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Welcome to this month's ECR Newsletter where you will find information on the following opportunities:

• RDRC Courses
• Online Writing Groups for ECRs
• National Post-doc Appreciation Week Events
• 1:2:1 Careers Appointments
• Responsible Metrics
• Entrepreneurial Researcher Programme
• ESRC Policy Fellowships 2021/22
• Events & Opportunities
• Amazing Science as a Parent
• and much more!

Please direct any questions you may have to researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Previous copies of Newsletters can be viewed by clicking here.

All courses are delivered online (please click on the course title for info and to book your place).

ECR Core Programme:-

NPAW - The Concordat and What it Means, followed by Q&A - 23/9/2021 (11 am - 12 noon)
How to Manage Your Career - 26/10/2021 (10 am - 12 noon) 
Peer Reviewing Research Papers - 27/10/2021 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)
Mapping and Marketing Your Skills - 9/11/2021 (11 am - 12.30 pm)
Networking for Researchers - 16/11/2021 (11 am - 12 noon)
Applying for Academic Jobs - 23/11/2021 (11 am - 1 pm) 
Writing 4* Research Papers - 24/11/2021 (9 am - 10.30 am)
Applying for Jobs Beyond Academia - 30/11/2021 (10 am - 12 noon) 
Writing Targeted Grant Proposals - 9/12/2021 (9 am - 10.30 am) 

Research & Innovation Essentials Series:

Introduction to Innovation, Impact and Business Support Services - 28/09/21 (10 am - 11 am) 
What Makes for High Quality Public Engagement with Research - 25/11/21 (10.30 am - 12.30 pm) 

The new RSE group supports our research community with more complex and bespoke research software needs; the team’s Research Software Engineers (RSEs) work with researchers from all disciplines.

To ask your software questions visit the Exeter RSE Slack.

Please note; the Researcher Development Team and the RSEs will shortly be offering you additional software learning and development opportunities – further information coming soon!  More information about the RSE group and how to work with them can be found here.

Struggling to find time to write?

Feeling guilty about putting time to yourself?

Would you benefit from support from peers?

Then join the regular online Writing Groups - various dates in September and October are available - all running 10 am - 12.30 pm - Click here to view dates and book your place/s.

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.

The University of Liverpool is hosting the National Postdoc Conference 2021 (NPDC21) on 24th September 2021. All registrations are free of charge, including a series of informal networking and engagement sessions in August and September. Booking links can be accessed from the Programme and Networking webpages. Information about the ongoing NPDC21 poster competition is available here. The NPDC21 app (available both on the Apple App Store and Google Play) provides a range of features to enhance the attendees' experience, including the ability to create a personalised itinerary. For more information about NPDC21, please contact Dr Saneeya Qureshi, Head of Researcher Development and Culture on Saneeya.Qureshi@liverpool.ac.uk.

Virtual Movie Night - Fri 3 September (7 pm)

As part of their series of pre-conference networking events, the National Postdoc Conference is hosting a Virtual Movie Night on Friday 3 September at 7 pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to network with postdocs from across UK, learn more about Liverpool’s music history and eat popcorn “for work”!

We’ll be watching Nowhere Boy (2009)!  For more information and to register click here.

For the second year running the University of Exeter will be celebrating its postdocs and taking part in the National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW).

On Monday 20th September there is a national event 'Celebrating Successess- exploring diverse careers in the Postdoc afterlife', for this session the NPAW committee have invited 5 former Postdocs with a wide range of experience to come and tell us their stories, discuss the ups and downs of their careers and what they see as 'successes'. Full details and how to book available on the NPAW website. 

Locally we will be running two events:

• Meet the team and what we do- Tuesday 21st September (10:00-11:00)- this is a chance to meet the team and learn about what we do to support ECRs/Postdocs. Link to this event to be sent soon.
• The Concordat and what it means*- Thursday 23rd September (11:00-12:00)- hear from the head of Researcher Development and Research Culture and the Head of People Development as to why the university had signed the Researcher Development Concordat and its importance to ECRs.

*Booking required for this event.

Outside of the events, look out for our celebrations online for NPAW.

Autumn Dates Available!!

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 for you to book on by clicking here.

Kate can offer advice and discuss how to manage and plan your career.

If there are no timeslots available please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Do you care that your research is assessed fairly, in its entirety and not based on narrow measures such as where you have published or how many times you have been cited? Responsible metrics is about ensuring that our research culture celebrates all research and research outputs and looks beyond blunt quantitative measures to assess quality. As a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), we are looking for PGRs and ECRs to join our Responsible Metrics Champions Group, in order to help ensure that this important agenda translates into our own university policy and practice. Those in the early stages of their research career have the most to gain from responsible metrics, so we’re keen to ensure that we have PGRs and ECRs represented on the group. If you’d like to find out more, or think you may be interested in joining the group, please contact Becky Euesden r.s.euesden@exeter.ac.uk.

