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Research Futures Academy Newsletter 
March 2020
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Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter.  During this uncertain time we want to keep you informed of the changes to our development opportunities and offer some useful links to maintaining your skills and wellbeing. 

For PGR Students please ensure you keep in touch regularly with your Supervisor and your other HWU networks.  There is also a list of FAQs available here PGR FAQs

Link to student wellbeing for further information on what support is available to you at Heriot-Watt.

Staff FAQs are available via this link Staff FAQs.  The Professional and Organisational Development Division of HR have also developed a guide to working at home for staff that includes information on how to look after yourself and support others during this time.    

The Research Futures Academy team will continue to look at ways to engage with the Researcher Community at Heriot-Watt through formal development sessions as well as informal updates.  The registration process for workshops and events is being managed remotely and we will respond to queries and requests for information and support as quickly as we can. 

Stay safe and well and we hope to connect with you all soon.

 
To request a place and for more details on our 2020 workshops as they are announced see our online booking system PDMS .
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Research Futures Academy:
Postgraduate Researcher Programme


The following sessions will run as webinars throughout April and are available to PGR Students based at all campuses:

Thesis writing for PGR students - Wednesday 1 April 2020 - 10.00 - 12.00


A thesis is an extended piece of writing—often the longest a person has ever been asked to write and, as such, it is often daunting. This webinar is designed for the daunted, during which we will look at the thesis writing process as a project to be managed like any other. We will look at the importance of incorporating writing into your daily schedule rather than leaving it to the end; we will look at strategies for getting started; and we will develop an understanding of what it means to write at a postgraduate level.

Publishing Research: Getting Published in Journals - Guidance for Researchers Webinar Series -
Session 1 Wednesday 8 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00
Session 2 Wednesday 15 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00
Session 3 Monday 27 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00

This series is designed for researchers who are considering publishing their research and have some familiarity with the process and terminology.

These interlinked workshops providing a comprehensive advice and knowledge on how to successfully publish your research findings. It is recommended that participants attend all three of these sessions. 

Writing an Effective Literature Review - Thursday 9 April 2020 - 10.00 - 12.00

Whether you are writing a PhD Thesis, a Grant Application or a Paper you will be required to produce a literature review. This aspect of academic writing presents many problems to those new, and sometimes not so new, to the task. Some mistakenly think that a simple, and often exhaustive, catalogue of past research is what is required. But, or course, a good literature review is much more than that. This webinar will help participants through a carefully plotted route, helping them to produce a winning strategy for writing their next literature review. 

Who's afraid of the Big Blank Page - Getting Started with your Writing - Tuesday 14 April 2020 10.00 - 11.00

If you find writing a challenge, you are not alone. There are a number of difficulties, but many writers find that their biggest problem is simply getting started. In this online session we will focus on strategies we can use to help us get over that fear of the big blank page. We will look at freewriting and how this can help us generate text and, also, help us think on paper. By the end of this one-hour interactive online session, you will have a better understanding of what free writing is and how it can help you in your scientific writing and your scientific thinking. During this session, you will have the opportunity to do some freewriting, so make sure you have some paper and a pen handy.

Identifying your Skills and Career Planning - Thursday 23 April 2020 12.00 - 13.30

This workshop is designed for PhD candidates who are seeking to take the next steps in their Career Planning. It will support students in identifying what their key strengths are and how to explore, articulate and evidence their skills and unique selling point.

This workshop is suitable for those planning a career in academia, as well as those planning a career outside of academia and is suitable for students at all campuses.

To register for these and to keep up to date with other development opportunities as they arise please see our online booking system PDMS

Research Futures Academy:
Academic CPD

This year we have introduced a brand new academic CPD programme for aspiring and established academic research leaders called ‘Supporting our Researchers’.  This provides new opportunities on grant writing, publishing and improving citations, managing a grant and research group, public engagement, PhD supervision and growing your influence. 

