Early Career Researchers Hub : ECR Training and Development : 

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

• ECR Researcher Development & Research Culture Programme.
• RS & IIB Essentials Programme.
• Learning & Development Opportunities : University of Exeter & Beyond.
• Research Grants & Funding.
• Competitions.
• Research & Researcher Networks.
• Research & Researcher Blogs.
• Organising an Event & Need Help?
• Health, Wellbeing & Support.

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

Previous copies of Newsletters can be viewed by clicking here.  If you have something that you'd like to share in future Newsletters, click here for copy deadline dates as well as submission guidelines.

Applying for Academic Jobs - 14/03/2023 (11 am - 1 pm).
Applying for Jobs Beyond Academia - 21/03/2023 (10 am - 12 noon).
Peer Reviewing Research Papers - 17/04/2023 (1 pm - 2.30 pm)
Writing Your Data Management Plan - 19/04/2023 (10 am - 11 am).
Introduction to Unix - 19 & 26 April (2-part course) (1 pm - 4 pm).
Introduction to Python - 21 & 28 April (2-part course) (1 pm - 4 pm).
Writing World Leading & Impactful Research Papers - 24/04/2023 (1 pm - 2.30 pm)
Writing Targeted Grant Proposals - 26/04/2023 (11 am - 12.30 pm)
Sharing Research Data - 24/05/2023 (10 am - 11 am).

Following the success of the 'Launch of Focus Space' ... we would like to give you a warm welcome to our regular 'Focus Space' online sessions which run from 10 am - 12.30 pm Mondays and Thursdays - Click here for dates and details of how to join this group.

Participants do not have stay for the whole session - you can dip in and out as you please!

To make things easy, these sessions can be accessed via the same Teams link - click here.

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

Application deadline : 22 March 2023 (12 noon)

This 12 week programme, delivered via Zoom, starts 25 April 2023, running every Tuesday from 10 am until 1 pm, ending 11 July 2023.

• Are you the kind of person who wants to make a difference, to yourself and others?
• Do you want confidence in who you are and what you do as a leader?
• Do you want support to help you explore, understand and develop your leadership?  

The purpose of this programme is to help you make meaningful progress in your sense of who you are, and what you do as a leader. It aims to challenge your thinking and provide you with tools to tackle this challenge. 

The programme is open to:

• Early Career Researchers (R only contracts Grades E-G);
• Postgraduate Researchers in their third year or part-time equivalent;
• Research Technicians (Grades E-G).

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Unsure of your future career direction either within Academia or beyond? 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 and has timeslots available on 4 April.  Should you wish to meet her before then, please contact ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

The Research and Innovation Essentials Series was created to distil essential information that researchers need to know about the research grant lifecycle, from application to grant management, including what support researchers can draw upon to get the best possible outcome. The Series was created to meet the requirements of various career stages and offers an opportunity to meet members of Professional Services and Academics that specialise in specific areas of the research lifecycle to discuss how they can support you.

Upcoming Live Webinars:-

Open Research - Publications, data and beyond - 29/03/2023 (9.30 am - 11 am)

Policy@Exeter Launches New Development Programme

Using your research to influence policy at a local, national or international level can raise your profile, create meaningful impact and help to create further opportunities for you and your work.  

Policy@Exeter has just launched its new Development Programme, which will give participants (at all career levels and with all levels of policy engagement experience) opportunities to improve their policy influencing skills and networks through training, mentoring, information, peer learning and 1:1 support from experts with experience working in policy environments. The Programme is free of charge, and if you’re successful in your application, you will be matched to a pathway which will provide tailored training and support for your needs.
If you’re interested, you have until 19th March 2023 to apply using the short form on our website.  There’s more information here and you can contact Policy@Exeter with any questions.

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Understanding Barriers to Success for ECRs from Under-represented Groups in STEM
Wednesday 15 March 2023 (9 am - 2 pm) - Reed Upper Lounge, Streatham Campus.
Live streaming 9.30 am - 10.45 am.
Dr Lucy Yeomans and Daniela Fernandez of the University of Exeter’s School of Education invite you to an evidence sharing session on barriers for academic retention in STEM. Despite the advances and efforts in terms of equality in the fields of Computer Sciences, Engineering, Maths and Physics, challenges remain, especially for groups that, historically, have been underrepresented in these disciplines. In this event, we will share the findings of a systematic scoping review of literature looking at barriers for early career academics/researchers from underrepresented backgrounds – specifically in terms of gender, race/ethnicity and social class – in these four disciplines. The event is open for academic staff, executive members, and those involved in ED&I policy and practice and improving research culture. The event and lunch are free.  Click here for more information and to book your place.  Contact d.fernandez@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.

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The Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health - Annual Showcase
Wednesday 15 March 2023 (9.15 am - 7 pm)
You are invited to drop into the Centre at any time between 9 am and 5 pm on the day, to see posters, articles and research on display. There will be a keynote lecture from 5 pm at the Centre where there will be drinks and nibbles.  From 5.30 pm we will move to LT2 in Queen’s for the lecture at 5.30pm.  Please do sign up via Eventbrite.

