Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the November 2020 issue of the Sussex Researcher.
Whilst we believe everything in the newsletter is interesting, and also hopefully useful for you, we particularly want to highlight:
- In terms of Training and Development - excellent training opportunity for all those with supervisory duties - come along to our Supervising PhD Students workshop for practical tips, resources, and ideas for improving your supervisory relationship!
- In case you missed it - access our recorded presentation by REF Academic and Operational Manager on the background and structure to REF2021 and the key elements of which ECRs need to be aware of.
- UKRI are piloting an Early Career Researcher (ECR) Forum later in 2020 and are planning to recruit 400 ECRs! If you are interested in taking part please check out the news story below for more details.
We look forward to seeing you all at the various events and activities coming up over the next months, and as always do get in touch if there's anything that you'd like to talk about / get put in place to help you make the most of your time while you're here at Sussex.
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office
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- Preparing for leadership & management
- Improving your communication & writing
- Personal effectiveness
- Career development
- Understanding the academic context
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Data Management Skills
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Research Staff Office Events
How to Peer Review Manuscripts for Journals - Wednesday 11th November, 10:00-12:30
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Events organised by other teams
Podcasting Workshop - Tuesday 10th November, 14:00-15:00
Referencing Round Table - Tuesday 10th November, 16:00-17:00
How to Edit Your Own Writing - Wednesday 11th November, 10:00-13:00
How to have a digital career - Wednesday 11th November, 13:00-14:00
Digital Database A Day: SAGE Research Methods Online - Thursday 12th November, 10:00-10:30
Building your digital profile in Elements - Thursday 12th November, 11:00-12:00
Developing your people management skills - Thursday 12th November, 11:00-12:30
An introduction to web-scraping with Wget - Friday 13th November, 14:00-15:00
Leading and Managing Teams - Tuesday 17th November, 11:00-12:30
Giving Feedback - How to lead an effective conversation - Wednesday 18th November, 10:00-12:00
Effective Mentoring Skills for Mentors - Thursday 19th November, 13:30-15:00
Coaching Skills for Managers - Tuesday 26th November, 13:00-14:30
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Introduction to REF2021 - Recorded Presentation for ECRs On the 28th of October, Dr Dominic Dean, REF Academic and Operational Manager for the University of Sussex, provided a presentation to a group of researchers taking them through a detailed exploration of REF2021, its effects and the key elements of which early-career researchers need to be aware. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s national system of research assessment, driving the distribution of core research funding to universities. The next REF exercise will take place in 2021. Every UK university submitting to the REF uses the publications, other research outputs, and wider social impact produced by its researchers to form its submission; the quality of that submission determines the level of core research funding the university receives, and also has broader implications. Understanding the REF - its requirements, and its effects on Higher Education and research culture - is essential for everyone who is building a research career in the UK. You can now access an online recording of the webinar presentation, as well as download the slides used during the presentation.
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UKRI to pilot early career researcher forum UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced plans to launch a pilot Early Career Researchers (ECR) Forum later in 2020. The forum will seek to reach out to the ECR community and enable UKRI to engage with the sector on the issues that matter to them. The plans were announced by UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser at the first day of the three-day Future Leaders Fellowships conference, which provides a forum for recipients of the Fellowships to discuss and showcase their work. Dame Leyser said: ‘We have major responsibility for stewarding the research and innovation system and supporting a positive research culture. Because it is so important to understand the perspectives of early career researchers, I am pleased to announce that UKRI will be piloting an Early Career Researcher Forum. The forum will seek to reach out to the ECR community and engage on the issues that matter to you.’ UKRI plans to recruit 400 ECRs to the forum. Those interested in finding out more about the pilot forum, as well as those planning on making an application, should complete the online form.
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Digital Discovery Week: 9th-13th November 2020 This week sees the return of the annual Digital Discovery Week: a week of exciting workshops and seminars organised by the Library that explore digital technologies and innovations. From talks on Digital Employability and Open Publishing to workshops on Digital Productivity and Web Scraping, this year focuses on sessions that provide the most value and support in the current climate. There’s something for everyone – and it’s all free! Visit the Library website for the full programme and booking information.
