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Welcome to the July 2021 ECR Newsletter!

We are pleased to introduce some fantastic new workshops as part of the ECR Core Programme.  Courses include 'Imposter Syndrome'; 'Insights Discovery'; 'Research Culture from the Bottom Up' and 'The Health Resilient Researcher' all being delivered by expert external facilitators - book your place/s by clicking on the links below.

The Research and Innovation Essentials Series continues at pace with four more sessions running throughout July and ... just when you think there can't be more .... there are Researcher-Led Initiatives running on top of all of that, as well as the online Writing Groups for ECRs!

It's a summer packed with great, quality learning and development opportunities for you so make sure you book your place/s!

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:-
Imposter Syndrome - Tools and Techniques - 19/07/2021 (9.30 am - 12.30 pm) - FULLY BOOKED -Register here to be added to the waiting list.
Insights Discovery® - Supporting individual and/or team development - 22/07/2021 (10 am - 1 pm) - Register here.
Research Culture from the Bottom Up - 26/07/2021 (10 am - 1.30 pm) - Register here.
The Health Resilient Researcher - 28/07/2021 (10 am - 2 pm) - Register here.
 

Research & Innovation Essentials Series:
Introduction to Innovation, Impact & Business Support Services - 01/07/2021 (11.15 am - 12.15 pm) - Register here.
Working with Business – What does business want and how to succeed - 21/07/2021 (10.30 am - 11.10 am) - Register here.
Open Research - Publications, data and beyond - 28/07/2021 (10 am - 11.30 am) - Register here.
EU Funding Oportunities from the Horizon Europe Programme - 29/07/2021 (12 noon - 1.30 pm) - Register here.

Researcher-led Iniatives:-
Using the natural environment to promote health and wellbeing - 12/07/21 (10 am - 12 noon - Register here.
Beyond Academia: Research Commercialisation for Real-World Impact - 29/07/21 (9 am - 12 noon) - Register here.

Writing Groups for ECRs - Summer term dates as follows:
Various dates in July - 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.

UKRSA - The UK Research Staff Association
How do you navigate being research staff – and do you have something to say about the issues that researchers face?

We are a volunteer organisation whose mission is to empower researcher staff to take control of their careers and contribute to national policy. We are looking for new members to join our committee and help shape our next five years. No experience needed, just a willingness to get involved in projects designed to better support research staff at a national level. This is an opportunity to meet new people, make valuable connections, and add leadership skills to your CV. To get involved, please contact our Recruitment & Engagement Officers (Blanca Perez-Sepulveda BlancaPS@liverpool.ac.uk; Angela Midgley Angela.Midgley@liverpool.ac.uk) or the UKRSA Co-Chairs at UKRSAVitae@gmail.com, and find more information following this link.

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How do you feel about the Youth Justice Network?
The National Association for Youth Justice (NAYJ) is in the process of developing a postgraduate network to provide opportunities for those involved in youth justice work to share their expertise across the network. The NAYJ is an organisation that seeks to promote the welfare of children in the youth justice system in England by campaigning, lobbying, publishing practice and policy papers and providing training events and conferences. 

The NAYJ is keen to hear from postgraduate and early career on the NAYJ PGR/ECR Network and have developed a short survey

This survey is designed to find out how postgraduate and early career researchers feel about a new Youth Justice network. Please feel free to share the survey with your networks.

A few July timeslots left!!

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.

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.

We are looking for ECRs to help us organise a series of events as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW), which will take place W/C 20th September 2021. This is the 2nd year the University will be running NPAW, which openly acknowledges and celebrates the contribution and work of our vibrant Postdoc/ECR community. Find out what happened last year by clicking here.

If you would like to help shape this important celebration, please come and join the NPAW organising committee. To register you interest and to find out more, contact: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk

The REF team are currently undertaking a REF2021 Lessons Learnt project, and would like to share with you the all-staff survey, where they hope to capture any feedback you would like to provide on the REF2021 process.

The team are very grateful to those of you who have already shared feedback, and if you have nothing further to share or do not have time to fill in the survey please do not feel obligated to do so – it is entirely optional.

Feedback or queries can also be sent by email direct to Kerry Hope in the REF team (Exeter-REF-2021@exeter.ac.uk). Your feedback will help shape discussions with UKRI and the University’s approach to the next REF. Thank you.

We may not have time to organise our very own 'Thank You Day' on Sunday 4 July 2021 but we can use the time to send a 'Thank You Card' to a colleague or friend/work colleague to show your appreciation during, what's been, one of the most challenging years in modern times.  Go on .... put a smile on someone's face on 4 July! :)

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

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

See the latest news update on the Concordat here.

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.

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A call to join the Living Systems Institute’s Early Career Researcher Network steering committee (LSI ECRN).
The LSI management team and the Doctoral College are keen to support the LSI’s ECR community. We aim to restart LSI ECRN activities and would like to set up a steering committee of LSI ECRs to run the network. Opportunities for network activities are vast and could include social events as well as formal training. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Yolanda Hill y.r.hill@exeter.ac.uk.

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. 

FAIR Data Stewardship Training Fellowship
ELIXIR-UK has launched a new FAIR Data Stewardship Training Fellowship programme, which has been funded as part of the UKRI Data Science Innovation Scholars award. We are looking for individuals to develop and deliver training in data management topics of relevance to the life sciences. By applying for our Fellowship, you would be provided with an honorarium to help you bring Data Stewardship training into your institution and beyond; and affiliate to a growing community supported by ELIXIR-UK. Applications are now open for the programme (deadline: 30th July 2021). Full details and eligibility criteria available on the website here.

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Precarity and progression during a pandemic: Early Career academics' experience during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic it’s important that early career perspectives are heard. We are conducting a study about uncertainty and career progression for academics and researchers. If you are an early career academic/early career researcher (working primarily in academia and within 6 years of finishing your PhD OR will finish within the next year), we would like to hear from you. Participation can include an anonymous questionnaire lasting approximately 15 minutes and/or an interview lasting approximately one hour. (Interview participants will receive a small remuneration to partially compensate them for their time). Further details available here.

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Scenes of Shame and Stigma in COVID-19 Seminar Series - online events June - December 2021
The Scenes of Shame and Stigma in COVID-19 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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Policy@Exeter launches new website for policy impact
Policy@Exeter is a new cross-College initiative, which aims to facilitate and develop links between Exeter researchers and policy-makers. The newly launched website offers a wealth of resources for researchers at any career level wanting to engage with policy, including how-to guides, templates, case studies, video interviews and much more! Policy@Exeter also has a mailing list and Twitter profile, make sure to follow and subscribe to be kept in the loop about upcoming opportunities.

For more information and to receive 1:1 support, please email Emma and Marina at PolicyEngagement@exeter.ac.uk

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Multifaith Chaplaincy
Please be aware that the use of Reed Hall for Muslim prayer space on Streatham will end on July 4th.  From July 5th the previous prayer rooms in the lower level of the Old Library will be reopened for use by staff and students.  Covid restrictions will remain in place so please bring your own prayer mat and shoe bag if needed.  The University would like to gauge need for this space over the summer and beyond, so please contact Ramona Nash, Multifaith Chaplaincy Coordinator at r.m.j.nash@exeter.ac.uk if you plan to use the space over the summer, and if you have any questions.   The prayer space at Staff House, St. Luke’s Campus, will continue to operate as it has done – contact Mike Phillips on m.j.phillips@exeter.ac.uk if you do not have card access for the St. Luke’s facilities.

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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.