How to Generate Funding – Tips for Research Students

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PGR Tips is Vitae’s monthly email, which offers tips and advice to help PhD researchers through their doctorate.

In this month’s issue there is some really useful advice on the ability to generate funding which is a real necessity if you aspire to a career in academia.  Even outside of academia this ability is highly valued and is often one of the skills that employers may look for.

The advice given by PGR Tips provides information about the following things you will need to consider:

• start with small funding applications
• be as informed as you can be
• perfect the art of persuasion
• formulate a strong hypothesis
• be clear on the methodology you intend to use
• put in detail
• be realistic
• present  preliminary data
• follow any guidelines to the letter
•  edit, edit and edit again

Go to the current issue of PGR Tips  for the full information.

Researchers required for a Vitae focus group – European Framework for Work Experience (EFWE)

Vitae are looking for a number of researchers to be part of a focus group which aims to gauge opinions and thoughts on implementing a new European Framework for Work Experience and accompanying resources for researchers.

The framework was developed a number of years ago in partnership with a number of European institutions and organisations to agree on the 12 most important competencies that employers look for in undergraduates. Whilst originally designed for the undergraduate community, Vitae feel that there is applicability to the researcher community and would like to investigate how this framework could be used to enhance the employability of researchers in the near future.

The group will be held in London on Wednesday 17 August between 11am-2pm and an additional hour in advance to read through pre-focus group materials. Lunch will be provided and any travel expenses incurred will be covered.

Fill in the Focus Group Interest form to register your interest in participating in the group.

How can you use your skills for the common good?

Are you wondering how you can use your skills for the common good?
You may want to consider a career in social enterprise.

In collaboration with the University of the West of England, Vitae have recently developed learning and development materials  on social enterprise for researchers.  You can find video vignettes of successful social entrepreneurs, materials to help generate ideas and solutions, and a host of other information at Vitae’s Social Enterprise pages.

If you decide your ideas are more suited to a commercial environment and are interested in gaining some business skills UCL Advances offers training, courses and opportunities to help get you started.

Developing your transferable skills- Grad School for Postgraduate Researchers

Vitae GRADschools are experiential learning courses designed to develop your transferable skills as a postgraduate researcher. Many researchers who attend the course have a transformational experience, empowered to take charge of their own learning and career.

GRADschools are designed to enable you to:

• develop your personal effectiveness
• identify ways to communicate effectively
• make more informed choices about your future and own and manage the next step of your career.

Any doctoral student in the 2nd year or above is eligible to attend a National GRADschool. Places are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so please apply as early as possible.

For more information on what is involved in taking part, what is in it for you and how to apply go to the GRADschools 2011 web pages.

How can the Researcher Development Statement help you?

The recent launch of the Researcher Development Statement (RDS) could prove useful for research students and research staff as it provides guidance about the technical skills,  competencies and attributes of a researcher. This could be helpful when reflecting on where your strengths lie and where you may need some help to improve.

The RDS has evolved from the Joint Skills Statement (JSS) which was jointly issued by the UK Research Councils in 2001 and it updates the JSS extending researcher development beyond the doctoral experience.

Although the RDS is a guide which is  primarily intended to be used by policy makers and research organisations to help them provide relevant personal, professional and career development opportunities for researchers in higher education, it was suggested at the Vitae Researcher Development Conference 2010 that there is less distinction now between academic and non-academic skills sets.  Perhaps then the RDS will help research staff and students who intend to move between academic and non-academic positions as well as those that wish to remain in higher education.

 

 

 

Applying for Jobs? Want help with interview skills?

Vitae champions the development of doctoral researchers and research staff.  One of the ways they help doctoral researchers is with their monthly email bulletin, PGR Tips, which gives tips and information to help you during your PhD and when planning your career. It covers topics such as evaluating skills, writing up, support and funding, launching an academic career.

In the most recent issue of PGR Tips there is valuable information on preparing for interviews. If you are currently applying for interviews and have managed to secure one have a look at this or keep this issue for the future if you are not quite there yet.  Good luck!

Register for your regular dose of PGR tips at http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/3866/PGR-Tips-registration.html

AND remember to check out UCL Careers Service skills workshops on topics such as application and interviews skills for PhD/research students – see  careers adviser led skills workshops and employer led skills workshops.

 

Do you want to develop your leadership potential?

Leadership is very much about the ability to influence people by personal attributes and behaviours.  Although good leadership skills are formed over time you can start developing your leadership potential by gaining effective people skills whilst you are at UCL.  UCL Careers Service and Graduate School run a number of workshops on negotiation techniques, networking, teamworking and an introduction to leadership – see the Graduate School website for more information.

If you are interested in a residential Leadership course you could apply to attend Vitae’s Leadership in Action 2011 three day programme for  postgraduate researchers which will be held 22-25 March.  On this course you will have the opportunity to look at relevant theory, practice your leadership style and receive feedback.

Top Tips for completing a PhD and getting a job after

Amongst a wealth of online careers information specifically for researchers to be found on the Vitae website (Vitae is the national organisation for researcher development)  is a monthly bulletin, called ‘PGR Tips’  on key topics ranging from ‘how to prepare for a Viva’ to ‘effective networking’ and ‘where to find a job’. You can subscribe to these monthly bulletins by visiting the ‘Publications‘ section of the site at www.vitae.ac.uk

Posted by: Calum Leckie, UCL Careers Service

The UK Research Staff Association

The UK Research Staff Association have been very active on their twitter account the last day or so.

Things that caught my eye:

• Career versus Family Life http://ow.ly/1P9Gb via @womenintech
• Who is pondering applying for Vitae Innovate funding? http://tinyurl.com/36fbp57 via @tennievideler
• A Day in the Life of a Management Consultant http://ow.ly/1S1Fm interesting for those who’d like a career in consulting RT @Bio_Careers

Each is worth a few minutes of your time today.

Also you can get a snapshot of what the people we follow on twitter are saying here: http://paper.li/uclcareersblog

James Weaver

Employer Services & Events Officer

‘Leadership in Action’ course from Vitae

Interesting upcoming workshop from the researcher development organisation Vitae coming up in June:

Do you want to…
develop your leadership skills?
explore the concept of leadership?
build confidence in your own leadership style?

Vitae is running the ‘Leadership in action’ course on 8-11 June following the success of the pilot last year. The course is for both postgraduate researchers and research staff. It is a three-day residential course which will allow you to explore and develop your leadership skills. This course takes a ‘learning by doing’ approach. There will be presentations on leadership theory, but for the most part, you will be actively participating in the sessions and activities.

The course will be led by a team of experienced facilitators who will work with you throughout the three days to support your learning. They will be from a variety of backgrounds with experience in leadership, academia and other sectors. Places are limited so book now!

Posted by Calum Leckie, UCL Careers Service