Friday 20 December 2013

Making the most of your PhD – The Researcher Development Form


Making the most of your PhD – The Researcher Development Form

 

Those of you who are in the first year of your PhD may have noticed a deadline approaching in Eprog for the Researcher Development Form. This is not a progress monitoring form, it is designed to help you to make the most of your time as a PhD student by identifying what skills and competencies you hope to develop and discussing with your supervisors what training and development activities you might undertake. The Researcher Development Framework (RDF), which is a national framework, endorsed by the Research Councils is useful as a guide. This is intended to be a reflective exercise to get you thinking about your research training needs.  Although completion of this form is not compulsory I would like to encourage you to complete it for two reasons. Most importantly it will provide an opportunity to reflect upon what you hope to get from your time as a PhD student and how you can make the most of it. Secondly, as researcher development manager, I will be studying the responses to the form carefully in order to inform the planning of next year’s researcher development programme, so it is an opportunity to articulate your views and get them heard.

Please note that if the form is not submitted the milestone will become ‘red’.  You should inform your supervisor if you do not wish to complete the form and your supervisors can then submit the form without completion and then authorise it.  Students will also need to authorise the form so that the milestone will become ‘green.’

Ian Fairweather (Researcher Development Manager)

Early Career Research Fellowships:


Early Career Research Fellowships:

 

AHRC Early Career Researchers Highlight Notice Connected Cummunities and Design. Open call until 15 January 2014. Early Career Researchers rules and guidelines apply.

AXA Research Fund Post-doctoral fellowships. Up to €120K for the total of 2 years fellowship duration. One call for applicants in 2013. About 30 fellowships per call. Various stages of application with a first stage of intention of participation from the Institutions. Annual announcements.

British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowships. Any field of study within humanities or social sciences. 80% FEC budget of the fellow's salary, direct allocated and indirect costs, plus additional £6k for expenses over the 3 years award. Early career award, i.e. within a 3 year period from the formal award of the doctorate. Deadline of outline applications around October, annually.

British Academy Skills Acquisition Awards. Quantitative Skills pilot call. Supporting career development of early career scholars (within 10 years of the award of the doctorate), established academics. To develop and enhance their quantitative skills. Up to £10k. Up to 12 months duration. Deadline for applications around October, annually.

British Academy Newton International Fellowships. Overseas postdoctoral and early researchers. 2 years maintenance rate (salary) and research expenses with the addition of relocation costs and a percentage of indirect costs for the institutions. Online submission through the Royal Society e-GAP. Deadline for applications around April, annually.

The Wellcome Trust Medical Humanities Research Fellowships supports individuals at all stages of their career, who are not in established academic posts, but wish to undertake a period of research for up to 3 years. Deadline of the preliminar applications in June and December . Annual call.

Thursday 5 December 2013

Networking

There are places still available for Humanities PGRs on the Networking workshop Tuesday 10/12/2013.

overview
 Networking needn’t be a real challenge. It can be a gentle process of developing contacts and maintaining personal connections with people for mutual benefit. Whether for professional advancement or simply as a supportive system of sharing information among people who have a common interest, networking is a skill that everyone can gain from having.
This interactive session will help you to conceptualise and define your strengths, show you how to identify, develop and expand your network and how to make a personal impact through the structured use of networking in all environments. It will involve individual and group exercises with plenty room for feedback and discussion.
By the end of this session delegates will be able to:
  • Define their work and their interests clearly and systematically
  • Develop and maintain a structured approach to networking
  • Use the professional tips and techniques given to make a personal impact with ease
book a place here

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Open Access - Funding for Article Processing Charges (APCs) still available



Open Access - Funding for Article Processing Charges (APCs) still available
I would like to remind all academics, research staff (postdocs, research fellows, associates and assistants) and PGR students that University funding is available to pay for article processing charges (APCs) to create Gold Open access for your article or conference proceeding.

Gold Open Access is where the
  *   publisher makes the published work freely available via their website,
  *   version of work made available is the publisher's post peer-review final version,
  *   online version is made immediately available following acceptance for publication.

These charges will be paid for all journal articles, the research for which has been supported by RCUK/Wellcome funding. To date, there is still plenty of money available to support this so do submit your request.
Please note that this support for APC charges is also available when the corresponding author (including PGR, Post Docs, Research Fellows or Assistants) is no longer employed or registered as a student at the University providing:
* the relevant APC relates to a publication that is based on RCUK funding awarded to the University of Manchester and the publication identifies the University of Manchester as the institutional address
* the funding supported the corresponding author whilst employed (or registered as a student) at the University of Manchester
* the other eligibility criteria for funding are satisfied.

