RIS Active-Research and Innovation Services News

AMBER (“enhAnced Mobile BiomEtRics”) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network addressing a range of current issues facing biometric solutions on mobile devices. AMBER will comprise ten integrated Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher (ESR) projects across five EU universities. The Network has the direct support of seven Industrial Partners.

The aim of the Network is to collate Europe-wide complementary academic and industrial expertise, train and equip the next generation of researchers to define, investigate and implement solutions, and develop solutions and theory to ensure secure, ubiquitous and efficient authentication whilst protecting privacy of citizens.

The Network will run between 1st January 2017 and 31st December 2020.

Recruitment for AMBER Early Stage Researchers is now open. Please visit the Recruitment page for more information

14:00-16:00, Thurs 16 March

 Venue TBC

Dr Kay Guccione

Research Mentoring and Coaching, University of Sheffield

‘Fellowship Ahoy!’ was a research project based at the University of Sheffield, exploring the development of research career independence and focussing on 5 areas of development for early career researchers aspiring to an academic career. This workshop gives a brief overview of the findings and then focuses on one of these areas — how to have research ideas: where do ideas come from, how do you know your idea is yours, and how can you develop from an initial spark to a project proposal.  Participants will have the chance to consider where their ideas come from, and how to make time for creative processes that help to generate and refine ideas? We will also discuss how to work with others to get feedback, and how to negotiate on ownership of research direction.

Run in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Higher Education

12:30-14:30, Tuesday 7 March

Venue TBC

The next Early Career Researcher Network events this term will explore issues around getting published in the most appropriate places for your research.

Getting published is the cornerstone of a successful and sustainable academic career. A good publication record will have an impact on your promotion, but also on your chances of getting external research funding. In this workshop, Prof Mick Tuite (Biosciences) and Prof Sally Sheldon (KLS) will discuss some of the key issues you need to consider when seeking publication, including:

•  Choosing the right journal;
•  How articles are selected, and what makes an article attractive to an editor;
•  Responding to reviewers’ comments;
• Writing a book proposal and securing a contract;
•  Dealing with co-authors;
•  Managing your portfolio, and knowing when to say ‘no’.

The session is free, open to all, and lunch will be provided. However, do let me know if you are planning to come along so I can make sure the room and catering are sufficient. In addition, if you could let me know what your position is (permanent or fixed term, academic or researcher, and approximate time since doctorate), that will help Mick and Sally pitch the session appropriately.

12:30-14:30, Wednesday 1 March 2017

Venue TBC

The next Early Career Researcher Network event this term will be run by Dr Rebekah Higgitt (History) and will look at how best to use social media to support your research.

Technology is changing the way we access information, and how we communicate. Nowhere is this more apparent than in academia. Social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and blogging platforms such as Blogger and WordPress, are increasingly being used to raise profiles, to disseminate research, and to make links with potential collaborators.

Is it possible to embrace the new technology without compromising your integrity or short-selling your research? Rebekah is a prolific and successful blogger (via the Guardian), and has a considerable following on Twitter. In this session she will share her experiences, what works for her, and what she’s learnt from engaging positively with social media.

The session is free and open to all, but numbers are limited so do let me know if you would like to come along. A light lunch will be provided from 12:30pm.

As some of you may well know, ESRC has an open call for  Secondary Data Analysis Initiative (SDAI). This funding stream aims to deliver high-quality high-impact research through the deeper exploitation of major data resources created by the ESRC and other agencies.

We are running a lunch time  workshop on 3^rd of February 12:30 – 13:30 led by Dr Tina Haux, who is currently sitting on ESRC SDAI Review Panel.

Dr Haux, will talk about the process of decision making by the panel, the genuine support for ECRs  and capacity building, the requirements and the scope of the call.

With an  average success rate nearly 20% , this funding stream is worth time exploring and applying for.

Do let Aurelija Povilaike know if you are interested to participate, venue TBC in the due course.

We are delighted to announce that the Wellcome Trust will be visiting the University of Kent on 23^rd February 2017.

The Trust last visited Kent six years ago and in that time their funding schemes have changed considerably, with more emphasis on multi-disciplinary, collaborative research.

Wellcome is the largest non-governmental funder in the UK and supports health research from the sciences, humanities and social sciences.

