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

• RDRC Courses
• Researcher Leadership Development Programme - applications now OPEN!
• Project Management Essentials for Researchers - applications now OPEN!
• Online Writing Groups for ECRs
• Doing Research with Artists - drop in session
• Research Software Engineers (RSEs) Group
• Thinking about your Career?
• Responsible Metrics and how to get involved
• Exeter Data Analytics Hub
• Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Board
• Research and EDI International Deep Dive
• ECRN Enhancement Fund - applications now OPEN!
• Research Grants and Funding
• Policy Engagement Training
• Sleepio and Daylight are now available to all colleagues
• Latest Events and Opportunites
• 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:-
Researcher Leadership Development Programme - 27 April - 13 July 2022 - Application information below.
Writing World Leading & Impactful Research Papers - 28/04/2022 (9.30 am - 11 am)
Planning a Fellowship Proposal - 05/05/2022 (10 am - 4.30 pm)
GW4 - Careers Beyond Academia - meet the panel - 05/05/2022 (12.30 pm - 2 pm).  See below for full details.
Project Management Essentials for Researchers - 9 - 30 May 2022 - Application information below.
GW4 - Being an International Academic - meet the panel - 18/05/2022 (12.30 pm - 2 pm).  See below for full details.
Doing Research with Artists Drop-in Session - 18/05/2022 (10.30 am - 11.30 am).
Overcoming Imposter Feelings - 14/06/2022 (9.30 am - 12.30 pm)
GW4 - The Academic Recruitment Panel - 14/06/2022 (12.30 pm - 2 pm).  See below for full details.

Research and Innovation Essentials Series:-
Introduction to Research Services and IIB - 28/04/2022 (11.30 am - 12.30 pm)
 

If you register for any of our above sessions, it is expected that you will attend. If you are not able to attend please log in to the ‘iTrent’ online system to remove your name from the relevant activity before it is due to take place. You will be expected to attend for the whole session and for ease of administration, attendance registers will be taken at the end of each session. Should you need to leave a session early or you experience ongoing technical issues, please email ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Deadline to apply : Monday 11 April 2022 (12 noon)*

This is a 12 week programme, which starts 27 April 2022, running every Wednesday from 10am until 1pm, ending 13 July 2022.  You need to ensure that you can commit to all sessions before applying.

• 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. We aim to challenge your thinking and provide you with tools to tackle this challenge.

The programme will be run via Zoom and comprises a range of workshops, opportunities for informal discussions, and a devoted web platform for your own personal development.

The programme is open to:

• Early Career Researchers/Post Docs.
• Postgraduate Researchers in their second or third year or part-time equivalent.

For more details and to apply: Click here.

* Please note that there is an IT Caching issue and some downloaded application forms state the incorrect deadline date.

Closing date for applications : Tuesday 19 April 2022 (12 noon)

The Researcher Development and Research Culture team has commissioned Fistral Training (Dr Fraser Robertson) to run a practical online (via Zoom) four part project management programme through May 2022.

Aimed at research-active staff in the early stages of their careers, this series introduces key tools and techniques for managing any research project. This practical course follows best practice project management principles linked to establishing good project foundations and scoping research projects, creating a robust and evidence-based project plan, and tried-and-tested ways to plan for uncertainty and risk.

These sessions combine and build on each other to provide an introduction to the process of managing projects and the tools to assist in planning and tracking progress within the landscape of research projects.

If you wish to apply, please make sure that you can attend all four sessions as follows:

Date and times as follows:

Monday 9 May  – 10:00-13:00

Monday 16 May – 10:00-13:00

Monday 23 May – 10:00-13:00

Monday 30 May – 10:00-13:00

To find out more and apply using the MS Forms, click here.

"Having structured writing time that is set aside forces me to focus on writing when usually other things take over."

"I found this session incredibly useful for providing focused writing time for research. This can be difficult to find within a typical week and I hope to attend more of these sessions in the future."

"It was well structured and gave opportunity for short break in between."

These are just a few of the testimonials received from those who have attended these online groups.

These sessions follow a model where:-

• An Informal, dedicated support space is created for ECRs and Academics, in one virtual room, for you to be able to work without distractions.
• Time is structured into a series of working and discussion slots.
• The opportunity to learn from each other, share strategies, experiences, working goals and best practice is actively encouraged and facilitated.

​You can attend for as long as you need to!

Because of Easter, there will be a natural break in April however the Groups start up again on Thursday 5 May 2022 - all running 10 am - 12.30 pm - Click here for dates and details of how to join this group.

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.

The next drop-in session will take place on Wednesday 18 May 2022 (10.30 - 11.30 am). These sessions are for ECRs wanting to work with creative practitioners in their research but are unsure where to start, or what the process involves.  Sarah Campbell, Associate Director for Arts and Culture will be on hand to guide you through how to progress your idea about working with artists and who to ask for help.  To find out more and to register, click here.

