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