' published in September 2017, sets out the broad framework for REF 2021, following the independent review of the REF in 2016, led by Lord Stern. The recommendations confirmed include the proposal that all staff with significant responsibility for research should be included in the REF. Staff on 'research-only' contracts will be in the eligible pool if they are classified as independent researchers. The REF 2021 panels will provide further guidance appropriate to the discipline areas on the definition of an ‘independent researcher’, including guidance on which fellowships would usually be considered to meet the definition. For REF eligible staff employed on the census date, a minimum of one output and a maximum of five outputs will be submitted to the exercise. The census date for staff will be 31st July 2020. The recent decisions also address Lord Stern’s recommendation that research outputs should be eligible for submission by the institution where they were generated. As a transitional approach, where a researcher has moved, both the institution currently employing the researcher and the institution where the research generated may submit the output. In addition to research outputs, the University is also required to submit case studies of the impact of its research beyond the academy.
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Sussex Social Science Impact Fund (SSSIF) Round 5 of the SSSIF is now open. Researchers from all disciplines can apply for this funding if the proposal has a strong social science underpinning. There are 2 streams within this 5th round of the University of Sussex's ESRC IAA Sussex Social Science Impact Fund:
General call: The Sussex Social Science Impact Fund can provide funding up to £20,000 (or £40,000 if cross-departmental) for University of Sussex social science impact activities. It supports a diverse range of activities, including:
- Activities that lead to new or development of networks and partnerships with non-academic organisations, e.g. NGOs, policymakers.
- Co-production where you are working with others to develop knowledge that supports impact
- Working in a non-academic organisation, or hosting a non-academic placement at the University of Sussex.
Business Partnership Call: The Sussex Social Science Impact Fund is also offering up to £30,000 for Business Partnership projects which aim to engage with industries in developing social science impact, addressing ‘real world’ problems that businesses are facing, on themes such as:
- Innovative healthcare
- Artificial intelligence
- Innovations for the low carbon economy
- Manufacturing & materials innovations
- Creative & digital technologies including 5G technology
- Quantam technology innovations
Key dates
- Expressions of Interest due: by Tuesday, 12 December 2017
- Final application submission date: Tuesday, 6 February 2018 by 12pm (noon)
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Participate in research project about experience of fixed-term academic staff A new research project is investigating the perceptions and experiences of casualised academic staff as to the effects of casualisation on the teaching and learning of undergraduate students. The study will take the form of email interviews with UK-based academics from a range of disciplines who are on fixed term, zero-hours or similar forms of insecure academic contract. So if this applies to you and you are interested in participating or learning more about what that would involve, please email the researchers: Dr Barbara Read (University of Glasgow) barbara.read@glasgow.ac.uk and Professor Carole Leathwood (London Metropolitan University) c.leathwood@londonmet.ac.uk.
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New 'Focus on: an inclusive research environment' launched
Vitae announced the launch of their latest 'Focus on' theme: 'an inclusive research environment'. There are a host of useful resources and essential reading covering:
- Women in research
- Part-time/flexible working
- Supporting disabled researchers
- Preparing for your professional development conversations around equality and diversity
Vitae's blog posts during this 'Focus on' will explore issues relating to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of researchers as well as the challenges of juggling caring responsibilities with research commitments; and Vitae's next podcast in collaboration with Taylor & Francis will be about the unspoken barriers of research life.
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#vitaechat - Balancing caring responsibilities
Tuesday 5th December, 12:00-13:00pm
As part of the 'Focus on' Vitae will be running a #vitaechat via Twitter about 'Balancing caring responsibilities with a research career'. The #vitaechat will take place on Tuesday 5th December at 12.00 until 13.00 (UK GMT) and boasts international panel members, with first-hand experience of the ups and downs of caring in research.
They will share their experiences and provide tips to help you understand:
- The current landscape of support for fixed term staff taking parental leave
- The pros and cons of flexible working in academia
- Staying productive and motivated when working part-time
The #vitaechat is free and easy to join - just log in to Twitter on Tuesday 5 December at 12 UK time and follow the hashtag #vitaechat.
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Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Programme for Overseas Researchers
This scheme provides funding for early career postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research in Japan, with leading research groups in Japanese universities and other institutions, under the guidance of a host.
Deadline for Applications: 6th December 2018
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Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Summer Programme
This fellowship offers opportunities for such researchers to pursue collaborative research at Japanese universities and research institutes, thereby allowing them to advance their own research while promoting scientific progress in both Japan and their respective countries.
Deadline for Applications: 15th January 2018
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Visiting Research Fellowships in the Levant
These support doctoral and postdoctoral research in the arts, humanities and social sciences to be undertaken in the Levant. Fellowships cover accommodation, airfare, research expenses and access to local research facilities.
Deadline for Applications: 15th January 2018
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Research Fellowships in Science or Engineering
These give early-career scientists or engineers of exceptional promise the opportunity to conduct an innovative research project of their own instigation. Approximately eight fellowships are available for up to three years.
Deadline for Applications: 15th February 2018
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CONFAP/Newton Young Investigator Award
This provides young investigators from the UK with the opportunity to start a research career in a university or research institution in São Paulo. The award includes a scholarship of approximately BRL 390,000 for up to four years as well as equipment, travel and consumables.
Deadline for Applications: 28th February 2018
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UKRI Innovation Fellowships - AHRC Leadership Fellows
These enable early-career researchers to carry out research in relevant focus topics, in order to support the research leaders of the future and enable them to undertake major new innovation orientated, intellectual endeavours. Fellowships are worth between £50,000 and £250,000 each at full economic costing over six to 24 months.
Deadline for Applications: 31st May 2018
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