The event is suitable for academics, researchers, PhD students and grant support staff from all three faculties.

Please see the preliminary agenda below and register to attend here.

 If you can’t attend but are interested, do get in touch with Dr Carolyn Barker via email.  We would be happy to forward any questions to the Wellcome Trust staff or arrange further meetings.

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Wellcome Trust visit

Preliminary Agenda

23rd February 2017

Speakers

• Rodger Blake: External Liaison Manager
• Alexina Weekes: Grants Adviser Infection & Immuno-biology team
• Paul Woodgate: Portfolio Developer Humanities & Social Science team

10:00 – 12:00 An Overview of the Wellcome Trust

Grimond Lecture Theatre 2

An introduction to the Trust, including details of recent changes and new funding schemes. The session will include tips from recent Kent award holders and review panel members

Afternoon Specific Faculty-Based Session and 1:1 Discussions

(time and location tbc)

 Faculty Sessions

• Life sciences session with Alexina Weekes: Grants Adviser Infection & Immuno-biology team
• Social sciences/Humanities session with Paul Woodgate: Portfolio Developer Humanities & Social Science team

1:1 Discussions

Time to discuss individual application ideas with Wellcome

Following a successful launch of the first ever “Shut up and Write” – grants writing workshops in September, I am pleased to invite you back to the weeklong writing retreat – w/c 9^th January 2017!

 The idea behind this week long event is to give academics, at any stage of their careers, an opportunity to put aside admin and concentrate writing a grant proposal in a peaceful environment.  There will be a dedicated time for writing (90min sessions) followed by short breaks and lunch Monday to Thursday.  On the last day, Friday, we will have an internal peer review panel, who will provide feedback on your draft applications.

You can attend for the whole week (9 am until 5pm each day) or just  for the part of it – the only condition is that you  commit to submitting a research grant application (for example  ESRC, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, Wellcome, European Research Council etc) after the process has ended.   Most importantly – refreshments (including lunch) – will be provided each day.

If you have any questions or would like to attend – do get in touch with Aurelija Povilaike (a.povilaike@kent.ac.uk)

30 November, 2pm

Medway Campus, Room TBC

Technology is changing the way we access information, and how we communicate. Nowhere is this more apparent than in academia. Social media sites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and blogging platforms such as Blogger and WordPress, are increasingly being used to raise profiles, to disseminate research, and to make links with potential collaborators and participants.

The latest ECR Network session will look at how we can make best use of social media tools to support our own research. Presented by three experienced researchers, the workshop will focus on:

•  Using Twitter to talk about your research and engage with others beyond your School – Dr Mark Burnley, Sports & Exercise Sciences

• Using Facebook to recruit research participants and manage a project – Dr Kate Bradley, SSPSSR

• Using a range of tools, including Kudos, ResearchGate and Impactstory, to disseminate your research, track your impact, and improve citations – Dr Nigel Temperton, Medway School of Pharmacy.

The event is free and open to all, and refreshments will be provided. However, places are limited, so do let Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk, xtn7748) know if you wish to come along.

Applying for European Research Funding in the Humanities

Monday 5 December 11.00 -12.30 followed by lunch

One to one sessions available 14.00-16.00

Venue: tbd

EU funding is a process. At its heart, you need a good team and a powerful network. Above all, you need a compelling idea. Innovativeness, originality, impact, research excellence, feasibility: no EU-funded proposal will lack these basic characteristics. This is a challenge that researchers and scholars engaged with social sciences and humanities need to tackle in order to let our disciplines survive in the current historical context.

Led by Dr Giancarlo Pichillo from the University of Sienna this session will specifically help you develop EU funding applications but also help you to construct better, more confident funding applications in general. Giancarlo has extensive experience of writing EU funding proposals (for example, Horizon 2020, FP7, Creative Europe etc) and project managing EU-funded projects. He is currently, the project manager of “Playing Identities, Performing Heritage”, funded by the Creative Europe Programme (Small Scale Cultural Cooperation Projects), coordinated by the University of Siena.

If you are interested in attending the workshop and/or meeting Giancarlo for a one to one session, please contact Lynne Bennett (l.bennett-282@kent.ac.uk).