All posts by Alison Charles

Events, News, Training

Early Career Researcher (ECR) Forum

Are you a Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA), Research Assistant (RA), Research Associate or other ECR staff member? Join our special event for Kent early career research staff on 30 March 2023 to enhance your personal growth and career development, expand your networks, and help shape and grow our supportive ECR community.

The ECR Forum is being organised by the Graduate and Researcher College (in conjunction with Divisional R&I and other Professional Services teams) to encourage and support the professional development of ECRs based across the University. The one-day event is divided into two halves: the morning focuses on understanding the research landscape and developing our research culture, and the afternoon includes sessions on writing and getting your first research grant. Please see the programme for more details and book your place if you would like to attend.

Dr Alison Charles, Researcher Developer (Academic), said:

“Attending the ECR Forum is a great chance to deepen your knowledge of the research ecosystem and to pick up practical tips for writing successful grant applications. You will also be able to network with your peers, as well as colleagues from across the University who can support you to fulfil your plans. We also hope you will share your own experience, ideas and best practice, and thus contribute to the debate.”

Participation in the event is also a developmental opportunity as there will be an ECR-led panel/workshop entitled ‘What does a positive research culture look like for ECRs?’ from 11.30am-1pm. This will be led by a small team of ECRs who will take responsibility for organising, delivering and/or chairing the session – with support to be provided from the GRC. Getting involved could benefit both your own career development, as well as your colleagues and our wider research community so please contact the GRC if you would like to volunteer or for more details about this session or the event as a whole.

We look forward to seeing you on 30 March – and please spread the word to your ECR colleagues in the meantime!

News

Initiatives and activities supporting research staff development: highlights from 2021-22

The Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) encourages colleagues to develop their research careers and informs and supports staff who research in their professional and career development. Highlights of work undertaken in 2021-22, in conjunction with central and Divisional colleagues and as part of Kent’s commitment to the Researcher Development Concordat and HR Excellence in Research Award (HRER) accreditation, include the following:

Concordat and HRER Award:

HR Excellence in Research Award (HRER) retained after Eight Year Review, recognising Kent’s continued commitment to support the development of our researchers at all career stages. Learn more and view our HRER plans and report.

Webinar held on ‘Responding to the challenge of the Researcher Development Concordat at Kent’, which discussed Kent’s response to the challenge of the Researcher Development Concordat, including 10 days’ professional development pro rata per year for staff who research. Listen to the recording.

Details published about the Concordat principles at Kent, including practical information, recent progress and current work on each principle. Learn more and access the content.

Researcher resources:

Central Researcher Induction (CRI) module launched, providing useful and contextualised content for academic and research staff, and signposting guidance, support and resources available to them. Learn more and access the CRI module and accompanying ‘Useful links’ document.

Dedicated section for academic and research staff developed as part of the new GRC KentNet site. Features include details of training and development opportunities, as well as recordings of previous sessions available to view on demand. Explore this and other GRC content relevant to researchers.

Professional and career development:

Researcher Career Guidance published with sections on career planning, progression and mobility encourages colleagues to consider their next career steps. Learn more and access the content.

‘Your professional and career development’ section included in the new CRI module with sections on career planning and review, training frameworks and resources, and examples of how to use the 10 days of development pro-rata per year recommended for researchers.

New P&CD opportunities launched for staff who research including the Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition 2022 for ECRs to support Black second-year undergraduates to gain research experience and the updated T&OD  ‘Horizons’ programme for researchers looking to enhance their people management skills and explore their management potential.

Guidance and support:

Termly PDRA Network Catch-ups organised signposting relevant information and support, and providing networking opportunities for PDRAs, RAs and Research Associates. View the slides from the session on ‘10 days and more …’

1:1 Coaching delivered to PDRAs, RAs and Research Associates supporting them as they plan their development as researchers.

Wellbeing sessions organised to support academic and research colleagues, and access to digital modules on ‘Resilience’ and ‘Managing your Imposter’ made available to researchers.

Getting involved:

‘Getting involved‘ section included in the new CRI module encourages colleagues to interact with and shape our academic and research community.

Signposting survey run about usage of digital resources to support academic and research staff, and preferences for future resource types.

Results of last year’s Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey (CEDARS)  published. Learn more and access additional information about what our researchers said.

Staying up-to-date and in touch:

New GRC Bulletins containing relevant updates and opportunities launched, sent to academic and research staff monthly in term-time. View previous Researcher Development and Events editions.

More frequent communications with academic and research staff, including emails via dynamic mailing lists (including the Bulletins) and regular tweets.

‘Staying up-to-date and in touch’ section included in the new CRI module encourages colleagues to keep ahead and connected with our researcher and the wider Kent community.

