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Research and knowledge exchange

Issue 81: April 2022

 

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the April 2022 issue of The Sussex Researcher. We hope that you are looking forward to having a restful break over the upcoming holidays!

Don't forget there is still time to apply to participate in the Research Staff Showcase - a unique event, part of Research with Impact Day on 7 June, dedicated to celebrating the research achievements and impact of Sussex Research Staff.

Whilst we believe everything in the newsletter is interesting, and also hopefully useful for you, we particularly want to highlight:

Best wishes

The Research Staff Office 


 

 

Workshops & Events

Research Staff Office Events

- Thursday 7th April 12:00-13:00
- Tuesday 12th April, 11:00-12:00 
- Tuesday 19th April & Wednesday 20th April, 10:00-12:00
- Monday 25th April, 12:00-13:00
- Wednesday 27th April, 14:30-15:150
 - Thursday 28th April & Tuesday 10th May, 10:00-12:30
- Monday 9th May, 12:00-13:00
- Wednesday 11th May, 14:00-16:00
 

Events organised by other teams 

- Wednesday 13th April, 14:30-16:00
- Tuesday 26th April, 10:30-12:00
- Thursday 28th April, 13:00-14:30
- Tuesday 10th May, 10:30-12:00
- Wednesday 18th May, 13:00-14:30

 
Click here to view RSO events by date
 

News

Research Culture Seeding Fund - Apply for up to £2,500 for initiatives to enhance research culture
*Deadline for applications is Friday 15 April

The Research Culture Seeding (RCS) Fund is part of a range of initiatives that the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ has recently launched to help foster a creative, inclusive, and collaborative research culture here at Sussex.

Open to Early Career Researchers (ECRs), the RCS Fund will pump-prime innovative approaches to enhancing the environment in which research takes place at the University, and act as a pilot projects for new ideas which could serve as best practice models to be rolled out in other parts of the University.

See the Research Culture Seeding Fund webpage for applicant guidance, terms and conditions, and to apply. The deadline for applications is Friday 15 April.
Click here to view the RCS Fund webpage
 
Research with Impact Awards 2022 now open for entries!

Everyone’s impact journey is different; we’re all at different stages along the way, and have different roles to play, in working together to achieve real change. This year, our Research with Impact Awards have been designed to recognise this.
 
We’ll be acknowledging efforts to plan for and progress the fundamentals important for achieving impact, as well as rewarding activity that is already underway and generating impact. We’ll also be rewarding the commitment and contribution of colleagues (academic and professional services) who play vital roles in supporting impact work and culture.
 
Winners will receive £1000 to pursue the next stage of their impact plans and/or develop their impact capabilities.
 
The six award categories this year are as follows:
  1. Emerging impact (2 awards: 1 open to staff at all career levels, 1 ECR-specific)
  2. Ongoing impact (2 awards: 1 open to staff at all career levels, 1 ECR-specific)
  3. Emerging impact through enterprising activity
  4. Ongoing impact through interdisciplinary collaboration
  5. Academic impact champion
  6. Professional Services impact champion
To encourage entries from our Early Career Researcher community, two awards will be given in each of Categories 1 and 2, one of which will be awarded to an ECR.
 
Award winners will be announced at the end of the Research with Impact Day on Tuesday 7th June 2022, as part of a celebratory drinks reception in the Bramber House Conference Centre.
 
Please visit the Research with Impact Awards 2022 webpage to read the Call for Entries, and to download the entry form. Completed forms should be submitted via email to rqi@sussex.ac.uk by midday Wednesday 18 May 2022.
Click here to view the Research with Impact Awards 2022 webpage
 
Research with Impact Forum - Narrative CVs - another tool to enhance research culture?
Wednesday 13th April (2.30pm - 4pm)


The next Research with Impact forum will take place on Wednesday 13 April (2.30 pm - 4.00 pm) and the theme will be: Narrative CVs - another tool to enhance research culture?

UKRI have developed a single CV format for researchers, based on the Royal Society’s résumé for researchers. These ‘Narrative CVs’ are being requested by funders as a way of supporting researchers to share their varied contributions to research; to their field and to wider society. The intention is to provide a way to evaluate these contributions that does not rely solely on narrow performance indicators and metrics, and to enable a consistent approach across widely varying backgrounds, individual circumstances and career pathways.

This seminar will explore a number of questions from the perspective of the early career researcher, the senior academic and the reviewer.
  • How can we best evaluate individuals’ varied contributions to research in line with our commitment to DORA principles?
  • How can researchers evidence and document their outputs and other contributions to research and scholarship?
  • How does an institution develop and nurture talent?
  • What are the benefits of narrative CVs with reference to EDI issues, career breaks, time spent out of academia, etc.?
  • What are the challenges for recruitment and review panels?
The event takes place on Wednesday 13 April, between 2.30 pm and 4.00 pm via Zoom.
 

Your Research & Careers

New PI or Faculty Member at Sussex? Please Complete Survey

Making the transition from post-doc to PI and/or starting your first faculty position can be equal parts exciting and daunting.

Two new research fellows (Life Sciences) and (Engineering & Informatics), and faculty member (Physics & Astronomy) are planning to apply to the to set up a network for new PI’s and first time faculty members at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ.
 
This will be a self-defining and inclusive network, open to members of all departments across the university, and they would really like your input as to what activities and initiatives (e.g. coffee mornings, training) you’d like to see as part of this network. For context, we can apply for up to £2500 (deadline 15th April) and funds must be spent by the end of July.
 
In order to help informed application by Friday 8th April. There is also an option to add your name to an email list to be contacted about the network should this or future funding applications be successful.
 
 
Preparing for your Appraisal

With the launch of the 2022 Appraisal process just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing to make sure you get the most out of these conversations.

As an appraisee, there are several ways you can gain the self-awareness, insights and knowledge to ensure your appraisal sets you up to perform at your best for the year ahead. This includes some great tips on how to personalise the appraisal process and really make it your own.

If you are looking for more guidance and resources to support you through the appraisal process, do take a look through the relevant Organisation Development Team webpages.
 

Research Funding


If applying for funding, remember to check funders' eligibility criteria carefully and discuss the opportunity with your host institution/department prior to preparing any applications.

Do look at Research Development webpages for guidance around applications

For more information about ECR Fellowships, check out our new webpage: 
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/researchstaff/funding/fellowship-opportunities

For Coronavirus information for research grant applicants & grant holders check out: 

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/research/development/covid-19
Postdoctoral fellowships

These enable early-career scientists to broaden their research skills by moving into new areas of study while working in a new country conducting research in the life sciences. Fellowships last for three years and include living, relocation, research and travel support.

Deadline for Applications: 18th May 2022
 
Population and systems medicine – new investigator research grant

This supports researchers capable of becoming independent principal investigators and who are ready to take the next step towards that goal within the areas of population and systems medicine. There is no limit to the funding you can apply for, but the typical full economic cost of a project is up to £1 million.

Deadline for Applications: 18th May 2022
 
New investigator research grant – neurosciences and mental health

This supports researchers who are capable of becoming independent principal investigators and who are ready to take the next step towards that goal within neurosciences and mental health. There is no limit to the funding applied for, but the typical full economic cost of a project is under £1 million.

Deadline for Applications: 25th May 2022
 
Multidisciplinary project award

This supports collaborations between cancer researchers and scientists from engineering and physical science disciplines. Projects may receive up to £500,000 each over a maximum period of four years. 

Deadline for Applications: 12th July 2022
Research Staff Office 
Falmer House 
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ 
T (01273) (87)7979 
E researchstaffoffice@sussex.ac.uk

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