Early Career Researchers Hub   :   ECR Training and Development

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

Spotlight On ...

Research Staff Development Programme

Learning and Development Opportunities: University of Exeter and Beyond

Research Grants, Funding & Competitions

Research & Researcher Networks

Health, Wellbeing & Support

If you are not on the circulation list to receive this Newsletter directly into your Inbox, and would like to subscribe, please email researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

View previous copies of Newsletters. If you have something that you'd like to share in future Newsletters, please visit our webpage where you can find copy deadline dates as well as submission guidelines.

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

Deadline - Monday 8 September 2025

The Images of Research competition competition provides a great opportunity to practice communicating research to a non-specialist audience and has received hundreds of entries over the years, showcasing the breadth of research undertaken at the university through a single, visually-engaging image and short, jargon-free description. 

Due to popular demand, we are pleased to announce that this year, Postgraduate as well as Early Career researchers can enter!

Looking for some inspiration? Read our blog to hear from last year’s winners or watch our video to find out about the benefits of the competition. 
  
The deadline to submit entries is Monday 8 September 2025. Further information including how to enter and submission guidance can be found on our website.

 The Images of Research competition is one of the ways we seek to support our early career researchers. You can find out more about how we support a positive research culture on our Research Culture SharePoint site.

The Research Staff Development Programme provides training and professional development for all research-active staff at the University of Exeter, across all campuses.  Early Carer Researchers (ECRs) should find the sessions and workshops particularly useful for their development as researchers.  Upcoming courses (you will need to be connected to the University VPN to book on):-.

NPAW 2025 Event: Leading from Within - 17/09/2025 (1 pm - 2.30 pm)
NPAW 2025 Event: What Next? Postdoc Career Steps Alumni Panel Session - 18/09/2025 (2 pm - 3.30 pm)
Open Research - Making Your Work Open Access - 25/09/2025 (1 pm - 2 pm)
UNIque Programme for Women Researchers - 1, 15, 29 Oct, 12, 26 Nov 2025 (all 9.30 am - 10.30 am) - See below for application details
Get That Fellowship - 6/10/2025 & 20/10/2025 (10 am - 1 pm)
Publishing in Open Access - 15/10/2025 (10.30 am - 11.30 am)
Emotionally Challenging Research - impacts, coping and proactive interventions - 22/10/2025 (9.30 am - 1 pm)
1:2:1 Confidential Careers Appointments with Kenneth Howgill (ECR Careers Coach).
Focus Space - supportive space encouraging productivity for Research Staff. 

Any form of recording whether via Teams or external tools like Fellow and other AI notetakers is NOT permitted. If you have any accessibility needs and do require a recording of the session, please contact Researcher Development in advance and we will arrange this with the trainer.

Application Deadline : Friday 12 September 2025 (12 noon)

All sessions are online and there is an applicaton process for spaces.  You may wish to discuss this development opportunity with your line manager/principal investigator.  All applicants will receive notification of outcome w/c 22 September 2025.  Note that there are a very limited number of spaces available.

Wednesday 1 October 2025 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)
Wednesday 15 October 2025 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)
Wednesday 29 October 2025 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)
Wednesday 12 November 2025 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)
Wednesday 26 November 2025 (9.30 am - 10.30 am)

Are you a woman researcher wondering what’s next — or how to get there with confidence?  Whether you’re stuck, ready to grow, or simply in need of space to think, UNIque is a powerful 8-week development programme that’s already helped hundreds of women researchers take bold, brilliant next steps. Watch an introduction video.

An 8-week online course designed specifically for women in research – PhDs, postdocs, fellows and beyond.

What’s included:

• 5 interactive Zoom sessions every 2 weeks to keep you on track;
• Reflection tools and exercises challenging you to move forward;
• Support from an experienced coach and your peers;
• Real-life strategies for confidence and clarity;
• A community space that’s both warm and ambitious.

Check out what women like you say here.

Monday 15 September - Friday 19 September 2025

National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) seeks to acknowledge, recognise and celebrate all the hard work that post-docs and researchers dedicate to research, teaching, mentoring, outreach and so much more!

National Event
The National Event is hosted by the University of Manchester and is open  to all researchers from all institutions in UK and Republic of Ireland.