For further information about any of the above or any aspect of researcher development at Kent, please contact the GRC.

News

Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition 2022: the impact to date

The University was fortunate to receive Enhancing Research Culture funding from Research England to improve access to and participation in research, including postgraduate research study, for people from currently under-represented groups. The ensuing Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition 2022 (SVERC) was designed to address this lack of diversity in research by encouraging enthusiastic and motivated Black second-year undergraduates wishing to acquire research experience to consider potential postgraduate study. The project replicated the successful format of the Summer Vacation Research Competition (SVRC): Early Career Researchers (ECRs) gained an undergraduate intern for 4-7 weeks who learned more about the world of research through active participation in a real-life project paid at a living wage. In total, seven undergraduates worked with four ECRs on three different projects, which ran from June-July 2022 – please see this blogpost for more details.

In terms of benefits to undergraduates participating in the SVERC, feedback from their supervising ECRs indicated that the students had expanded and/or improved both generic employment skills (such as project management and communication) and research skills (including completing a literature review, contributing to study design, recruiting participants, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and research dissemination, e.g. contributing to producing a research poster and/or writing a manuscript). More broadly, their motivation to undertake research has increased and some have also gained an insight into working in a field different to their academic background. For the ECRs, participating in the SVERC has further developed their leadership and supervision skills (e.g. finding a balance between closely managing and supporting the project/tasks whilst allowing student independence, as well as managing expectations) and, in some cases, especially when working with interns from beyond the field, also refreshed their skills in teaching laboratory techniques and data analysis.

This experiential and skills development, and broadening of research and career horizons, is testament to the contributions of all the competition participants, as well as of colleagues supporting them behind the scenes, and has been highly beneficial for their professional development. Indeed, for some participants, participating in the SVERC may be career-changing. To quote one ECR:

“For at least one student, I would say that this experience is a watershed in their career. Due to this experience, the student is now deeply interested in scientific research and in pursuing an academic career, besides being already engaged in another research project … using the skills learned during the SVERC.”

Furthermore, activity resulting from competition participation will continue with project data collected to be used in future publications, to which some students will participate as co-authors. Similarly, project outputs such as research posters and blogs will be used at future conferences where study findings will be presented and future opportunities for collaboration explored. These are examples of activities which will build on the successful delivery of the SVERC beyond the competition funding period.

News

Summer Vacation Research Competitions Update

The Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) is pleased to announce the undergraduate winners of the Summer Vacation Research Competition (SVRC) 2022 and the postdoctoral and undergraduate winners of the Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition (SVERC) 2022.

SVRC:

The successful undergraduates are:

  • Farradeh Martin, working with Nathan Keates, Tizard Centre, on Questioning Language
  • Sarah Morrison, working with Dr Jessica Fisher, School of Anthropology and Conservation, on Nature-Wellbeing Relationships
  • Saskia Jenkins, working with Dr Mohammad Yasir Malik, School of Biosciences, on RNA Polymerase III (Pol III)
  • James Read, working with Dr Amira Abood, School of Biosciences, on Vitamin B12
  • Wisdom Igiogbe, working with Dr Giuseppe Silvestri, School of Biosciences, on Reproductive Sciences
  • Lucy Abbott & Taylor Sanderson, working with Dr Manuel Marques, School of Physical Sciences, on Biomedical Optics
  • Tyler Harvey, working with Dr Brianne Wenning, Kent and Medway Medical School, on Medical Curriculum
  • James Valente, working with Dr Jennifer Leigh & Hannah Greer, CSHE and CES, on the SVRC.

SVERC:

The successful participants are:

  • Ashleen Sappal & Rushil Boorgula, working with Dr Katrina Taylor & Dr Sam Smith, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, on E-scooters
  • Klaudia Cielinska & Jai Nayee, working with Dr Felipe Fantuzzi, School of Physical Sciences, on Computational Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Mahad Ahmed, Safiye Hussein and Munashe Munyebvu, working with Dr Kyra De Coninck, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, on What about my skin?

Dr Jennifer Leigh, the competition’s co-founder, said:

“Both the SVRC and the new SVERC offer a unique chance for those involved to gain relevant experience and develop new research. Work on these exciting projects has now begun, and we are all looking forward to seeing how our undergraduates, postdocs and early career researchers will broaden their horizons and skills sets in the structured and supportive environment provided by these competitions.”

The competitions are supported by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, Divisional Directors of Research and Innovation, the Graduate and Researcher College, and the Centre for the Study of Higher Education. Undergraduate applications for these innovative opportunities are managed by the Careers and Employability Service (CES) through its Work Study Scheme which helps students gain confidence and overcome barriers to graduate-level work.

