Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the 2018/19 academic year and the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher.
We're looking forward to another busy academic year and we're excited to launch the autumn events programme. There are opportunities to participate in events that you might have missed last year, including some exciting new workshops and webinars, and a number of other events and workshops lined up for both November and December which we hope to bring you more news about in our next newsletter.
This month Sussex Research has launched the tenth round of the Research Development Fund designed to develop activities that will directly lead to the submission of substantive external research proposals. Also available for applications from early-career researchers, the Researcher-Led Initiative Fund supports organised activities that enhance professional and research skills.
We are also leading up to the annual International Researcher Lunch on 12th October, we hope that those of you from overseas will join us to meet other international colleagues and enjoy a free lunch on us!
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office Team (Alex Aghajanian and Paul Roberts)
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Featured event
Preparing for Leadership
Wednesday 7th November, 10:00am-13:00pm
Outline: Have you recently assumed leadership responsibilities? Or are you wondering what might be involved in a supervisory role? In this 3-hour interactive workshop, you’ll discover the skills required and how you can develop them. Through group activities and facilitator-led discussion, you’ll consider different approaches and learn from case studies.
What we’ll cover:
- When is leadership required?
- What is good leadership?
- How do values and personality affect leadership styles?
- How do you manage different personality types?
- How do you motivate people?
- What is effective communication?
The session is facilitated by Dr Catherine Pope, who has 20 years’ experience of leadership in business and academia.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the session, you’ll have:
- An understanding of the different types of leadership
- An insight into your own leadership style and preferences
- Guidance on how to get the best out of people
Facilitator: Dr Catherine Pope, Research and Writing Skills Trainer (https://catherinepope.com/)
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Spotlight on Dr Youssra Al-Hilaly Research Fellow in Biochemistry at the School of Life Sciences Through my work I demonstrated direct physiological evidence for the involvement of dityrosine cross-linking in both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. By establishing that dityrosine cross-linking is a mechanism that underlies both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, we have identified a new target that people could discover drugs for.
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International Researcher Lunch On Friday 12th October the Researcher Development Programme and Research Staff Office are hosting a networking lunch for international doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. We will be joined by colleagues from across the University that provide support for international researchers. Book your place to join us for a free buffet lunch and to meet other international researchers from across the University. We look forward to seeing you there!
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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.
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New round of the Research Development Fund launched Sussex Research has launched the tenth round of the Research Development Fund. The RDF is designed to develop activities that will directly lead to the submission of substantive external research proposals. The scheme is intentionally flexible, recognising that different disciplines have different requirements for research development. Funds could be used for example to support lab based work, work related to clinical trials, archival research, scoping activities, or web based research. The RDF is open to faculty from all disciplines. Members of faculty on fixed-term contracts may apply if they will be employed at Sussex during the RDF funded project period and also during the proposed externally funded project(s) which would occur after the RDF pump-priming activity. Projects would normally be expected to run for 6 months, but can run for up to 12 months if a justification is provided, and applicants can apply for pilot projects ranging from £5k to £30k. Further details about the scheme and information on how to apply is available on the Sussex Research website. Deadline: 12 noon Monday 5 November 2018.
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Review of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers The Concordat is an agreement between funders and employers of research staff to improve the employment and support for researchers and research careers in UK higher education. The Research Staff Office and Research Staff Working Group coordinate and oversee the University’s practices to uphold the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, with respect to Sussex research staff. This year marked ten years since the launch the of the Concordat, and the Concordat Strategy Group (CSG) commissioned an Independent Review of the Concordat to evaluate:
- The progress in implementing the principles
- Whether it remains fit for purpose
- What policy interventions are required to ensure an effective research system
The CSG's response to the review has considered the External Review Panel’s report and recommendations and has welcomed the proposals to update and strengthen the Concordat. The chair of the CSG, Professor Julia Buckingham, presented the findings and recommendations at the Vitae conference, 17-18 September. The sector consultation is also seeking feedback on the review recommendations, the revised Concordat principles and the implications for different stakeholders, and is keen that the consultation reaches a broad audience and encourages responses from institutional senior management, principal investigators, researchers, funders, employers and other stakeholders. The Research Staff Working Group is set to review the recommendations from the review in their next meeting. If you would like to feed into the review please email researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk.
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Successful online campaign continues to inspire a future generation of African scientists Eight months ago, Dr Mahmoud Maina, a Sussex Neuroscience Research Fellow, launched an online campaign to promote science in Nigeria. Science Communication Hub Nigeria (SciComNigeria) was founded by Dr Maina in January 2018. This online community of Nigerian scientists, from students to professors, aims to promote public understanding of science in Nigeria while enhancing the visibility of African scientists. A recent evaluation revealed that content published on the SciComNigeria website has on average over 5,000 views and over 222,000 engagements on social media.
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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. |
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Marie Curie Post-doctoral Research Fellowships (RESPIRE 3)
These enable early-career scientists to carry out basic, translational or clinical research projects in the field of respiratory science. Grants consist of a living allowance of up to €56,400 per year, a mobility allowance of up to €14,600 per year, if applicable a family allowance of up to €6,000 per year and up to €3,900 for the host institute per year for exactly 36 months.
Deadline for Applications: 1st November 2018
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Fulbright-CRUK scholar awards
These enable UK-based academic researchers to pursue cancer research in the US. Grants are worth USD 5,000 each per month for a period between three and 12 months.
Deadline for Applications: 6th November 2018
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Taiwan-UK international partnering awards
These aim to set up partnership links between UK and Taiwan laboratories, promote the exchange of scientists, particularly early career scientists, and promote access to facilities. Awards are worth up to £25,000 each for a maximum period of two years for UK partners.
Deadline for Applications: 15th November 2018
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Sir Henry Dale fellowships
These support postdoctoral researchers who aim to become independent scientists leading their own groups in the field of public health. Fellowships are tenable for five years and cover salaries and all associated research expenses.
Deadline for Applications: 20th November 2018
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Early-career fellowships
These enable early-career researchers to undertake a significant piece of publishable work and to advance to a more permanent academic position. Approximately 100 fellowships are available.
Deadline for Applications: 28th February 2019
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