Life Sciences Researchers Network

1
Life Sciences Researchers Network

• A forum for researchers at the University of
  Nottingham

2
Researchers at Nottingham

• Many are in Sciences and Medicine
• A diverse group of people with little contact
• Commonly regarded as Contract Research Staff
• Short-term contracts
• Poor Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• Lack of career structure

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Guidelines for Researcher CPD

• Concordat (1996) policy supporting research
  careers
• Roberts Report (2002)
• EU Fixed-Term Employees Regulations (2002)
• Came into effect in 2006
• Equal employment rights for researchers
• European Charter for Researchers and Code of
  Conduct
• Revised concordat (25/06/2008)
• Launch of Vitae (www.vitae.ac.uk)
• Career development portal for researchers

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Roberts Report Identified problems

• Lack of a clear career structure and uncertain
  career prospects associated with work on a
  short-term contractual basis is a major barrier
  to the recruitment and development of
  postdoctoral researchers
• Unsatisfactory training in the skills required
  either in an academic career or in a business
  research environment means that CRS are poorly
  prepared for potential careers
• Increasingly uncompetitive salaries act as a
  disincentive to work as a contract researcher

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Roberts report - recommendations

• The development of a range of career
  trajectories and clear career structures for
  those employed as CRS, including greater use of
  permanent contracts for researchers
• The inclusion of earmarked funding for training
  and professional development in all grants or
  contracts that provide for the employment of CRS
• Enhanced salaries for CRS funded by Research
  Councils, particularly in disciplines where there
  are shortages due to high market demand, and
  greater possibilities for salary progression
  within contract research
• More market-related salaries for key academic
  staff, which should benefit scientists and
  engineers, particularly those engaged in research
  of international quality

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UoN implementation

• Personally Effective programme
• Workshop ran 2-4 July 2008
• Building Experience and Skills Travel Scholarship
• Eligibility for the Research Training Roadmap
  programme and other student training
  (http//www.nottingham.ac.uk/gradschool/roadmaps/i
  ndex.phtml)
• Researcher-led development projects

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Projects Science

• Enhancing Awareness of, and Opportunities for,
  Careers in the Pharmaceutical SectorSchools of
  Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medical and Surgical
  Sciences
• Improving Research Project Management and PhD
  SupervisionSchools of Community Health Sciences,
  Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sociology and
  Social Policy, opening up to the wider University
• Proposal Writing Skills for Scientists
  EngineersFaculties of Science and Engineering
• Public Understanding of Science - Communication
  Skills for ResearchersSchools of Biology,
  Chemistry and Pharmacy
• Transferable Business Skills for Scientists and
  EngineersSchools of Chemistry, Physics
  Astronomy and Chemical, Environmental Mining
  Engineering

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Projects Medical Health Sciences

• Career Development Workshops for Postgraduates
  and Contract Research Staff in the Schools of
  Sociology and Social Policy, Nursing and
  EducationSchools of Education, Nursing, and
  Sociology and Social Policy
• Enhancing Awareness of, and Opportunities for,
  Careers in the Pharmaceutical SectorSchools of
  Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medical and Surgical
  Sciences
• Transferable Skills Training for Clinicians
  Studying for Higher DegreesFaculty of Medical
  and Surgical Sciences
• Graduate Centre in the Faculty of Medicine
  Health SciencesFaculty of Medicine
• Improving Research Project Management and PhD
  SupervisionSchools of Community Health Sciences,
  Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sociology and
  Social Policy, opening up to the wider University
• Public Understanding of Science - Communication
  Skills for ResearchersSchools of Biology,
  Chemistry and Pharmacy

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Projects Medical Health Sciences

• Career Development Workshops for Postgraduates
  and Contract Research Staff in the Schools of
  Sociology and Social Policy, Nursing and
  EducationSchools of Education, Nursing, and
  Sociology and Social Policy
• Enhancing Awareness of, and Opportunities for,
  Careers in the Pharmaceutical SectorSchools of
  Pharmacy, Chemistry, Medical and Surgical
  Sciences
• Transferable Skills Training for Clinicians
  Studying for Higher DegreesFaculty of Medical
  and Surgical Sciences
• Graduate Centre in the Faculty of Medicine
  Health SciencesFaculty of Medicine
• Improving Research Project Management and PhD
  SupervisionSchools of Community Health Sciences,
  Education, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sociology and
  Social Policy, opening up to the wider University
• Public Understanding of Science - Communication
  Skills for ResearchersSchools of Biology,
  Chemistry and Pharmacy

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Remit of the LSRN

• Professional development for research staff
• Support for research staff
• Distribution of best practice
• Mentoring
• Academic development
• A forum for communication between researchers
• Share common research interests and ideas
• Provide a forum for improving awareness of
  University/Government policy

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Structure of the LSRN

• A virtual network
• Committee
• Meeting venue (C100)
• Targeted events
• Members

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Suggested LSRN management
LSRN Members
University/ Government
Web site
Announcements
Forums
Discussion
CPD
Key issues
LSRN committee
Seminar events
Review
Individual Feedback
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Virtual network

• Website
• Powered by the Sharepoint software system
• Facilitates communication
• Provides appropriate information
• Lists of members and their research interests
• Discussion forums
• Funding announcements
• Details of events
• Transfer good practice between Schools and
  Faculties

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Professional Development

• Funding calls appropriate for researchers
• Fellowship application assistance
• Networking events
• Career workshops
• Contract assistance
• Talent Pool
• Human Resources seminars

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Academic Support

• Specific researcher-led events
• Seminar series
• Networking
• Commercialisation of research
• Professional societies
• Writing skills workshops

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Key features

• Shared ownership
• Distributed decision making
• On-line communication
• Co-ordination of researcher CPD by researchers

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Projected future for LSRN

• 1st network of its type in UoN
• Sharepoint will be rolled out to other staff and
  students
• Continued infrastructure for the network
• University is committed to improving Research
  Staff professional development
• It is likely that similar networks will be
  started for other Faculties

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Discussion points

• How do you perceive current support for Research
  Staff at UoN
• Do you think this network will be a valuable
  resource?
• What would you like from the network?
• Do you agree with the aims of the network?

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Further information

• Concordat
• http//www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/activities/RCIdown
  loads/rciconcordat.pdf
• European charter
• http//ec.europa.eu/eracareers/pdf/am509774CEE_EN_
  E4.pdf
• Roberts report
• http//www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/enterprise
  _and_productivity/research_and_enterprise/ent_res_
  roberts.cfm
• http//www.nottingham.ac.uk/gradschool/robertsmone
  y.phtml
• UoN interpretation of EU employment law
• http//hr.nottingham.ac.uk/display.aspx?id1249pi
  d231