For further information or to advertise an opportunity to students, please contact workstudy@kent.ac.uk. Some match-funding is available annually so do get in touch soon if you are thinking of recruiting Kent student-staff.

News

HR Excellence in Research Award (HRER) retained after Eight Year Review

The Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) and the Researcher Development Advisory Group (RDAG) are proud to announce that the University of Kent has retained the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research (HRER) Award after our Eight Year External Review. (Please see the Vitae press release for further information.)

Retention of this prestigious award, which the University has held since May 2013, is indicative of Kent’s continued commitment to further embed researcher development across the institution, including through collective work to implement the Principles of the Researcher Development Concordat which encourages best practice in researcher development and support.

Kent’s submission for the Eight Year external Review was published in November 2021 and consists of new documentation which details the wide-ranging work taking place across Kent to support staff who research.

Professor Shane Weller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, said:

“Kent’s retention of its HRER accreditation is a wonderful achievement and demonstrates to our varied stakeholders – but, most importantly, to our researchers – how we are striving to support staff who research across the whole academic lifecycle and, in so doing, to build an institutionally unified and inclusive research culture that provides the appropriate support for colleagues to achieve their potential.

My sincere thanks go to Dr Alison Charles and the GRC which coordinated the submission in conjunction with the Researcher Development Advisory Group (RDAG), as well as to numerous central and Divisional colleagues who contributed to the process at multiple stages. We are also grateful to Vitae for providing feedback, support and encouragement throughout the submission process.”

To learn more, please view our HRER resources including the individual submission documents.

For further information about the HRER, Concordat or any aspect of researcher development at Kent, please contact the GRC.

News

Signposting survey for academic and research staff

The Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) is asking academic and research staff to spare five minutes to help us understand current usage of digital resources to support them, as well as preferences for future resource types.

Our short survey will capture information about your usage of a variety of electronic content, most of which has been developed or updated recently, and all of which is designed to support you, both to perform your current role(s) and in your ongoing professional and career development. The survey will also ask you to indicate which types of resources would work best for you going forward.

Your input will inform our future communication plans and, in particular, help us to determine whether or not (and if so how) we create any additional signposting information, guidance and/or resources for researchers and research managers in the coming months, which would be accessible by the wider Kent academic and research community

Dr Alison Charles, Researcher Developer (Academic), said:

“New and recently refreshed resources developed by central and Divisional teams act as portals to a vast range of information available for academic and research colleagues. Please tell us how you are using them and what formats you would like to see in the future so we can continue to signpost the information you need in the most appropriate ways.”

The survey was featured in this month’s GRC Researcher Development Bulletin sent to all academic and research staff – please email acresdev@kent.ac.uk if you haven’t received this. You can also access the survey via KentNet (Kent staff login required) – please note that the survey is open till midnight on 20 June 2022.)

Thank you in advance for sharing your views on this topic with us.

Events, News

PDRA Network Catch-up and Updates: ‘10 days and more …’

Are you a PDRA, RA or Research Associate looking to find out about all that is going on in researcher development at Kent? Then join us for our first face-to-face networking and update event for two years, which will be held in Cornwallis East Seminar Room 1 on Wednesday, 06 April from 10.30-11.45am.

Catch-up with coffee and cake with your peers from across the University and meet professional services colleagues working to support your professional and career development.

Learn about important developments affecting staff who research and get involved with the discussion about how to make 10 days’ professional development pro rata per year a reality at Kent.

Dr Alison Charles, Researcher Developer (Academic), said:

“This is a great opportunity to get up-to-speed with the wide-ranging work that is going on to support you, as well as to network with colleagues from beyond your Division in a relaxed environment. All PDRAs, RAs and Research Associates are very welcome, and coffee and cake etc. will be provided to enhance the conversation.”

There is no need to book but please email acresdev@kent.ac.uk to indicate your intention to join us. Thank you.

News, Training

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2022 postdoc winners announced

The Graduate and Researcher College is pleased to announce the postdoc winners of the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2022:

  • Dr Amira Abood, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Patrick Doheny, School of Physical Sciences
  • Dr Jessica Fisher, School of Anthropology and Conservation
  • Nathan Keates, Tizard Centre
  • Dr Mohammad Yasir Malik, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Manuel Marques, School of Physical Sciences
  • Dr Giuseppe Silvestri, School of Biosciences
  • Dr Brianne Wenning, Kent and Medway Medical School.

This event, now in its fifth year, attracts PDRAs, RAs and Research Associates looking to gain additional project and line management experience through an established scheme in which they are supported by central and Divisional University colleagues.