Monday 15 September 2025 (10.30 am - 12.30 pm) Online - 'From Surviving to Thriving: Planning your Future'
Join us for to explore the power of self-leadership. Our expert speaker will share strategies for taking control of your development, followed by a panel discussion with former postdocs who have carved diverse career paths. Come celebrate your journey and gain tools for tackling what’s next. Expect inspiration, honest insights, and a dash of comic relief!

Register Here

The University of Exeter Events
This year the University of Exeter is hosting two online events to celebrate NPAW 2025. These will take place online and are bookable via iTrent. These events are open to all University of Exeter researchers and our GW4 Colleagues.

Wednesday 17 September 2025 (1 pm - 2.30 pm) online - 'Leading from Within' with Sarah Williment - Register here.
Thursday 18 September 2025 (2 pm - 3.30 pm) online -  'What Next? Postdoc Career Steps Alumni Panel Session', with Dr Elizabeth Laruni, Dr Jamie McFadzean and Dr Hannes Titeca - Register here.

Initiatives & Activities
So you can say a special thank you to your ECR Colleagues, the Researcher Development and Research Culture team are running an initiative that allows you to send a personalised bookplate with a message of thanks.

To nominate a colleague, please fill in this form by 5 pm on Monday 8 September.

By completing this form, you will send an ECR of your choosing a bookplate and small edible treat to say thank you for their contributions. You may wish to acknowledge this individual for their attitude, behaviours, professionalism, mentorship or perhaps something else entirely!

Reasons for nomination may include, but are not limited to:

• contributing to a supportive and inclusive research environment and/or community;
• behaviours or actions that create a positive working environment and Research Culture;
• anything else that you wish to say thank you for.

Please note, this is not a financial award. Those nominated will receive a bookplate for them to affix to a book of their choosing with your words of thanks printed on it. These bookplates will be sent to recipients via the internal mail alongside a small edible treat.

All nominations must be received by 5 pm Monday 8 September 2025.

Treats will be sent via internal mail in the week beginning 15 September 2025.

Wednesday 17 September 2025 (1 pm - 2.30 pm) - Online

This interactive webinar offers early career researchers an opportunity to explore, learn more about, and reflect on, the theme of self-leadership (leading from within). Within this session, we will consider how we lead and manage ourselves (our inner resourcefulness and emotional state) to enhance our personal effectiveness and build greater resilience to navigate the challenge of an increasingly uncertain and complex environment.

The session will offer a light-touch mix of some theory and concepts around self-leadership as well as practical tips and techniques.

Thusday 18 September 2025 (2 pm - 3.30 pm) Online

Join this Alumni Panel session What Next? Postdoc Career Steps as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025! Hear from three Exeter alumni who have gone on to use their researcher skills and backgrounds in higher education institutes and beyond into diverse sectors.

We are looking forward to welcoming:-

• Dr Elizabeth Laruni, who gained a PhD in History and is now Conflict Sensitivity and Gender Lead with the charity International Alert.
• Dr Jamie McFadzean, who gained a PhD in Biological Sciences and is now Vaccination & Research Policy Lead with DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
• Dr Hannes Titeca, who gained a PhD in Economics and is now a Senior Analyst for Ofgem.

Each panellist will give a brief overview of their career steps after completing their research degrees at Exeter, and reflect on how their research backgrounds and skills have led to their current positions. There will be time for Q&A.

Monday 6 October 2025 (10 am - 1 pm) - First module - Online
Monday 20 October 2025 (10 am - 1 pm) - Second module - Online

Two-Part course - you must be able to attend both modules.

A fellowship can be a great stepping stone in a research career but what does it take to get one? This course will cover everything from understanding fellowship schemes, the essential 3Ps in any application and practicing fellowship pre thinking using a concept note exercise.

The first module will focus on exploring fellowships, ideation tools and writing essentials. The second module will host a mock fellowship panel where you will present a fellowship concept note from one of your peers and they will present your ideas to the panel. This will be followed by further tips and advice from the tutor. In between modules, you will generate a concept note – a short document focusing on the 3Ps using either your fellowship idea or your existing research as a starting point. This will need to be submitted to the tutor before the second module.

