Early Career Researchers

Early Career Researchers Researcher Development and Research Culture

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CONTENTS Welcome from DVC Research and Impact 4 How we support you 5 Your Research Community 6 Early Career Networks 7 Early Career Liaison Forums (ECR LFs) 8 Concordat and HR Excellence in Research Award 9 Researcher Development Programme 10 Careers Support 11 Researcher Led Initiatives 12 Images of Research 13 Keeping in Touch 14 FAQs 15

All of the images used in this booklet are of research undertaken at the University of Exeter and have been taken by our Early Career Researchers as part of the Images of Research competition.

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Over 900 ECRs across four campuses

Our Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are a critical part of the University of Exeter’s world class research and are at the heart of the University’s Research Culture.

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WELCOME FROM DVC RESEARCH AND IMPACT – HOW WE SUPPORT YOU We are delighted to welcome you to the Research Community at the University of Exeter. Exeter is the UK’s fastest growing research university, across a breadth of disciplinary and interdisciplinary subjects.

Our highly collegial research community drives many of our future ambitions. We are delighted that so many researchers have chosen to join our community, and to make Exeter or Cornwall their home.

Professor Neil Gow FRS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact)

Professor Andrew McRae Dean of Postgraduate Research and of the Doctoral College

Drs Astrid Wissenburg MPA MSc FRSA Director of Research Services and Doctoral College

Our Doctoral College, led by Professor Andrew McRae, has responsibility for supporting our early career researchers.

The Doctoral College coordinates training, representation and career development for researchers at this critical stage. We are guided in particular by our commitments under the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.

We are aware that our researchers come to us from diverse backgrounds and bring different ambitions, but are united in a commitment to producing research of the highest quality. We want you to be part of that. We aim to empower and support you in your research and your career.

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HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU The University of Exeter is committed to providing you with the best environment and skills to carry out research and ensure you are equipped to make the most of your abilities and potential. The ECR post-doctoral support within the Researcher Development team is here to help and support you. We work closely with academic colleges and other services within the university to:

 Develop world-class Early Career Research staff – through generic research-related skills acquisition, team-working and networking opportunities.  Ensure our Early Career Researchers are globally competitive and effective in their research.  Advise on labour-market information informed employability and career management options, both within and outside academia.  Ensure that our Early Career Researchers have a ‘voice’ across the University and are involved in University strategy.

YOUR RESEARCH COMMUNITY We are delighted to welcome you to the vibrant Research Community at the University of Exeter At the University of Exeter there are over 900 Early Career Researchers, who are all part of a wider vibrant and diverse research community.

Your Research Community is here to support and guide you while at Exeter.

We actively support Early Career Researchers through the Early Career Networks and via the Early Career Researcher Liaison Forums.

The following pages explain these networks/ forums in more details.

ECRs are represented on several strategic boards and other senior committees throughout the University.

Every two years the University of Exeter gains valuable feedback from our ECRs via both the Employee Engagement Survey (EES) and the Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS).

Both of these methods are your chance to tell us about the research experience of ECRs at the University of Exeter.

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EARLY CAREER NETWORKS

If you would like to find out more and get involved in an existing network please visit our webpage: exeter.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/ early-career-researchers/ecrnetworks

Alternatively if you would like to set up a new group and need help please contact: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

Examples of the ECRNs, include:  Biosciences  Geography  Engineering  Mathematics and Computer Science  Psychology  Sport and Health Sciences  Physics  Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences  Institute of Health Research  Biomedical Sciences

Photo by Sarah Holmes

There are an increasing number of Early Career Researcher Networks (ECRNs) across the university, run by and for ECRs. They are designed to help support and raise awareness of new developments in a particular field, as well as a chance to meet other ECRs. The ECRNs run across our four campuses are based in a variety of different disciplines.

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EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER LIAISON FORUMS The Early Career Researcher liaison forums are university-wide committees that discuss and represent how the University can further support the needs of ECRs. Anyone is welcome to attend the forums, which typically meet four times a year on both the Exeter and Cornwall campuses. The ECRN leads feed into the forums and elected representatives attend the ECR Strategic Steering Group, which can take issues directly to the Research and Impact Executive Group.

Other colleagues from the ECR Liaison Forums also inform other committees throughout the University, including the Athena SWAN and Positive Working groups, Wellbeing and the Concordat Steering Group.

