Vitae Research Staff Conference - 5 November 2009

Researchers: A Vision for National Engagement

David J. Proctor

London St Pancras | 5 November 2009 Vitae Research Staff Conference

College of Life Sciences Postdoc Association | University of Dundee


A collective voice for research staff

Research staff communities

Structures for preserving knowledge

Practical issues facing research staff

overview


Why is it important to have a collective voice for research staff concerning

issues of career development?


a collective voice for research staff

different disciplines

different institutions

similar aspirations

principal investigator



Research Staff Association Mission

representationsupport networking



College of Art, Science & Engineering

College of Arts and Social Sciences

College of Life Sciences

College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

communities of researchers


Dundee

Edinburgh

York

Leeds

Sheffield

Cambridge

Oxford

Bristol

Southampton





What other communities of researchers exist?

Which communities are most effective in engaging researchers in career development?


There is often a high turnover of research staff within institutions. This can have a substantial effect upon knowledge within

research staff associations.

How can we ensure that knowledge isn’t lost when research staff leave an institution?

structures for preserving knowledge


Research staff associations must be structured to preserve knowledge so that they are independent of individual members.

Create a committee to oversee the activities of the research staff association.

Provide clear roles and responsibilities for committee members.

Communicate effectively. For example, create a website that provides:

•a history of how the research staff association formed

•detailed descriptions of how to conduct committee business

•examples of what has been done by the committee



CoordinatorsOfficers AdvisorsRepresentatives

Meetings

Chair

Treasurer Partners

Seminars

Webmaster

Publicity

Networking

Conferences

11 Divisions

9 represented

College of Life Sciences Board

School of Research Board

Health & Safety Committee

Concordat Steering Group

Faculty





What other methods could be utilized to ensure that knowledge is preserved within research staff associations?

What other resources exist that are of value to research staff? Can these resources be used for career development?


practical issues facing research staff

Issue: Research staff are hard to engage

Solution: Structure research associations in a simple fashionEnsure associations represent the interests of researchersFacilitate interactions among researchersHighlight benefits of career development activities

Principle 5

Individual researchers share the responsibility for and need to pro-actively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.



Principle 5.5

Research managers and employers [have] a responsibility to provide honest advice and appropriate structures, and to equip researchers with the tools to manage their own careers.

Issue: Possible conflict of interest between research staff and principal investigators with regards to career development

Solution: Implement routine monitoring and evaluation (Principle 5.6)Create a mentoring system to support researchersProvide leadership and management training at all levels



What other strategic or practical issues are current challenges facing researchers?

Can these issues be addressed through Vitae and the implementation of the Concordat;

through the efforts of local, regional, national research staff organizations; or are additional

structures necessary?


thanks

Tennie Videler

Mhairi Towler

Peri Cihan

Mark Miller

Katie Shaw

National Research Staff Association

Christine Milburn

Joerg Schlatterer

Career

Vitae Research Staff Conference - 5 November 2009