Do you need help with designing and approaching your coding tasks?

Are you having problems with bugs or other software engineering issues?

Would you like help to understand the next steps and places to go for getting additional help?

The University’s centralised Research Software Engineers (RSEs) group assists our research community with complex and bespoke research software needs. The RSE group is part of the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

The group consists of Research Software Engineers who help develop, maintain, and extend research software. The RSEs are software engineers with science backgrounds and therefore well placed to understand the constraints of academic research and associated software engineering. In addition to various programming languages, the RSEs have expertise in code management and structuring, testing, HPC and distributed computing.

To contact the team, email ResearchSoftwareEngineeringGroup@group.exeter.ac.uk outlining the support you need and the urgency of your request. The RSEs have dedicated every Wednesday between 11:00 – 13:00 to answer as many ECR and PGR enquiries as they can. Depending on the complexity of your query, the team will either arrange a Wednesday Teams appointment with you, or will answer your query via email.

The RSE’s also host a Slack channel where you can ask questions and receive answers from a community of knowledge: https://idsai-rf-rse.slack.com/

The GW4 Alliance of the most research intensive universities in the Southwest have organised a series of free lunch time career panels for Early Career Researchers and Postgraduate Researchers undertaking doctoral programmes. ECRs and PGRs from Exeter will be able to join researchers from Bath, Bristol and Cardiff for online events in May and June giving insights into career opportunities within and beyond academia. The events will draw together academics and alumni from across the four institutions and will give you the opportunity to meet and network with other researchers from across GW4.

These three events will consist of the following themes. More information on the panellists, the topics covered and how to book can be obtained by clicking on the course titles below:

Careers Beyond Academia - meet the panel – Thursday 5 May 2022 (12.30-2pm)

Being an International Academic - meet the panel – Wednesday 18 May 2022 (12.30-2pm)

The Academic Recruitment Panel – Tuesday 14 June 2022 (12.30-2pm)

Note, the above events are not being publicised beyond our academic community and will not be featured in the general Eventbrite events programme so only bookable through these links.

The series of panels have been organised by career consultants working with PGRs and ECR from the four partner institutions and aim to provide researchers with real life insights from practitioners on the range of opportunities available. Do take advantage of these unique opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge from those with experience of working both in academia and in roles outside of the university sector.

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.

The Exeter Data Analytics Hub is looking for new people to join and teach in its community-led statistical workshops, and are appealing for someone to take the reins on some of the organisational aspects of delivery (eg room bookings, advertising and website management).

During the pandemic it was not viable to run these workshops but now seems the time to reignite this vibrant community. All are welcome regardless of department or research level.

Please direct any interest in joining the Exeter Data Analytics Hub to Dr Chris Yeomans.

An important part of the University Strategy 2030 outlines (within the ‘Our People’ priority) that we will develop a Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (WIC) Board to provide senior leadership and ensure delivery of our health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and development strategies, and their intersectionalities.  As part of this goal we have established a new group to ensure our approach to colleague workload is as sustainable as possible.  This group will examine the application of Workload Allocation Models (WAMs) within Colleges, and make recommendations to the WIC Board.  We wish to ensure good representation from across the academic community and are seeking a colleague towards the early stages of their career to be part of this group.  This is a ‘task a finish’ group that will begin in April (first meeting on the 14th) and concluding this summer.  Commitment is likely to be x3 one hour meetings, with some work outside of this to support actions.  If you would like to be part of the group, or have any questions, please contact Christian Carter, Head of Organisational Development (c.carter@exeter.ac.uk).

International Staff and PGRs Research and EDI Deep Dive

We are working to develop an action plan to make our research cultures and processes more equitable, diverse, and just. As part of this, we are planning a series of ‘deep dive’ meetings with the staff networks to gather information and feedback about our researchers’ lived experience. Our International staff and PGRs Deep Dive will take place on 21 April, (2-3.30 pm), and can be attended using this Teams link.

In advance of the meetings (and for those who cannot attend), we are asking people to complete an anonymous questionnaire about your experience as researchers to help us structure the discussion and provide further data to help us understand the needs of the research community. The questionnaire will be open until June so there is plenty of time to contribute, and we will be sending further reminders via the Weekly Bulletin. You can complete this questionnaire at http://ex.ac.uk/researchedi.

We have also set up a mailing list to share bi-monthly updates about this work. All senior research leaders have been added to this list automatically, and anyone else can join at http://ex.ac.uk/redimailinglist.

Deadline to apply for the fund : Wednesday 13 April (4pm).

We are pleased to announce the ECRN Enhancement Fund.

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.

