Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the July 2021 issue of the Sussex Researcher. We hope you all have been keeping well and safe in these times.
In this edition, we bring you news that the Research Staff Office have now launched a Post-COVID Research Staff Support Scheme to provide an easy way for Research Staff to access help, support and advice in relation to COVID-related issues.
Through a purpose-made web portal, Research Staff will be able to ask for support in several areas - depending on the challenge, the RSO will contact and ask support from a variety of professional and academic support streams, including Human Resources, Research Development, Research Finance, Technical Services, Heads of Schools, Schools Administrators, School Research Staff leads and line managers/PIs.
In terms of training provision for research staff, there are a number of items we'd particularly like to draw your attention to:
Best wishes,
The Research Staff Office
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Research Staff Office Events
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Research Staff Support Scheme: Post-COVID The purpose of this scheme is to set in place an easy way for Research Staff to access help, support and advice in relation to COVID-related issues The University of Sussex recognizes that although many of the challenges and stresses are common to most University staff, COVID-19 crisis posed a unique set of challenges for those who are early in their research career and on fixed term contracts. Through a purpose-made web portal, Research Staff will be able to ask for support in several areas, which are highlighted below. The Research Staff Office (RSO) will review the requests on a case-to-case basis and put in place appropriate actions to assist Research Staff. Depending on the challenge at hand the RSO will contact and ask support from a variety of professional and academic support streams, including Human Resources, Research Development, Research Finance, Technical Services, Heads of Schools, Schools Administrators, School Research Staff leads and line managers/PIs. Areas of support include:
- Accessing lab, facilities, equipment, data and archives;
- Navigating contract extensions with funders;
- Supporting international ECRs with Visa issues and other requirements;
- Mentoring on Career development and employability;
- Help with well-being and mental health.
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Be inspired by the Festival of Doctoral Research - July 2021 The Doctoral School have announced the return of the Festival of Doctoral Research, a five-day programme of events designed to showcase the outstanding doctoral research currently underway throughout the university. The Festival runs from Monday 5 to Friday 9 July, and current highlights include:
Explore the full schedule of events to find out more about the different Festival activities, and follow #SussexDocFest on Twitter for updates.
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University commitment to the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) The Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated. The declaration has become a worldwide initiative covering all scholarly disciplines and all key stakeholders including funders, publishers, professional societies, institutions, and researchers. The University of Sussex is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and commits to two key principles for assessing and evaluating research quality.
- Principle 1: Research outputs and other research contributions will be evaluated on their intrinsic merit, rather than relying on inappropriate proxies and metrics such as the title or impact factor of the journal in which the research was published.
- Principle 2: The quality of a researcher’s work will be evaluated in terms of a wide range of contributions beyond research publications, such as datasets, training of early-career researchers, and impacts on policy and practice.
The University of Sussex DORA Working Group are currently looking for an early-career researcher (ECR) to join and provide an ECR perspective to some of the activities and processes led by the working group. If you are interested in engaging with the DORA Working Group, or would like to find out more, please email researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk
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Opportunities / External events
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Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funder visit Date: Tuesday 6th July 2021
Time: 11:15am - 1pm, 2pm - 3:40pm The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will be making a ‘virtual' visit to the University of Sussex on Tuesday 6 th July 2021. Sussex is one of EPSRC’s strategic university partners; this visit is part of EPSRC’s engagement activities with the University. In addition to two open sessions covering EPSRC strategy, priorities and funding in areas of interest to the Sussex community (with a focus on early career opportunities), there will be two Sussex Showcase slots, presenting a range of Sussex research in the EPSRC remit. Come along to find out more about EPSRC's strategic priorities for the future as well as learning about the funding opportunities they offer, gather insights into how to build a successful proposal and take some time to hear about exciting Sussex research in this area during the Showcase sessions. All sessions will take place on Zoom. Please register to attend sessions via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/epsrc-funder-visit-tickets-161125475635
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Elsevier Researcher Academy - Free Online Modules on Finding the right journal If you want to get your paper published, one of the key challenges you face is finding the right journal for your research. From the aims and scope, to the journal’s values and ethical practice, there are many points to take into account. Elsevier Researcher Academy now provides free access to a series of modules that will help you consider the impact of the journal and the various metrics available to help you do that. The series will explore all these important decision factors in detail, and provide practical tips to help you make the right choice - along with a useful checklist that you can use when evaluating the many journals available.
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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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Research fellowships and engineering for development research fellowships
These support early-career researchers in becoming future research leaders in engineering. Fellowships are worth up to £500,000 each and are tenable for five years.
Deadline for Applications: 21st September 2021
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European Postdoctoral Fellowships
They are open to researchers moving within Europe or coming to Europe from another part of the world to pursue their research career. These fellowships take place in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and can last between 1 and 2 years. Researchers of any nationality can apply.
Deadline for Applications: 12th October 2021
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Global Postdoctoral Fellowships
They fund the mobility of researchers outside Europe. The fellowship lasts between 2 to 3 years, of which the first 1 to 2 years will be spent in a non-associated Third Country, followed by a mandatory return phase of 1 year to an organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Only nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries can apply.
Deadline for Applications: 12th October 2021
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