Research and knowledge exchange

Issue 50: March 2019

 

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the latest issue of the Sussex Researcher for 2019.

We were delighted to see so many of you at our last Researchers R Us session where we ran a mini-workshop "Thinking About Plan B - what job might I want?".  As it seems a popular idea, we're going to continue offering these mini-information / training sessions - with a mini-workshop: "LinkedIn - Set up and Search" this coming Wednesday 3rd April, and another "Productivity - Tools and Tips" on Wednesday 17th April. If you have any topics you would like covered please contact us.

On another note, the Research Staff Office will be holding a Research Staff Welcome Lunch on the 9th of May, which is a great opportunity for you to meet other researchers and find out about the range of support available to you at the University. If you are a member of research staff and have not attended a welcome lunch in the past then we'd love to see you at this event - booking details below!

We hope you have a wonderful Easter break and look forward to seeing you at some of the events we've got lined up for you through April and May.

Best wishes,

The Research Staff Office Team (Hayley Cordingley and Alex Aghajanian)

 
 

Workshops & Events - April/May
Research Staff Office Events
 
Thinking strategically about your research - Tuesday 2nd April, 10:00-13:00

Researchers R Us - Wednesday 3rd April, 09:30 -11:30
Mini-Workshop: "LinkedIn - Set up and Search" 09:30-10:30 

Manage stress, challenge 'imposter' feelings and build your resilience - Thursday 11th April, 14:00-17:00
Researchers R Us - Wednesday 17th April, 09:30 -11:30
Mini-Workshop: "Productivity - Tools and Tips" 09:30-10:30 
Introduction to Coaching Skills for Principal Investigators and Research Managers - Wednesday 1st May, 14:00-17:00
Research Staff Induction and
Welcome Lunch

- Thursday 9th May, 12:00-13:30
 
Events organised by other teams
 
Practical Assertiveness for Researchers - Wednesday 3rd April, 13:30 -16:30

Research Hive Seminar: Reproducible research? - Thursday 4th April, 12:00 -13:30
Research Dynamics: Data Management: Tools and Resources - Thursday 11th April, 13:00 -14:00
Using reference management tools - Zotero - Thursday 9th May, 09:30 -11:30
Research Dynamics: Post-Award: How to Manage Your Project - Wednesday 15th May, 13:30 -15:00
Getting ethical approval - Wednesday 15th May, 14:00 -17:00
Using reference management tools - Mendeley - Wednesday 22nd May, 10:30 -12:30
Understanding publication metrics - Wednesday 29th May, 10:30 -12:15
 
Click here for more information about Research Staff Development Series events
 
Featured Workshop

Introduction to Coaching Skills for Principal Investigators and Research Managers
Date: Wednesday 1st May, 14:00-17:00
Location: Fulton 213

Coaching is practiced worldwide to help people to develop their skills, overcome challenges and reach their goals. Many of the tools, techniques and skills used by coaches can be learned and put into practice quickly and effectively to achieve positive and rewarding results in the workplace.

For PIs and Research Managers, coaching skills are useful in:
  • Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues and collaborators.
  • Supporting and developing students or junior colleagues.
  • Developing effective team practices
  • Reflecting on personal strengths and challenges and devising strategies for future success.
This practical and interactive workshop will introduce key coaching concepts and skills that can be used effectively in management/leadership relationships. 
Click here to book your place
 

News & Opportunities

Research Staff Induction and Welcome Lunch
Date: Thursday 9th May, 12:00-13:30
Location: Silverstone, SB 317

*If you are a member of research staff at the university and have not attended a research staff welcome lunch or induction in the past please feel free to book on to this event.

The Research Staff Induction and Welcome Lunch, is hosted by the Research Staff Office on Thursday 9th May from 12.00-13.30 at Silverstone, SB 317.

This event is an opportunity to:
  • Meet other researchers that have also recently started at Sussex
  • Find out about the range of support on offer to research staff across the university
  • Find out about opportunities to get involved in the wider university community
  • Ask any questions you may have relating to your role or working at Sussex in general
Click here to book a place
 
National Research Landscape Survey

In preparation for the post-REF2021 assessment cycle, Research England have commissioned a survey of researchers within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in England.
 
