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Making the most of Support

Making the most of Support. Andy Pithouse Research Staff Co-ordinator School of Social Sciences. Support on four levels. At School/Centre level Your PI Your mentor Research Staff Reps - SOCSI model Your School’s Research Staff Co-ordinator Director of Research/Centre Director

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Making the most of Support

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  1. Making the most of Support Andy Pithouse Research Staff Co-ordinator School of Social Sciences

  2. Support on four levels • At School/Centre level • Your PI • Your mentor • Research Staff Reps - SOCSI model • Your School’s Research Staff Co-ordinator • Director of Research/Centre Director • Head of School (peer support system) • At Research Graduate School level • Training and career development

  3. At University level • Human Resources and research support • Training and career development • Individual career advice (eg Josie Grindulis, Sara Williams) • Research application support (Sally O’Connor RACDV) • At UK level • Research Staff Concordat • Higher Education and Research Opportunities guidelines • (http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/research/research_careers229.cfm)

  4. Managing your PI-‘Always be smarter than the people who hire you’ (Lena Horne) • Six rules of thumb! • Clarification of roles and responsibilities • Mentoring arrangements and probation • Anticipating difficulties – prof & domestic • Publication plans and authorship • Researcher staff development needs • Exit strategies

  5. Clarification of roles and responsibilities • Understanding the project • Clarify expectations of responsibilities • When are the key deadlines? • Understanding your PI • What kind of manager are they? • What are their patterns of working? • What contact strategies they prefer - informally? • How often will you meet formally? • Who is responsible for recording meetings?

  6. Probation review and mentoring • Be familiar with the University’s procedures • Even if you are no longer on the Probation Scheme, you are entitled to have a mentor if you would like one.

  7. Anticipating difficulties‘If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?' (Albert Einstein) • Ask your PI what they think the pressure points of the project will be, eg: • Access • Ethical issues • Health and safety issues • Data storage and archiving

  8. Publication plans and authorship‘You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.’(Henry Ford) • What are the publication plans? • Who will take lead responsibility? • How will the respective contributions of co-authors and researchers be recognised? • Will you be able to publish any sole-authored work from the project? • And what about after the contract ends? • Do you have any plans for publishing from earlier projects that need to be discussed? • Does your subject association have guidelines?

  9. Staff development needs • Building up your own portfolio of research skills • Expertise in methodologies/analytical techniques • Grant-getting and publishing • Project management and administration • Broadening your portfolio of academic experience – connect beyond the PI. • Teaching and tutoring: ‘an opportunity not an obligation’ • Co-supervision of students • Face work – get known at seminars • But consult with your PI.

  10. Exit strategies‘Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.’ • Work out at what point (months?) you need to think about what you will do once the project has ended. • Have a back-up plan: • Post-doc fellowships • Small research grant proposal submissions • Plan well in advance.

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