ECRs: Positioning Yourself for a Fellowship

Kay Guccione

Last week Dr Kay Guccione (Sheffield) spoke to the Early Career Researcher Network about the difficult task of positioning yourself for a fellowship when you’re just starting out. Her insights came from a project she had undertaken, ‘Fellowship Ahoy!’, which looked at the key behaviours of those who had been successful in securing a fellowship.

“I was frustrated at hearing people who had worked really hard say, ‘I was just really lucky’” she began. ‘It’s not all about luck, individual agency is a major component in recent models of academic and researcher development.’

ECR Network: 'Imposter Syndrome' and 'Resilience'

Dr Caron Fraser Wood

The next two Early Career Researcher Network events this term will be run by Dr Caron Fraser Wood of Mindset Method, and will look at ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and how to develop resilience. We ran the imposter syndrome session last year, and it was oversubscribed and very well received. You can attend either of these or both, but do let me know whether you would like to come as places are strictly limited.

They’re free, open to all Kent staff, and refreshments, including lunch, will be provided. More detail on the sessions is below, and I look forward to hearing from you.

ECR Network: How to Engage the Public with your Research

The second Early Career Researcher Network event of this term will take place on Thursday 4 February between 12noon and 2pm, and will focus on how to engage the public with your research.

The idea of engaging the public with your research has becoming increasingly important over recent years, and was given added impetus with the introduction of ‘impact’ in 2008. Impact was measured in the last REF, and rumour has it that it will be even more important in the next exercise. But what do we mean by impact, public engagement, outreach and public involvement? What is the difference between these terms that are often used synonymously? And how can academics ensure that they are maximising this important element of their work?

This session will be led by Prof Paul Allain (Arts) and Dr Vicky Mason (SPS), both of whom have had considerable experience in outreach, engagement and impact. The new Impact and Engagement Officer, Maddy Bell, will also be on hand to discuss people’s ideas. However, as ever the ECRN session is an opportunity to talk to others at the same point in their career, to share your experience, and to offer help and advice to each other.

Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to all, but places are limited so please let me know if you intend to come along. If you would like to come, I will ask you to draft a brief outline paragraph of your research and (if appropriate) any public engagement plans you have, so that these can be the focus of small-group discussions.

Early Career Researcher Network: Events this Term

ECRN: listening to others, making connections, sharing your experiences

The programme of events for the Early Career Researcher Network has been agreed, and I'm just sorting out all the venues. If you're an ECR at the University of Kent and want to come along to any of these, do drop me a line: they're free, and refreshments are provided.

ECRN: Balancing the Conflicting Demands of Academia

The first Early Career Researcher Network event of this term will take place next Wednesday, 13 January between 1-3pm, and will focus on how to balance the conflicting demands of academia.

Starting off in academia can be difficult. Not only are you trying to establish your research career, but you are having to cope with the new demands of teaching and supervision, as well as understanding what is required of you as a 'good citizen' within your department. Outside of work you may have conflicting demands from family and home.

This session will be led by Prof Sarah Spurgeon (EDA) and Prof Gordon Lynch (SECL), both of whom have had to juggle conflicting demands within their own lives. It will be an opportunity to hear from them, but also to hear from other ECRs across the University, to share your experience, and to offer help and advice to each other.

Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to all, but places are limited so please let me know if you intend to come along.

Further ECRN events are scheduled for the rest of the term (details to follow).  In addition, the Graduate School provides a comprehensive programme of skills development training. More info here (pdf).