After a successful pilot last year, the Entrepreneurial Researcher Programme for 2021/22, has been relaunched kicking off with a Green Futures focussed cohort in September.

We’re interpreting Green Futures in the broadest of contexts and would encourage researchers from all disciplines who would like to explore the commercialisation of ideas that aim to solve challenges relating to the realisation of a more sustainable and just future.

The programme consists of four online sessions over 8 weeks, with the time in between used to engage potential customers, users and external stakeholders to really understand their problems and develop ideas through an iterative process. Participants will get support throughout the ERP from the IIB Commercialisation team and a group of external mentors.

There are ten places available in this cohort. The deadline for applications is Friday 17th September. Full details and the links to the application form can be found here: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/iib/resources/entrepreneurialresearcherprogramme/

Apply for funding to spend up to 18 months collaborating with a government host organisation, to inform policy on a priority policy area such as:-

• Net zero, Climate Change & Decarbonisation
• National security & Foreign Policy
• Transport & International Relations
• Cyber Crime & Economic Crime
• Equality, Health & Social care
• Learning and Wellbeing

This opportunity is open to economic-, social science- or humanities-focused early to mid-career researchers who hold a PhD or equivalent research experience.  Deadline date for applications 4 pm (UK time) 14 September 2021.

For further support please get in touch with PolicyEngagement@exeter.ac.uk.
Find out more by clicking here.

GW4 Climate Alilance Launch - Deadline for Expressions of Interest : Wed 8 September 2021
If you are an Early Career Researcher (ECR) working in climate, the Alliance is inviting you to submit ideas for their showcase as part of the launch. GW4 is supporting future climate research leaders in showcasing their work to a broad audience of researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and funding bodies.  Click here for further details.

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Research Restart - Seed Corn Funding - Deadline Sun 12 September 2021
The overall aim of this new funding scheme is to support researchers across all disciplines who want to get their research back up and running following any unforeseen disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fund will allocate up to £20k per project as standard. The fund can be spent to: Provide additional consumables or support costs of access to central services, access to labs, etc.
The closing date for applications is 12 September 2021. For queries please contact TREE@exeter.ac.uk.

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Introduction to Research Ethics Course - Wed 22 September 2021 (12 noon - 1 pm)
The online course will provide an introduction to theoretical frameworks and codes of practice, the principles of research ethics, the process of research ethics review and provide an opportunity for researchers to reflect on the ethical implications of their work.  To find out more and to book your place, click here.

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Scenes of Shame and Stigma in COVID-19 Seminar Series - online events June - December 2021
This seminar Series, organized at the University of Exeter as part of the UKRI-AHRC funded ‘Scenes of Shame and Stigma in COVID-19’ project, addresses the key role that shame and stigma have played in the COVID-19 public health crisis. With talks from established and emerging experts in sociology, anthropology, history and public health, this interdisciplinary seminar series examines the effects of shame and stigma during the pandemic, considering topics such as national responses, professional practice in medicine, community resilience, public health policy and BAME experience. For find out dates and book your place - click here.

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

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Postdoc Futures
Created from the committee who organised National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), Postdoc Futures is a “grassroots” initiative that is in communication with Wellcome and UKRI to help shape a better future for Postdocs, and create a more consistent policy structure across all institutions for Postdocs. Postdoc Futures is looking for ECRs from Exeter to be part of this group, give their views as well as represent the views of ECRs at Exeter. If you are interested in being on the Postdoc Futures group please email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

This month we are shining the spotlight on an RLI (Researcher-led Initiative) which took place virtually back in July and was organised by Dr Sumita Roy.  Sumita writes:
"When you are flying high in your career the thought of becoming a parent is sometimes really scary. You think that will be the end of your career. Although people say that career breaks don't matter, but you will find getting back to work after a career break is very difficult and particularly it is true for women in science or any discipline. I realise that it is a tough journey to be a parent and also be successful in your career but it is possible."  To listen to the recording click here. (password Y.Pi26gz)

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.

You can also get the latest Concordat updates and events by signing up to their newsletter when registering with their website.

Already registered and want to receive Vitae News? Contact Vitae direct

See the latest news update on the Concordat here.

We have published a range of guidance, checklists and the University travel policy for colleagues planning on travelling for work or study. The information covers both international travel and trips within the UK. Find out more click here. 

Library Search is your key gateway into the print and electronic resources available to you via the Library. It is available 24/7 from your desktop or device, wherever in the world you are located.

It will enable you to find recommended readings and search across a wide range of full text resources to discover materials on your research topics.

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.