Choose a session:
Tuesday 27 August 2025 (3 pm - 4 pm) Online – Register here
Monday 2 September 2025 (9 am - 10 am) Online – Register here

This summer, the Postdoc Academy is piloting a new online session designed to support prospective postdoc applicants. The webinar offers insights into Cambridge’s research environment and practical guidance on navigating the UK academic application process.

What to expect:-

• An overview of Cambridge’s research culture and how it fits within the UK higher education landscape.
• Insights into the benefits and realities of working as a postdoc at Cambridge, including support structures, supervision, college affiliation, and career development opportunities.
• Tips on reading UK academic job adverts and preparing an effective application.
• Clarification on what Cambridge can (and can’t) offer in terms of support, relocation, and staff benefits.
• Responses to common questions from prospective applicants (with the opportunity to submit your own in advance).

This session is aimed at researchers anywhere in the world who are thinking about a postdoc at Cambridge but are still exploring whether it’s the right fit for them.  The session will include a short presentation followed by a panel discussion. Questions will be collected in advance.

Please note: this is an informational session. We cannot offer personalised application support or introductions to individual academics.

Thursday 11 September 2025 (9.30 am - 6 pm) - Streatham Campus, Xfi Building

Sponsored by the new Centre for Environmental Intelligence (CEI), the EI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and the EI Research Network, the event brings together the growing EI community at Exeter and beyond

Join students, staff, and external partners to explore exciting EI research, celebrate progress, and look ahead to 2025/2026. The day includes short talks, posters, panel discussions, and networking opportunities - perfect for sharing work, gaining feedback, and sparking collaborations. Open to all interested in Environmental Intelligence across the University and wider research community.

Please email ei-network@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.

13 - 17 October 2025

Starting on Monday 13 October, and throughout the week you can:-

• Explore job roles and potential employers.
• Gain insight from experienced alumni.
• Connect with employers and learn from their expertise.
• Build your networks.

For your diaries:-
Monday 13 October (5.30 - 6.45 pm) - From Campus to Policy: Starting a Career at a Think Tank (virtual panel of alumni).
Tuesday 14 October (5.30 - 7 pm) – Careers in Policy and Government, a virtual workshop run by the Institute for Government
Thursday 16 October (10 am – 3 pm) Civil Service Fast Stream will be in the Forum for a drop-in; 11.30 am - 1 pm Strategic Thinking skills in-person workshop; 3 - 4.30 pm Careers in Defence, Security and Intelligence sectors in-person lecture by Professor Frances Tammer; 5.30 - 8 pm Speed networking event hosted by PolSoc with Exeter alumni followed by a food and drinks reception.

Details on the landing page on Career Zone and how to book will be made available at the beginning of autumn term.

Wednesday 15 October 2025 (click here to see your local time) via Zoom
Registration closes : Tuesday 14 October 2025.

This session, delivered by Dr Taryn Bell, offers you the chance to start the process of planning for the career that is right for you. We will consider what is important to you and what you are looking to achieve. We will then think about how a ‘career development plan’ tailored to your needs can help to achieve your short- and long-term goals. Read more here.

Deadline for Survey - Friday 15 August 2025

You are invited to take part in a research study exploring how recent university restructuring and responses to funding pressures may be impacting women differently within higher education institutions. This project contributes to a forthcoming anthology on Gendering Experiences of Work and Management through a Humanistic Management Lens (edited by Dr Christina Schwabenland and Dr Dawn Robins).

As part of this work, we are conducting an anonymous online survey to better understand how recent changes—such as redundancies, restructures, and shifting institutional priorities—are experienced by those working in universities, with a particular focus on gender.

The survey is open to all staff working in UK universities, and we are particularly interested in hearing from those who have experienced or observed recent organisational change.

The participant information sheet, which outlines the purpose of the study, confidentiality arrangements, and your rights as a participant, can be viewed here.

Key points to note:-
- The survey is entirely anonymous.
- Participation is voluntary, and you can stop at any time.
- It should take no more than 10–15 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact: Dr Emma Williams emma@ejwsolutions.com

This resource provides tutorials, tips, and practical guidance to help you plan and implement an effective dissemination strategy, ensuring your research reaches the right audiences. It includes a pre-publication checklist, advice on using academic networking platforms, social media, and engagement events, as well as tips for creating engaging content—such as infographics—and strategies for reaching policy, industry, and other stakeholder groups.