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Opportunities / External events
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ESRC Festival of Social Science: 7th-15th November 2020 The ESRC’s Festival of Social Sciences is an annual, weeklong series of engagement events held across the UK, which celebrate research that helps us understand and shape the society we live in. This year the festival has gone virtual and offers a broad range of events, spanning from big theoretical panel discussions taking on the world’s most pressing issues, to exhibitions, social experiments and much more. Social Scientists from the 18 Universities, who make up this year’s festival partnership, are leading these events, bringing their expertise and research to inform, challenge and shape the debate. To find out more about the University of Sussex events that are part of the festival, click on the following link: https://festivalofsocialscience.com/events/partner/university-of-sussex/
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Impact of lockdown on researchers in UK – findings announced Vitae have now published the findings of a survey, commissioned by the UK Government Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and supported by UK Research and innovation (UKRI) and Universities UK (UUK), about the implications of Covid-19 on the activities of researchers and research groups. Findings illustrate how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected research activities and outputs of the UK’s Research and Development (R&D) including impact disproportionally felt by researchers with caring responsibilities. Respondents suggested that help could be provided in the following areas:
- Improving access to facilities
- Encouraging collaboration amongst research groups to make the most of limited access to facilities
- Extensions to projects and funding
- Making concessions for any reduction in research quality
Slides of the findings have been put together by BEIS, supported by UKRI and Vitae, and are being used by BEIS and UKRI as a source to inform R&D policy development.
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Lockdown has reduced capacity to conduct research – Vitae survey *Article by James Higgins UK researchers on average spend less time on research because of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, a survey of more than 8,000 people working in universities and research institutes suggests. The survey by Vitae, undertaken on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and supported by UKRI and Universities UK, gathered the views of 8,416 researchers, 88% of whom were primarily employed in a higher education institution (HEI). The survey’s results indicate more polarised experiences for junior and senior researchers. About 40% of respondents, especially early career researchers, reported a decrease in their average weekly working hours while 21%, especially senior researchers, reported an increase. Of those reporting a decrease, around a half (19% of the total survey sample) reported a decrease of more than 10 hours.
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Research Funding
If applying for funding, remember to check funders' eligibility criteria carefully and discuss the opportunity with your host institution/department prior to preparing any applications.
Do look at Research Development webpages for guidance around applications
For more information about ECR Fellowships, check out our new webpage:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/researchstaff/funding/fellowship-opportunities
For Coronavirus information for research grant applicants & grant holders check out:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/development/covid-19 |
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Sir Henry Wellcome postdoctoral fellowships
These enable newly qualified postdoctoral researchers to start independent research careers in high-quality research environments. Fellowships include an award of £300,000 over four years on a full-time or part-time basis, covering the basic salary, a fellowship supplement of £2,500 per year for personal support and research expenses related to the proposal.
Deadline for Applications: 23rd March 2021
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Career development fellowship
This enables scientists without a salaried independent position to set up their own independent research group in any area of CRUK’s funding remit, with the exception of drug discovery and clinical trials. The fellowship covers salaries for the fellow, expenses for two posts, associated running expenses, equipment costs, potential relocation costs and a salary enhancement over six years.
Deadline for Applications: 5th May 2021
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Clinician scientist fellowship
This enables clinician scientists to develop a clinical academic research career through a period of postdoctoral training. Funding supports the candidate’s salary, running expenses and research or technical assistance over five years.
Deadline for Applications: 5th May 2021
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Senior cancer research fellowship
This enables scientists to further develop their own research programme in any area of the CRUK’s funding remit, with the exception of clinical trials and drug discovery. The fellowship is tenable for a period of six years and comprises salary costs for the fellow and a team of four, running expenses, equipment costs, potential relocation costs, plus an annual salary enhancement.
Deadline for Applications: 5th May 2021
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