The dedicated Library Open Access website clearly and simply explains the meaning and types of Gold and Green Open Access, how to check if your paper is eligible for Gold Open Access, and provides simple instructions for obtaining funding for APCs. Please see the website at the following link:

The Library do most of the work for you and with a quick turnaround too, for both Gold and Green Open Access options. Please use this service.
For further information or guidance relating to Open Access please contact:
Scholarly Communication Service
The University of Manchester Library
Ext: 61517

Wednesday 27 November 2013

AXA Research Fund 2014 Postdoctoral Campaign - Internal deadline 4th Dec 2013 - External deadline 16th Dec 2013


Dear Colleague
 
The University has successfully passed the 1st round of the selection process of the AXA Research Fund 2014 Post-Doctoral campaign. Therefore, we are allowed to submit one Post-Doctoral candidate to this years’ competition. As we expect more than one application to be the nominated candidate, an internal sift is required. Please submit a three page outline, to include a brief curriculum vitae and details of the proposed project, by Wednesday 4 December.
 
Candidates must have defended their PhD thesis before the beginning of the grant and must be less than 5 years since awarding of their first PhD. Extensions to this eligibility criteria may be allowed where there has been a career break.

 Projects funded by the AXA Research Fund must be related to one of the general topics listed below:

 ·         Environmental risks

o   Climate change, from glacier retreat to sea-level rise.

o   Natural hazards, from earth hazards to atmospheric and space-weather phenomena.

o   Human-driven environmental changes such as urban pollution, nanotechnologies or pesticide exposure.

·         Life risks

o   Aging and long-term care, e.g. trends in individual longevity, age-related diseases, population demographics.

o   Biomedical risks, from the analysis and evolution of infectious diseases and pandemics to exposure to new technologies.

o   Addictions and risky behaviours, from the perspectives of psychology, biology, medicine, etc.

·         Socio-economic Risks

o   Geopolitical risks, e.g. access to natural resources, international and civil conflicts, political upheavals, international security.

o   Macro-economic and financial systemic risks, i.e. all uncertainties affecting the aggregate behaviour of the economy.

o   Individual and collective behaviours towards uncertainty.

o   Large corporate risks, from internal corporate governance risks to threats and challenges inherent to the corporate environment.
 



Regards

 James


James Evans
Senior Research Policy Officer
Research Strategy & Support Team
Research & Business Engagement Support Services
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL
Tel: 0161 275 2194
Fax: 0161 275 2445
email: james.evans@manchester.ac.uk

Thursday 7 November 2013

School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI): Training & Funding Opportunity


Would you like the opportunity to develop an outreach activity and engage with a secondary school in  Greater Manchester? Are you passionate about your subject area? Are you interested in bringing your cutting edge research into the classroom?  Then the School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI) might be for you!

 

School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI): Training & Funding Opportunity

Thursday 21 November 2013, 9:30 – 16:45, Staff House, The University of Manchester

 

This opportunity is open to early career researchers (PhDs, Research Staff and New Academics with little or no experience of school outreach.

 

A one-day interactive cross-faculty workshop for researchers exploring the why, what and how of engaging with schools. You'll get to meet researchers involved in school outreach, hear from secondary teachers who collaborate with researchers to deliver outreach activities, and work up your own ideas. Following the workshop taking place on Thursday 21 November 2013 you will be able to apply for seed funding to develop and take your activity into a school in early 2014. 

 

The Dragon’s Den pitching session will be held on Wednesday 8 January 2014. If your idea is selected at the pitching session you will be matched up with a local secondary school.

 

And you will be supported along the way with drop-in surgeries, where you can talk through the development of your ideas with experienced engaging researchers. 

 

More details and applications at: http://www.engagement.manchester.ac.uk/blog/?p=1174

 

What is the School-University Partnerships Initiative (SUPI)?

SUPI is a three-year RCUK-funded project to create structured and strategic mechanisms for HEIs to work in partnership with secondary schools and FE colleges. This partnership working will support researchers’ direct engagement with students and bring contemporary and inspirational research contexts into formal and informal learning to enhance and enrich the curriculum.

 

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION


The University of Manchester is delighted to be hosting this nationally recognised researcher leadership course.

 

Do you want to...

·         develop your leadership skills?

·         explore the concept of leadership?

·         build confidence in your leadership style?

·         develop and maintain a sense of direction?

·         influence people towards a common goal?

·         make a difference at the University of Manchester?

 

What's in it for me?

·         explore leadership both in theory and in practice

·         receive feedback on your leadership style and how you can develop it

·         learn more about your strengths and weaknesses

·         understand your personal values and how you make decisions

·         recognise your achievements and how to use these to create future success

·         understand the impact you have on those who you are leading

·         identify how these skills can benefit you in your current role

·         take a few days out from your research both physically and mentally, and have some space in which to consider yourself and your next steps

 

What will it involve?

·         The course will be attended by up to 36 researchers from different disciplines and career stages. The course will be led by a team of experienced facilitators who will work with you throughout the 3 days to support your learning. They will be from a variety of backgrounds with experience in leadership, academia and other sectors.

·         This course takes a ‘learning by doing' approach. There will be presentations on leadership theory, but for the most part, you will be actively participating in the sessions and activities.

·         This is an intensive 3 day non-residential course. By registering for the course you are committing to attend the course in full (from 09:00-17:15 on each day). Part attendance is not acceptable.

 

What other researchers say about the course:

·         96% participants would recommend this course to other researchers

·         Where to start? - it was challenging, demanding, thought provoking, informative.

