Early Career Researchers Hub : ECR Training and Development : Twitter :
Doctoral College Blog

Welcome to the April 2021 ECR newsletter which comes to you just before the Easter break.  Do make sure you get some well deserved rest and recouperation and try to get outdoors and enjoy some sunshine!

The Online Researcher-Led Initiatives (RLI) Funding Award Scheme is ongoing with just two deadline dates remaining so don't miss out and get that application submitted!  See below for deadline dates.

We continue to shape the suite of online learning and development both through the Core Programme and also via the Research Services/IIB Essential Series and more details of this will follow shortly. We are continuing to run a couple of the Writing Groups through April - a superb opportunity for you to set time aside to write those all important pages!

For queries surrounding Coronavirus, please take a look at the Staff University Webpage for further guidance, as well as to continue following Government Guidelines and stay safe.  

In the meantime, if you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail at: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

All courses are delivered online

ECR Core Programme:-
Careers from a Research Background - 04/05/2021 (10.30 am - 12 noon) - Register here.

Research & Innovation Essentials Series:
Introduction to Research Services - 09/06/2021 (11 am - 12.30 pm) - Register here.
IP and Commercialisation - coming soon!

Writing Groups for ECRs - Spring term dates as follows:

Thurs 22 April 2021 (10 am - 12.30 pm)
Mon 26 April 2021 (10 am - 12.30 pm)

To book your place click on the appropriate date/s (above).

Here's just a couple of feedback comments from recent Groups:-

"It was a really good way to block out time to work on a specific task. I found the structure of the session really useful and there was a really relaxed and friendly atmosphere."
"I enjoyed the collective experience of writing and the opportunity to dedicate some time to it, without distractions."
These sessions provide the perfect space for you to 'give yourself permission' to write! 

We are looking to expand our team of facilitators so if you would like to find out more about becoming a facilitator please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Communicate Your Research
A partner of the University, Agile Rabbit, offers a service that delivers events by developing ideas, providing training, organising all aspects of the event, producing radio programmes, and arranging an audience from over 40 countries through effective communications to help support public engagement.

Colleagues who have an idea for an event that is of public interest should email contact@agile-rabbit.com. To find out more click here.

-------

ExeTalks - YouTube Playlist
ExeTalks are a chance to discover some of the fascinating research undertaken at the University of Exeter and loosely follow the TEDx style. Click here to view the playlist.

-------

The Scholars programme- PhD Opportunity 2020-21
The Brilliant Club’s Researcher Development Programme offers PhD and Early Career Researchers a meaningful, professionally developmental, paid tutoring opportunity. Training with The Brilliant Club and working as a Scholars Programme tutor enables researchers to communicate their research to a non-specialist audience, gain valuable teaching and public engagement experience and deepen their knowledge of the UK education system. To find out more and apply click here.

-------

Call for Peer Reviewers - Networking Knowledge
We are currently seeking volunteer peer reviewers to help us to continue to ensure the academic integrity of submissions to the journal. This is a great opportunity to add peer review experience to your academic CV, to build your academic citizenship and to be among the first to find out about new research projects happening in your field. Guidance on the peer reviewing process will be provided, and joining us as a peer reviewer requires no minimum commitment.  For further information contact rebecca.jones@strath.ac.uk.

------

"One Step Beyond" Academic Mentoring Scheme
This scheme spans across all Colleges to bring you a fantastic opportunity to engage with a mentoring relationship and develop your knowledge in any of the following areas:-

• Building informal teams and collaborations
• Citizenship Development
• Education Development
• Leadership & Management Development
• Managing personal/family life with professional/career aspirations
• Personal Effectiveness
• Research Development

To find out more open this useful flyer or visit the website.

The workshops are part of our  commitment to being a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and as a signatory of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. 

These workshops are aimed at any colleague who undertakes research; from Early Career Researchers through to colleagues who are in Professorial grades, are Research leads, or colleagues more generally within the ‘R’ or ‘E & R’ job families. If you have not been invited to a workshop and think you should have been please email the Researcher Development team.

Unsure of your future career direction either within Academia or beyond Academia? Kate Foster, (Careers Coach for Researcher Development and Research Culture), is available to offer 1:2:1 Career coaching appointments for ECRs.  50 minute online appointments are available on the following dates:

Tues 04.05.21 (3 pm - 3.50 pm)
Tues 11.05.21 (9 am - 9.50 am)

Further dates will follow.

If you are interested in having the opportunity to gain advice and discuss how to manage and plan your career and feel you would benefit from a 1:2:1 meeting, please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk with your preferred 3 timeslots.  Appointments will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.   If you’re not able to attend the above dates, but would like to book an appointment please do make contact as an alternative date and time can be arranged.