ECRNs can apply for a maximum of £5,000 to support events, workshops and initiatives e.g. speakers/facilitators. Should you require admin support to run these events, workshops and initiatives, you will need to cost this as part of your £5,000. These may also be related to re-establishing networks that have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic or establishing entirely new ECRNs.

The awarding panel are looking for creative and innovative bids that have a lasting impact. Proposed events can by delivered via hybrid, remote and face-to-face activities, but when running any form of face-to-face activity, it is your responsibility to follow the University’s most up to date guidance relating to Covid.

Further details about the application criteria and how to apply is available on our ECRN enhancement fund webpage.

Open Innovation Platform - 2021/22
Applications are welcomed on a rolling open call basis until the fund is fully allocated.
Two complimentary funding schemes to accelerate the translation of your research into economic and societal benefit by engaging and collaborating with external partners or by advancing the commercialisation of your research.

Link Fund - Awards of up to £3,000 to support the creation of ‌links with new external organisations where there are clear opportunities for collaboration or to develop innovative ways of engaging with existing partners

Collaboration Fund  - Awards of up to £15,000 to support short term collaborations with external organisations to translate existing research into advances in new or existing products, services, policies or practice.

For more information about the above, click here.

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GW4WARD Collaboration Fund
Next meeting 8 April.
Technical colleagues at the University can access new funding to help further their careers thanks to a new initiative launched by the GW4 Alliance. For more information and to apply, click here.

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MRC Confidence in Concept top-up Funds
Submission deadline Monday 16 May 2022 (4 pm)
We are pleased to announce that the University has been awarded further Medical Research Council (MRC) Confidence in Concept (CiC) top-up funds. For more information and to apply, click here.

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Check out the Research Toolkit webpages for more opportunities.

Policy@Exeter is proud to announce its 2022 training programme! The aim of our programme is to equip Exeter researchers from all disciplines and at all career levels with the skills and tools needed to confidently engage with policymakers locally, nationally and internationally.  Find out more by clicking here.

If you are currently experiencing poor sleep and/or anxiety, then you’ll be pleased to know we have arranged for all colleagues and students to have free access to ‘Sleepio’ and ‘Daylight’.

What is Sleepio?
Sleepio is a fully automated, personalised, evidence-based, digital programme for insomnia. It was founded by Professor Colin Espie (sleep medicine specialist at the University of Oxford). Our recent Sleepio pilot showed colleagues engaged with the app, would recommend it to others, and it led to meaningful improvements in sleep and wellbeing. To find out more and to sign up visit our Sleepio webpage.

What is Daylight?
Daylight is a fully automated web-based and mobile digital application that provides users with self-help tools to address worry and anxiety, based on cognitive behavioural techniques. To find out more and to sign up visit our Daylight webpage.

Both programmes are provided by an organisation called Big Health. If you have any questions, please email Colleague Wellbeing. We really hope these new digital tools are helpful to you.

Dr Morgan has recently joined us as a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence. He can help you to enhance understanding of how to go about industry engagement; how to gauge commercial potential of researchers’ translational research and ideas; and guide those with ideas with commercial potential in the development of a proof of concept, a business case and a pitch to established companies. If interested, please contact Andrew directly.

Research and Impact Management Environment (RIME) is a new suite of systems to support our academic community and professional services with the management of research across the whole life cycle. If you have missed any of the information that's been circulating, please visit the SharePoint site.

Statistics & Data Science meets Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling
Monday 25 April 2022 (10 am - 4 pm)
Discover how statisticians and data scientists can contribute to the exciting research area of atmospheric dispersion. Atmospheric dispersion modelling involves predicting the transport and dispersion of (potentially hazardous) substances in the atmosphere. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 instigated development of the Met Office’s atmospheric dispersion model (NAME). Today, NAME has a wide range of applications, including chemical, biological, radiological and volcanic releases.

Members of the Met Office’s Atmospheric Dispersion and Air Quality team will pose problems within atmospheric dispersion on verification, validation, uncertainty quantification, ensemble forecasts, communication and presentation of uncertainty, Bayesian source inversion and data assimilation.  Further details and registration information can be found here.

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Stakeholder Mapping Workshop
Tuesday 26 April 2022 (9.30 am - 12.30 pm)
Join Policy@Exeter and Connect Public Affairs on Tuesday 26 April, 9.30am-12.30pm for a stakeholder mapping workshop.  Click here to find out more and register.

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Pint of Science 2022
Event Date/s: 9-11 May 2022 (7 - 10 pm)
A new exciting initiative for researchers of the university to present their work to a broader audience in town. As part of the "Tech me out" team, speakers are being sought that would like to give a talk for 20/30 minutes on topics related to Technology, Engineering and Computing.  If you are interested in becoming a speaker and presenting your research please get in touch to discuss in more detail.  For those interested in attending, click here. 