Information and minutes from the previous meetings can be found on the ECR Hub webpage: exeter.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/earlycareer-researchers/liaisonforum

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CONCORDAT/HR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AWARD Every two years the University conducts an internal review to assess the performance of the University in meeting its obligations under the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and to gauge progress against actions arising from the previous evaluation. A report and associated action plan is submitted to the HR Excellence in Research Award panel. The University of Exeter was one of the first to achieve the award, and most recently passed its year 8 review.

More information can be found at exeter.ac.uk/staff/exeteracademic/ yourdevelopment/researchdevelopment/ hrexcellenceinresearchcharter

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RESEARCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Our Researcher Development Programme is designed to help you make the most of your current research activities, as well as plan for the future. All of our courses have been mapped against the national Researcher Development Framework, a tool that helps you to consider your professional development as a rounded researcher.

Our programme also links up with wider university training and development including the Exeter Academic Research Services and Learning and Development.

Our researcher development programme is split into the following strands:  Careers and Wellbeing  Data and Dissemination  Research Excellence  Building my research confidence

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CAREERS SUPPORT Planning for your professional future You may know what your next step is or are unsure what the next steps may be. Regardless as to where you are in your career planning we are here to help support you through these next steps.

We offer a variety of services to help you steer your professional future in the direction you want it to go in, these include: One to one confidential appointments – ECRs have access to 1-2-1 careers appointments with our dedicated careers consultant with whom you can discuss issues such as your next steps and options, CV and application preparation, and interview preparation. Please email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk to book your appointment. Appointments are accessible face to face (at all campuses), via telephone or Skype.

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RESEARCHER-LED INITIATIVE FUND The Researcher-led initiative awards are intended to enable ECRs from the University of Exeter to be proactive and empowered to deliver new professional development activities for their peers that will develop the skills and experience needed to progress their careers.

The awards support short-term, well-defined initiatives that develop and deliver transferable skills training experiences and/or resources to the applicants’ peers across departments.

Collaborative applications are encouraged.

Applications will be reviewed on a case by case basis and all applicants will receive feedback after the awards have been allocated.

Examples of previous successful applications include:  Exc!amation and Xanthos peer-review journals  The Academic Woman Full details of the awards including application open/closing dates please visit: exeter.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/ early-career-researchers/rli

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IMAGES OF RESEARCH COMPETITION Our annual Images of Research competition challenges our Early Career Researchers to communicate their research using images to the general public. It is also an opportunity to highlight the wide range of research that is taking place at the University of Exeter in new and exciting way.

This is an excellent way to start to engage the public with your research and make an impact statement.

Full details of the competition can be found on our webpage here: exeter.ac.uk/ doctoralcollege/early-career-researchers/ imagesofresearch

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KEEPING IN TOUCH

We will communicate with you in a variety of different ways.

From us  You will receive a monthly newsletter which highlights the courses coming up in the next six weeks, news and events from the ECR community as well as important general updates.  Termly list of courses – we will send a list termly of all of the up and coming courses, this will allow you to plan for the term ahead.  Our Doctoral College blog  Follow Research Services on twitter From you  Attend a ECR Liasion forum or your local Early Career Researcher Network  Via email

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) If our FAQs don’t answer your questions, please email us at: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk 1. How do I book onto a course?

Please book onto all courses via the online booking system TRENT- links to which can be found on the ECR Hub. This gives you an online training record, which can be used to guide your annual development discussions with your PI or line-manager. For one to one careers appointments please email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk 2. Who delivers the course?

Our courses are delivered by members of the Researcher Development team, as well as other internal or external experts.

3. How many courses can I book onto?

There is no limit to the number of courses you can book onto, however we would expect you to talk to your line manager about potential courses.

4. What happens if I cannot attend a course?

As soon as you know that you are unable to attend a course please go onto the TRENT booking system and cancel your place, we may have a waiting list and by cancelling your place we may be able to offer the space to someone else. If you need to cancel with less than 24 hours until the course please email: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk 5. How can I give feedback?

Feedback can be given at the end of every course, alternatively you can provide feedback at ECR Liaison Forums or via email at: researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk 6. What else do I have access to as a ECR? As a ECR you are a member of staff and therefore have access to all the services a staff member does. Full details can be found on the staff webpage: exeter.ac.uk/staff

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Contact Details: exeter.ac.uk/doctoralcollege/early-career-researchers Email: reseracherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk Twitter: @UofE_Research Blog: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/doctoralcollege

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Old Library, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4SB