Applications are open for our Online Researcher-Led Initiatives Award Scheme.

This year, we are asking for applications for online/virtual events on the following themes:

a. Developing an engaged research culture
b. Building a PGR or ECR community
c. Equality, diversity, and inclusivity
d. Wellbeing

We will be running a rolling scheme that will stay open until 19th May 2021, assessing applications monthly on a case-by-case basis. This will enable us to be flexible, and responsive to the current situation.

You can find our more on our website or apply using our online application form.

Deadlines for each month are as follows:-
Wed 21 April 2021
Wed 19 May 2021

If you have any questions or would like to discuss an idea for an application, please contact researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Early Career Research Networks (ECRNs) are designed to help support our Early Career Researchers in the beginning stages of their career. The ECRNs are designed to help raise awareness of new developments in a particular field: new tools, processes, leaders, training programs, and services. They are also an opportunity for collaborative problem solving and to get advice from other Early Career Researchers. To find out more about the Networks and who your Network Rep is click here.

We are currently re-developing the ECR Hub web pages so that we can improve the information and support we provide to you. Our aim is to make the Hub a 'one-stop-shop' to help reduce the time you spend searching for key information and support, along with streamlining our communications to you.

To assist us with this project we would really appreciate 5 minutes of your time by completing this questionnaire.

For more information please email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Centre for Research in Professional Learning Forthcoming Online Events

Research methods seminar series (all running 10am - 11.30am) online.  To register for a link please contact Dr ZhiMin Xiao.

These events involve postgraduate research students and early career academics presenting their research: the seminars focus primarily on research designs and methods employed, but speakers will also share some of their major findings/arguments when they are available.
Each session includes an opportunity for informal networking and discussion.

April 8th  - Richard Cocks D’Souza, Exeter
April 22nd  - Janice Hoang Huong, Exeter.

-------

Join the BME Network
Interested in joining the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Network? It’s open to colleagues, students and alumni of the University and you just need to fill in this form if you’d like to get involved.

-------

Join our Virtual Lab Group for Early Career Researchers
Would you like to connect with a virtual lab group for Early Career Researchers?  This group aims to connect researchers and practitioners about topics of common interest for the purpose of discussion and sharing ideas and research. This group runs via Microsoft Teams, with space to chat and share resources and ideas. The group meets weekly on a Wednesday morning, to discuss research plans, talk about papers and hear from guest speakers. If you're interested in joining please email Nicola.byrom@kcl.ac.uk.

To watch previous discussions please click here to be taken to our YouTube channel.

-------

Research Ethics Conference - Friday 25 June 2021 (10 am - 5.30 pm) St Lukes Campus
Ethics has never been as important as it is now. The world we live in is changing at a dramatic pace and we must maintain rigorous and critical ethical practices of the research journey, across all disciplines throughout STEM and HASS. But what exactly is ethics and what does it mean to conduct ethical research? To find out more about the Conference and to book your place click here. It is hoped to host a blended conference (in-person and online). However, due to the current circumstances, will be at least hosting an online conference. More information on this will be released shortly.

-------

The University of Exeter Research Toolkit offers several internal funding schemes which can be accessed by clicking here.

-------

RDM Lifecycle Infographic
Not sure what support is available to help you manage your research data? Take a look at this new Research Data Management Lifecycle infographic which presents the Professional Services’ (PS) support that is available for researchers in every step of the RDM Lifecycle.

-------

The Open University and the University of West London are delighted to bring you the 5th BME Early Career Researchers Conference - Friday 9 July 2021 (9.30 am - 6 pm)

To find out who the keynote speakers are at this year's Conference entitled 'Moving on Up' and to book your place click here.
 

If you're organising an event and don't know where to start, take a look at the Corporate Events webpage where you will find lots of useful information and advice including an Events Planning Toolkit!  If you would like to contact the Events Team for further advice email eventenquiries@exeter.ac.uk.

We have recently created a new webpage, detailing all the wellbeing support for ECRs. Including support from the University, Spectrum.Life as well as a list of networks to support staff wellbeing.

-------

LGBT+ History Month
Each February, our University community comes together to celebrate LGBT+ History Month. The aim of this month is to celebrate the diversity of our community and reflect on creating a more open and safe space for our colleagues and students who are Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer or Questioning. We've put together a dedicated newsletter packed with events and resources to help us all reflect on the changes we can all make in our daily practices to shape a culture that welcomes, accepts and celebrates our LGBTQ+ community.