By understanding the most effective platforms, methods, and audiences for sharing your research, you can enhance its visibility, accessibility, engagement, and impact. Effective dissemination can also strengthen your academic profile, support future funding applications, and help you to build valuable networks and collaborations.

For further support or queries, contact our Research Dissemination Librarian at b.c.knight@exeter.ac.uk.

Read our latest ECR blog post by Bethany Knight to learn more about the key takeaways for ECRs from the updated resources.

We’re inviting early-career researchers to take part in a short survey exploring how academics form perceptions of higher education institutions. The survey also examines what influences nominations in global reputation surveys such as the QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World Rankings.

It will take around 5 minutes to complete, and your responses are anonymous and confidential.  Your insights will help improve how academic reputation is understood and measured.

Read our ECR blog post from David Sünderhauf about last year’s Penryn Microbiology Away Day, a fantastic opportunity for early career and postgraduate researchers to network and collaborate. Funded by the Researcher-Led Initiatives, the event featured engaging activities like an interactive mapping exercise, thought-provoking talks from experts such as Jane Rowe, and a dynamic panel discussion on research culture. With 30 attendees from various departments, the day successfully fostered connections and shared knowledge, culminating in a permanent resource for future reference.

Thank you David Sunderhauf, Alice Pawlik and April Hayes for this informative blog!

Deadline to Apply: Friday 15 August 2025 (5 pm BST)

Small grants are now available from Elixir-UK (via their BBSRC funding) for travel and for organising events.  The University of Exeter is a member of Elixir-UK, so we are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline: Wednesday 20 August 2025 (23:59 BST).

The awards are applicable to all early-career women scientists with no more than 10 years’ active full-time equivalent postdoctoral experience. With your support, we aim to encourage as many women scientists across the UK and Ireland as possible to apply for the award.  We particularly want to engage with researchers in the following fields:

• Computer Science.
• Mathematics.
• Sustainable Development.

The winners will be announced in early December 2025, at an awards reception hosted in central London.

Deadline : Monday 15 September 2025

Solid research is the underlying driving force to crystallize fearless creativity and innovation. While we are committed to run in-house research and engineering, we are also excited to collaborate with academic partners to facilitate exploration of new and promising research. The Sony Focused Research Award provides an opportunity for university faculty, research institutes, and Sony to conduct this type of collaborative, focused research. The award provides up to $150K USD* in funds, and may be renewed for subsequent year(s). A list of candidate research topics appears on their website (button below).

*Awards will be paid in USD or the respective currency depending on the country of the participating university/institution.

First Open Call Deadline : Friday 31 October 2025 (5 pm)

Running from 2025 to 2030, IRIS (Interdisciplinary Research In Societal challenges) will recruit 36 international postdoctoral researchers through two open calls, each for a period of 30 months.

The project is currently looking for 18 researchers. The call is eligible for researchers with a PhD for maximum 8 years who have not resided or carried out their main activity in Belgium for more than 12 months over the last years, before the call deadline (31/10/2025).

Deadline: 8 September 2025

We’re excited to support ECRs at the intersection of digital innovation and the circular economy. These projects address real-world challenges through creative, transdisciplinary approaches.

Looking for collaborators? We’re actively connecting academics with non-academic partners to co-develop proposals.

Explore potential collaborators
Share your interests and opportunities

We welcome applications from diverse and underrepresented groups. If you have specific requirements to support your participation, please get in touch.

Interested in joining our ECR community? Our next meeting is on 19 August 2025 – email dice-network@exeter.ac.uk if you would like to join.

Have you noticed the University community for ECRs on Viva Engage? Lots of ECRs have already been added and if you are not on there, you can join. This is a collaborative online space to share and discuss ideas, ask questions and keep up to date with the latest activities, events and opportunities.

Have your voice heard and shape our community and ECR culture.

Join the conversation now by sharing your first post!

This page is maintained and moderated by the Researcher Development and Research Culture team.

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