The survey will help further understand what the research landscape might look like over the next 10 years and will help inform planning for future research assessment.
 
The survey asks researchers for their views forward on future of collaboration, open science and research integrity, among other topics, and is a vital opportunity for researchers to help shape the future of research assessment.
Click here for survey link
Click here for further information
 
South Downs Research Conference
Date: Thursday 4 July 2019, 09:00-16:00
Location: South Downs Centre

The South Downs Research Conference provides a rare opportunity to attend a truly multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral event, designed to bring together researchers, students, practitioners and academics. This conference showcases research across all disciplines in pursuit of the special qualities of the South Downs National Park.

Previous years have reflected the broad scope of research currently being undertaken across the South Downs from the effects of invasive species or the use of drones to monitor landscape change to the history of the South Downs post service. Presenters have come from a range of academic institutions as well as industry and government organisations.

To register for the conference please visit Eventbrite

If you have any questions regarding this event please do not hesitate to contact researchconference@southdowns.gov.uk
Click here to to register for the Sussex Downs Research Conference
 
Materials Physics Research Fellow selected to attend 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting

Research Fellow Dr Matthew Large has been offered a place at the 69thLindau Nobel Laureate meeting in Germany from 30 June to 5 July 2019, a unique international forum for scientific exchange to be attended this year by at least 40 Nobel Laureates.

Matthew is a Research Fellow in Functional Material and Nanostructure Processing and Characterisation in the recently established Materials Physics research group.

His research interests focus on understanding the fundamental structure-property relationships in materials containing one- and two- dimensional materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and other layered nanomaterials.
Click here for full news story
 
Sussex research fellow in photo exhibition at Brighton station

The Young Carers in Focus exhibition, on display throughout March, highlights the work of The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove and the immense pride with which these children carry out their caring roles.

The free exhibit features 19 portraits of local young carers, either in their home setting or while enjoying Carers Centre respite activities.

Dr Feylyn Lewis was 11 when she began caring for her mother. Now, as a Research Fellow in Social Work and Social Care at Sussex, she is working with Professor Becker on a European project looking at how to identify and support the needs of today’s young carers.

She features in the photo exhibition in her capacity as a trustee for The Carers Centre.

Dr Lewis says: “Growing up in America as a young carer, I didn’t have any support. I’m incredibly proud to serve as a trustee for The Carers Centre because it champions the needs of young carers, helping to foster brighter futures.”
Click here for full news story
 

Spotlight on Researchers

Spotlight on Dr Mahmoud Maina
Research Fellow in Biochemistry at the School of Life Sciences

Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of ageing. It is not just a disease of old age as most people believeageing is just a risk factor for developing the disease.

The real-life application of my research is informing drug development or alternative methods of making disease diagnosis which could potentially improve the conditions of people with this disease.
Read Mahmoud Maina's Spotlight Profile here
Click here for previous Spotlight Profiles of Research Fellows
 

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.
Wolfson fellowships

These support early-career researchers in humanities and social sciences who show talent in both research and public engagement, emphasising and demonstrating the importance of academic research and creative thought at a time of rapid political and societal change. Approximately six fellowships are available worth up to £130,000 each over three years.
  
Deadline for Applications: 15th May 2019
More information
 
Investigator awards in science

These support independent researchers with a compelling research vision to tackle the most important questions in science. Awards are worth up to £3 million for up to seven years.

Deadline for Applications: 25th July 2019
More information
 
Ernest Rutherford fellowships

These enable early-career researchers from the UK and overseas to establish an independent research programme. A total of 11 fellowships, tenable for five years, are available for directly incurred costs, salary, travel, equipment and consumables, visas, publication costs and indirect costs.
  
Deadline for Applications: 19th September 2019
More information
 
FJ McGuigan early career investigator research grant 

This supports the efforts of an early-career psychological scientist who is pursuing research that aims to advance, either empirically or theoretically, a materialistic understanding of the human mind from both a behavioural and neural perspective. The grant is worth USD 15,000.
  
Deadline for Applications: 1st March 2020
More information
Research Staff Office 
Falmer House 
University of Sussex 
T (01273) (87)7979 
E researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk

Twitter @SussexResearchr