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Routes Reading Group
First Meeting : Monday 27 March 2023 (1 pm - 2 pm)
Seminar Room 05/Forum (Streatham Campus)
An interdisciplinary reading group for PGRs and ECRs working on, or with an interest in, migration, mobility and displacement.  If you'd like to attend contact Saskia Hardcastle.  Refreshments available! 

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GW4 Roundtable: Carers in Digital Transformation
Monday 27 March 2023 (2 pm - 3.30 pm) - Online
Second of a new series of career events exploring the regional strengths of the South West, open to postgraduate and early career researchers from the GW4 universities (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter). Join us to hear from panellists working in connection with digital transformation and digital technologies all of whom conducted PhDs before entering the sector.

As a region, the South West has taken a leading role in developing the digital technologies that have transformed our lives over the last 20 years. The high-tech digital excellence forms the basis of high growth digital opportunities. These are complemented by world-scale industries in digital health, digital creative industries, smart cities and communities, distributed smart energy and environmental resilience.  To find out more and to book your place - click here. For any enquiries contact k.a.howgill@exeter.ac.uk.

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Teaching Staff Assessment and Feedback Survey
The NSS Assessment and Feedback project is looking to support academics in considering the NSS measures in their teaching, support for learning, and marking and feedback activity.  As part of this, we are running a short survey to ask academics, ECRs and PTAs who teach how they’d most like support, which you can find via the link below. Please take a few minutes to complete it as soon as you can – your feedback will help ensure we provide you with the right advice, guidance and training on assessment, marking and feedback. 
https://online1.snapsurveys.com/p98yuj.

UKRI Policy Fellowships 2023
Closing Date : 20 April 2023 (4 pm)

Apply for funding to collaborate with a UK or devolved government host or What Works Network centre on research activity to address pressing national and global challenges.  You must be based at an organisation eligible for UKRI funding have a PhD or equivalent experient. To find out more and to apply click here.

Postgraduate Pedagogies Journal: Call for Artwork
Deadline - 1.4.2023

Postgraduate Pedagogies are looking for a doctoral researcher / early career researcher to design the cover artwork of their 3rd academic journal! The open-access journal is devoted to articulating and sharing the perspectives of graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) –  contact postgrad.pedogogies.journal@gmail.com if you have some work that fits the theme!  See Poster for details.

Exeter University - Early Career Researcher Networks (ECRNs)

Action Notes from the last meeting held on Wednesday 11 January 2023, are now available - click here.

Next meeting for your diary:-
Wednesday 15 March 2023 (10 am - 11 am).

The Network Meetings 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 your peers. To find out more about the Networks and who your Network Rep is click here.

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Exeter University - ECR Liaison Forum

Action Notes from the last meeting held on Thursday 26 January 2023 will soon be available - click here.

Next meeting for your diary:-
Tuesday 28 March 2023 (11 am - 12.30 pm).

All ECRs can attend an 'ECR Liaison Forum' (ECR LF).  The LF's continue to develop and now act as a formal route for PGRs and ECRs within the ECR Networks to feed into University strategy. Dedicated ECR Reps feed ‘to and from’ the ECR Liaison Forums from several strategic boards, steering and working groups, including the Research and Impact Executive Committee (RIEC), the Exeter Academic Steering Group, the Concordat Steering Group, the Positive Working Group and the Equality and Diversity Board. If you'd like to come along, simply email researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk asking to be added to the ECR LF list and you will be invited to future meetings.

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The Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) Enhancement Awards 2023
Closing date: 13 March 2023 (12 Noon)
The Researcher Development and Research Culture team has funding from Research England to support the development and enhancement of research culture related activities across the University of Exeter.

The ECRN Enhancement Awards provide funding for current ECRNs to enhance their activities, promote their activities or re-establish network activities. The Awards are also available to create new ECRNs in or across departments/faculties that do not yet have an established ECRN.

Although the Award can support a social or community-building element, the bulk of the funding must be focussed toward learning and development activities and will need to align with one or more specific themes.

Number of initiatives and value of Award: Up to 12 initiatives of a maximum of £5,000 per Award.

To find out more and to apply - click here.

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British Academy ECR Network : Research Showcase Open Day: Rheumatic Disease Research
Saturday 25 March 2023 (11 am – 4 pm) Bath.
The University of Bath, in conjunction with the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD), GW4, and the Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases (BIRD), is hosting a Research Showcase Open Day for patients with rheumatic diseases, members of the public, and BA Early Career Researchers who might be interested in getting involved in rheumatic disease research. This event will highlight the research which is currently ongoing into rheumatic diseases between the University and the Hospital and aims to bring members of the public and patients together with the people carrying out research, as well as allowing Early Career Researchers to exchange ideas and discuss future research proposals. To find out more and register for the event click here. Reasonable travel and accommodation can be provided by the British Academy.

We are looking for PhD and Early Career researchers to contribute to Exeter’s Research & Innovation blog and write posts that are based on three questions about your work. If you would like to find out more please email digitalteam@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.

Staff Wellbeing

Find out how the University can support Early Career Researchers by clicking here.  The page includes support from the University, Spectrum.Life as well as a list of networks to support staff wellbeing.