Applications addressed a range of topical issues including ‘the nature-wellbeing relationship in the face of climate change’, ‘implications of functioning labels for autistic people’ and ‘students’ perceptions on the behavioural and social sciences in the medical curriculum’. The projects selected reflect the University’s role as a leading ‘dual intensity’ institution which equally values research and education, believing that one enhances the other, and strives to find answers to diverse challenges by exploring relevant questions for the benefit of the local, national and international communities it serves.

Dr Jennifer Leigh, the competition’s co-founder, said:

“The Summer Vacation Research Competition goes from strength to strength and this year is no exception. Our competition winners all submitted strong and compelling applications, which demonstrated how their projects will benefit all participants, as well as the wider world. The research to be undertaken aligns with all three of the University’s Signature Research Themes, with five of the projects contributing to Kent’s essential work on ‘Environment, Food Systems and Natural Resources’. I look forward to working with all involved to encourage the best possible research outcomes and project experiences.”

Now that the projects have been identified, we will soon start recruiting the second- and third-year undergraduates to carry out the research. This process is being managed by the Careers and Employability Service, and will begin on 21 March 2022. We look forward to receiving applications from enthusiastic and motivated students who are interested in learning more about the world of research through active participation in a real-life project.

Please note that a new Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition has just launched for eligible ECRs and Black second-year undergraduates – the closing date for ECR applications is 20 March 2022.

Funding, News, Training

Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition 2022

Are you an Early Career Researcher (ECR)* interested in boosting your career? Would you like to support an enthusiastic and motivated Black second-year undergraduate student wishing to acquire research experience?

The Summer Vacation Early Career Research Competition is a new initiative for 2022 which has been designed to address the lack of diversity in research, a commonly recognised problem. The aim is to encourage Black undergraduates in all disciplines to consider potential postgraduate study, whilst giving ECRs the chance to run their own independent project with funding worth up to £2500 to work with an undergraduate intern for 4-7 weeks on their research.

This competition builds on the success of the University’s Summer Vacation Research Competition, which encourages Postdoctoral Research Associates, Research Assistants and Research Associates to develop their project and people management skills, and enables undergraduate students to gain valuable experience of working on real-life projects, thus learning more about the world of research whilst simultaneously enhancing their CVs.

Commenting on this innovative scheme to improve access to and participation in research, including postgraduate research for people from currently under-represented groups, Dr Jennifer Leigh, the competition’s lead organiser, said:

“Our new competition will be a win-win for both our ECRs and the undergraduates they will manage on their projects. Participation is likely to broaden their horizons and skills sets in a structured and supportive environment, and should encourage and inspire them to achieve great research outputs. I strongly encourage all eligible staff and students to apply for this interesting and rewarding opportunity which has been generously funded by Research England.”

Details of how to apply, including the application form for ECRs, are available on our ‘Internal Opportunities’ SharePoint page (Kent staff login required and VPN access if working remotely).

The closing date for ECR applications is 20 March 2022.

Good luck with your application – and please email svrc@kent.ac.uk with any queries.

* Please refer to the competition webpage for details of ECR eligibility criteria. (Postdoctoral Research Associates, Research Assistants and Research Associates are not eligible to apply for this competition but are encouraged to apply for the Summer Vacation Research Competition instead.)

News, Training

New careers guidance for staff who research

Looking to kickstart your career in 2022? Use our new Researcher Career Guidance to consider your progress to date and plan your next steps.

As part of the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC)’s ongoing work to support the professional and career development of the University’s researchers, introductory guidance has been developed on the following topics:

This information is available on the GRC’s new KentNet pages, which also signpost details of relevant training and development opportunities for staff who research.

These careers pointers should be viewed along with the professional and career development content in our new Central Researcher Induction module, which is recommended for all academic and research staff. This includes information about career planning and training frameworks, especially the Academic Career Map (ACM) and the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), together with suggestions for activities you can undertake as part of your recommended 10 days of development pro rata per year.

Other related GRC KentNet content includes a repository of current Kent resources housing recordings of previous training sessions, which can be viewed on demand, as well as new information exploring our progress to implement the Concordat principles across Kent, including that of professional and career development.

Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, said:

“I hope this short and simple content will encourage you to reflect on your career journey thus far and to refocus on where you would like to go and, crucially, how you are going to get there. Use this and other relevant resources available to researchers to steer your development in the right direction.”

GRC staff will now collate content to be included in forthcoming digital ‘handbooks’ for researchers and research managers to be launched in the summer. We welcome your feedback on our new careers content and encourage you to suggest any specific topics relating to your professional and career development, which you would like us to consider covering in future outputs.

Please email acresdev@kent.ac.uk with your comments – all feedback and suggestions welcome!