Category Archives: Training

Events, News, Training

New training sessions for research staff from w/c 26 April 2021

The Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) is pleased to announce that a range of virtual training and development events are now available for academic and research staff to book including three scheduled to take place next week:

Essential elements of a successful grant application – 26 April 2021, 10-11am

Click here to book your place.

Sharing sensitive data, GDPR and research ethics – 27 April 2021, 3-4pm

Click here to book your place.

Copyright and open access publishing – 28 April 2021, 10-11am

Click here to book your place.

Registration for these sessions is via Target Connect, the GRC event booking system, but please note that you will need to register for an account on Target Connect using your Kent email address before you can book any of these events.

These one-hour online sessions are organised by the GRC as part of its new remit to support the development of colleagues who research throughout their careers and further information is available on our new web pages for academic and research staff.

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

“These webinars are a great opportunity to learn more about relevant topics in targeted sessions delivered by specialist academic and Professional Services staff from Research and Innovation Services, IS Research Support, the GRC and the Divisions. They reflect our ongoing work to create an impactful programme of demand-led training and development for teaching and research colleagues across the University.”

Please note that most sessions will be recorded and made available to view after the event.

If you would like to suggest future sessions or to discuss researcher development at Kent, please contact the GRC.

We look forward to seeing you at these and future events.

News, Training

New web resource for academic and research staff

Kent’s commitment to supporting colleagues who research is further demonstrated with the launch of a new section of the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) website. The ‘Academic and Research Staff‘ webpages provide a wealth of information for academic researchers and are designed to showcase the wide range of information, resources and support available to them.

Divided into four sections comprising 27 pages, this online portal includes information about the University’s strategy to support staff who research and emphasises our efforts to build a supportive and inclusive research culture. Highlights include details of forthcoming central and Divisional training and development sessions, as well as recordings of and material from previous sessions which can be viewed on demand via the relevant GRC SharePoint pages.

Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, commented: “The recent expansion of the GRC to enable us to support staff as well as postgraduates marks the start of an exciting journey for researcher development at Kent. Our new webpages are one of a series of steps on the road to increasing awareness about the services and support which are provided by the University for our academic and research colleagues.”

A further phase of web development is planned for Summer 2021, which will focus on the three areas covered in the  Researcher Development Concordat: environment and culture, employment and professional and career development. In the meantime, we trust that our new digital resource will become your first port of call for information relating to academic and research staff development.

Events, Funding, News, Training

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 Q&A Session

Are you considering applying for the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 but unsure where to start? Or do you have a great idea but also practical concerns? Then come along to the Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021 Q&A Session, which will be held online on Thursday, 21 January 2021 from 1300-1400.

Participating in this competition, which is now in its fourth year, is a great way to boost your career and the initiative is being generously supported by the Careers and Employability Service, the Centre for the Study of Higher Education, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research & Innovation, the Divisions, the Graduate and Researcher College, Research and Innovation Services, and the Signature Research Theme Leads. Use this virtual get-together to meet the event organisers and discover more about the skills you will develop through managing your own project and intern. You’ll also learn about what makes a successful submission and pick up some practical tips for your application.

Dr Helen Leech, the event’s co-founder with Dr Jennifer Leigh, said:

“Whether you have definitely decided to apply and have a project in mind or are still considering your options, why not join us for an informal chat in a supportive environment? We will endeavour to encourage and inspire you, and will suggest ways of maximising your chances of success.”

Details of the meeting have been sent to relevant staff – please contact svrc@kent.ac.uk if you do not receive this email.

We look forward to answering your questions at the session!

Funding, News, Training

Summer Vacation Research Competition 2021

Are you a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Associate or Research Assistant interested in developing your project and people management skills? Did you know you can apply to run your own independent project and win funding worth up to £2500 to work with an undergraduate intern for 4-7 weeks on your research?

Following the popularity and success of the competition in previous years, the University is funding 9 different summer vacation research projects in 2021, each of which will be associated with a particular Division and/or Signature Research Theme.

Reflecting on the benefits of participation, Dr Jennifer Leigh, the event’s co-founder with Dr Helen Leech, said:

“The positive impact on successful applicants is self-evident and can include increased productivity and outputs, non-research skills acquisition and kick-started career planning. One PDRA told us ‘I got more work done on this project in 6 weeks than I would have done in a year of working in my own time’ and many others have credited the competition with the opportunity, practice and support to make further applications for funding and fellowships, and to apply for permanent roles.”

Details of how to apply for the Summer Vacation Research Competition have been sent to relevant staff – please email svrc@kent.ac.uk if you do not receive this information.

The closing date for applications is 15 February 2021. Good luck!

Events, Funding, Training

CHASE and SeNSS Briefing Sessions for Staff and Potential Students

Are you interested in applying for a CHASE or SeNSS-funded studentship but are unsure where to begin? Are you a supervisor or administrator supporting CHASE or SeNSS-funded students?

The Graduate School is hosting several information sessions for staff and students in the Autumn of 2018 on how to apply for CHASE-funded and SeNSS-funded studentships. Please click on the links below for more information:

Please get in touch with the Graduate School at graduateschool@kent.ac.uk with any queries and to reserve a place on one of these sessions.

Training

Social Science Researchers: call for applications for one funded place to Essex Summer School training session

The Eastern ARC and the Graduate School will fund an opportunity for ONE PhD student working on a project with applied quantitative methods to attend an Essex summer school training session.

This includes the fees for one course, accommodation during the training period as well as travel. To apply, please email EARCpgmobility@kent.ac.uk with the title of the course you wish to attend, and up to 500 words addressing the following points:

  • Background summary of your PhD project
  • How the method proposed will advance your PhD project
  • How attending the course will advance your skill set as a PhD candidate
  • Why you wish/need to attend the course this year

You will also need to include a half page supporting statement from your supervisor, and a short CV outlining training courses you have already attended and indicating current level of statistics training. 

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 20th April 2018, and the award will be announced by the end of April.  If you have any queries please email Hannah Swift H.J.Swift@kent.ac.uk and/or EARCpgmobility@kent.ac.uk.

Please note that applications from first and second year full-time PhD students (up to the fourth year for part-time PhD students) will be prioritised.