·         I attended the ‘Leadership in Action' course expecting to pick up a few tips, the odd insight. I left 6 inches taller, with increased confidence, team skills and satisfaction.

·         Attending this course has been a life changing experience for me. It was very inspirational and I have recommended it to all of my colleagues and friends. The things I learnt will stay with me for the rest of my life and I know they will play a huge role in my future achievements. A big, big thank you to the tutors they were fantastic.

 

How to apply:

Participant numbers are strictly limited to 36. To gain a place on this prestigious course, please send an email to mdc@manchester.ac.uk by 21 November explaining in no more than 150 words about why you should be selected to attend this course and develop your leadership skills.

Thursday 17 October 2013

UACES Student Forum Seminars 2013


Registration Open

 
UACES Student Forum Seminars 2013

Swedenborg House, London, 21-22 November 2013 The Workshop This two-day event organised by the UACES Student Forum<http://www.euro-research.eu/>


is aimed at postgraduate students who are actively engaged in research on European affairs. The workshop aims to discuss the skills needed for academic researchers during the PhD process and beyond.

Sessions will cover areas such as conducting fieldwork, preparing and presenting at academic conferences and applying for grants and funding. The second day of the workshop aims to address the process of publishing in academia with sessions focusing upon understanding the journal submission process, deciding where to submit your work and writing for a non-academic audience.

Funding Available

UACES is able to cover the cost of travel (economy fares up to 90 GBP) as well as one night's accommodation (50 GBP max. per person towards accommodation costs) for participants. Funding for travel and accommodation for students participating in the workshop is on a first come first served basis. Please see the Terms & Conditions at www.uaces.org/terms<http://www.uaces.org/terms> before registering.

 

This funding has been made possible with the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.

Registration

Please see

www.uaces.org/seminars2013<http://www.uaces.org/seminars2013> for further information (including a list of speakers) and to register.

Registration closes on Thursday 14 November 2013.

Dear all

 

This an opportunity for ESRC funded student researchers who have achieved or show potential in achieving outstanding impacts:

 

The second annual impact prize call for applications has opened.  http://www.esrc.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/celebrating-impact-prize/index.aspx

 

The Prize is our annual opportunity to celebrate the outstanding economic and social impacts achieved by ESRC-funded researchers. Applications are now welcome and will close at 16.00 on 22 November 2013. Winners receive £10,000 and £5,000 to the second place winners.

 

Applications are welcome from any current or previously ESRC funded projects, including those funded before 2008.

 

There are six categories for the ESRC Celebrating Impact Prize:

·        Outstanding Impact in Business - research which has generated business impact through successful knowledge exchange and engagement

·        Outstanding Impact in Public Policy - research that has contributed to the development of UK public policy, at the local, regional or national government level

·        Outstanding Impact in Society - research that has made a contribution benefitting society more widely or a specific group of the public

·        Outstanding International Impact - research that has achieved impact at an international level in business, policy or societal issues

·        Outstanding Early Career Impact - student researchers who have achieved or show potential in achieving outstanding impacts in any of the above categories

·        Impact Champion of the Year - a nominated individual who has a significant personal track record in knowledge exchange and supporting and enabling impact.

 


 

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Hello from Dr Ian Fairweather


Hi All

This week I have attended the Induction sessions for new PGRs in most of the schools in the Faculty of Humanities. It was great to see so many new faces and I hope to see you all again at some of the forthcoming training sessions scheduled for this semester. As I said, the core sessions do book up quickly so if you are keen to do any of them this sesmeter you should go on to eprog and book your place. If you find yourself on the waiting list please wait to be told of a cancellation. If you can't make a session you have booked on to please let us know with as much notice as possible so that your place can be given to someone else. Dont worry if you don't manage to do all these sessions this semseter, there are repeat sessions in the second semster.

 I should also remind you about the methods@manchester Methods Fair http://www.methods.manchester.ac.uk/events/2013-10-09/index.shtml which will be a great opportunity to meet some of your colleagues and staff, see what others are doing and start thinking about your methodology. Finally I wanted to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Researcher Development Team, to wish you all every success with your PhD programme!

Best

Ian

 

Dr Ian Fairweather

Lecturer in Social Anthropology

School of Social Sciences

University of Manchester

Oxford Road, Manchester

M13 9PL

Monday 17 June 2013

Teaching & Learning Showcase.


The Faculty of Humanities will be hosting its next Teaching and Learning Showcase event on Tuesday 25 June 2013 from 1 - 4.45pm. The event will be held in the Humanities Bridgeford Street Building, with stalls and refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) in the Hanson Room.

There will be 10 sessions available for participants to attend, each lasting 30 minutes and structured around a presentation followed by time for questions and answers. Topics at the event will include employability, assessment and feedback and enhancing student contact time.   

If you haven’t been to one of our Showcases before, please do try to come along to this one! Previous attendees have found the event interesting and inspiring, and a good opportunity to discuss practice initiatives with colleagues.

Pre-registering is required. The timetable and registration survey are now available online and can be accessed using the link below. Look out for posters around your building, and please check our website at: http://www.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/tandl/news/