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Policy Briefing Creation Workshop
Tuesday 10 May 2022 (10 am - 12 noon)
Applications close 15 April 2022.
On Tuesday 10 May, 10am-12pm up to five research teams will have the chance to work with Sense about Science to develop an effective and engaging policy briefing aimed at policymakers. Click here to find out more and to apply.

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The British Academy Early Career Research Network Launch - South West
Thursday 19 May 2022 (10 am - 3.45 pm) Time may be subject to change.
Please note that this event is for members of The British Academy Network.  You can sign up here.
Please note a South West Launch event to mark the launch of the ECR Network in the South West, with the launch of our South West Hub, but will also provide an opportunity for ECRs, British Academy Fellows and others to come together. The day will feature a variety of formal and informal sessions for learning and knowledge exchange. This will be taking place on Thursday 19 May 2022 at 10 am – 3.45 pm (time may be subject to change) at the M Shed in Bristol. More details will be announced in due course.

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Data Visualisation: How to Effectively Communicate with your Data
Thursday 26 May 2022 (9.30 - 4.30 pm) - via Zoom
Do you know how to effectively communicate with your data? Do you understand the psychology of how your audience interprets the data that you present to them? Do you know why pie charts are problematic and that you should (almost) never present a chart or graphic in 3D?
This online course, facilitated by data visualisation specialist and trainer Dan Isaac, will discuss the key principles of effective data visualisation and will inspire you to tell better stories with your data. Creating effective data visualisations is no longer a task for highly technical specialists and design professionals. In the modern workplace, we are all responsible for the data that we produce and learning how to effectively communicate with this data can be an invaluable asset.  Course fee: £180+VAT per delegate. Further details and registration can be found here.

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Soapbox Science Exeter – call for speakers
Soapbox Science Exeter is taking place on Saturday 11 June 2022 on the Quayside Plaza, Exeter. We are currently looking for female scientists to speak at this year’s event.  Get details and apply.

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The British Academy - ECR Network : Monthly Online Coffee Hour
Takes place on the last Friday of every month.
This Coffee Hour aims to give ECRs the space to speak to one another. This could be about similar issues faced, general work/life discussion points or research projects, just to name a few. Click here for more information.

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New Newsletter for The Turing-Roche Partnership 
The Turing-Roche Strategic Partnership are pleased to announce that they have created a newsletter, with the aim of establishing a world-leading collaboration in advanced analytics between Roche and the Turing, focusing on enabling the transformative benefits of personalised healthcare to become a reality for patients around the world over a 5 year period.  The Newsletter will also include information about Turing-Roche projects and opportunities, jobs, events and funding calls from both The Alan Turing Institute and Roche. To sign up, click here.
Details of all Turing Events, Seminars and Workshops can be found by clicking here.

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New Hub Promoting Best Health
The website, from the University and World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, shows valuable information about global health. It is designed to be used by policymakers, academics and experts to inform good decision-making. You can read the full story on our website.  Find out more by clicking here.

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New Elsevier Read & Publish Agreement
As well as maintaining reading access to paywalled content, the agreement also enables unlimited open access publishing without article processing charges (APCs) in Elsevier, Cell Press and Lancet hybrid journals for affiliated corresponding authors. It also provides a 15% discount on APCs in Elsevier’s full open access titles. Find out more.

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New institutional Open Access Policy
The open access element of the current Open Access Research and Research Data Management Policy will be replaced by the Open Access Policy in April.
 

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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 your peers. 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.

This COVID quick reference guide. This has been developed to help colleagues find key pieces of COVID 19 information and links quickly. It also includes information on what will happen in the event of COVID 19 case(s).

Please remember to check the University Travel Policy for Colleagues before booking any travel for work purposes.  Due to the ongoing uncertainty and changes surrounding the pandemic, our travel advice is regularly updated and therefore might change. The information covers both international travel and trips within the UK. Find out more click here. If you have any concerns, please do contact researchrestart@exeter.ac.uk and the research restart panel will be happy to discuss any bespoke issues that require further support and consideration.

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.

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.

Colleague Grief and Bereavement Group
The University Chaplaincy and Staff Wellbeing teams have launched a Colleague Grief and Bereavement Group - a support network for colleagues experiencing any form of Grief or Bereavement. The group is a safe space for sharing/listening and practical/reflective activities, rather than a counselling environment. We have now set dates for groups at both campuses until the end of the year. Please click here to find out more and register your interest in attending. This group is open to all staff regardless of your worldview or religious faith. Further support is available here.

Spectrum Life
If you’re finding things tough at the moment, please don’t forget we can all make use of our free and completely confidential Employee Assistance Programme, Spectrum Life, available 24/7 365 days a year for you, your partner or spouse and any dependents over the age of 16, still living at home.