On Wednesday 1 April 13.00 - 14.30 we will run Getting Grant Funding: Introduction to Research Engagement.  This short introductory webinar session will give researchers an overview of the HWU Research Engagement Directorate, within the new Research Engagement Hub. The session specifically covers how the Research Development Team support researchers from grant application preparation to submission. This includes a short presentation on funding database 'Research Professional' and a practical 'how to' guide to 'Worktribe.' The session is relatively informal with plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Publishing Research: Getting Published in Journals - Guidance for Researchers Webinar Series -
Session 1 Wednesday 8 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00
Session 2 Wednesday 15 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00
Session 3 Monday 27 April 2020 - 10.00 - 11.00

This series is designed for researchers who are considering publishing their research and have some familiarity with the process and terminology.

These interlinked workshops providing a comprehensive advice and knowledge on how to successfully publish your research findings. It is recommended that participants attend all three of these sessions. 

High quality supervision is central to the PhD student experience as well as being important for Heriot-Watt University’s long term research reputation.  Expectations of research funders in the UK have increased in recent years in terms of training provision and research environment for PhD students (c.f. the “Researcher Development Framework” and “HR Excellence in Research” award).  On Tuesday 5 14.15 - 16.15 and Wednesday 6 May 2020 09.30 - 11.30 we will be hosting further sessions for new and experienced Supervisors - Supervise: Enhancing your Supervisory Practice.

Book for all of these sessions on PDMS where we will also advertise any new opportunities.  


***********EVENT POSTPONED************


We are currently exploring with the event organisers and other sector colleagues how best to proceed with this year's competition.  We will update you with further information once this is available.

 
Other Opportunities

IP for Research - Live Lecture
Thursday 2 April 2020 14.30 - 16.00


Bookings for the IP for research live lecture are now open. The booking form is here: https://www.vitae.ac.uk/events/ip-for-research-events/booking-form
 
Open to anyone interested in learning the basics of IP for researchers, from PhD candidates, to postdocs, to those who support researchers. Participants just need a secure internet connection, an internet enabled device, and a quiet location from which to listen in. The session is free to join but the log in details will only be provided to those who register using the link above.
 

 

Coronavirus and RSE Enteprise Fellowships:

 

Applicants: Our call for the Enterprise Fellowship programme is still open and the deadline remains as previously advertised: 5pm on 3 April 2020.

We can accept e-signatures on applications. If your organisation is closed and unable to approve and submit an application, we can accept applications without signatures, however we will require agreement from your organisation in the form of an e-mail confirmation from those named on the application form. The relevant individuals should email enterprisefellowships@therse.org.uk, quoting the applicant’s name, to confirm their agreement.

We will endeavour not to alter interview or decision dates, and though our selection committee meetings will take place remotely, we will be in touch if this affects you.

At present, the subsequent deadline will remain the 28 October 2020.

Current awardeesTo minimise the impact of the global health situation on our award holders, the RSE will provide as pragmatic support as possible, recognising the impact of the coronavirus is significant and evolving.

The RSE is working with award holders and their organisations to ensure that fair and appropriate support is in place. If an extension is required to your project because of the impact of the coronavirus please e-mail your request to enterprisefellowships@therse.org.uk stating the reason and what length of extension you might require. We realise this may be difficult to predict at present.

 

We will be aiming to minimise the impact of the coronavirus on funded activities as far as possible.

RSE Enterprise Fellowships offer a leading, UK-wide business creation, development and training programme for the higher education sector; enabling researchers to develop into world-class entrepreneurs.

      

Why apply?

Secure an equity-free support package of funding and training support worth up to £90,000! The 12-month programme offers:

 

We ensure that you are supported and equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in today’s fast-paced global business environment.

  

An Enterprise Fellowship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the potential to truly be life-changing! See the RSE website for more information and to apply.

Deadline for applications: 

5:00pm, 3 April, 2020

 

Career Management for Early Career Academic Researchers

Explore different career options, learn what you want out of a career and understand how to implement good career decisions.

On this course you will answer these questions and more, considering how to manage you career and reflecting on what you want out of a career. You will be encouraged to consider different career options, both within and outside academic research, and build your confidence in marketing yourself in applications and interviews.

For more information see the Future Learn webpage

Research Futures Academy contact details
 
If you’d like to contact us, please email or telephone as shown below.  We look forward to hearing from you!  

 
Email:
ResearchFutures@hw.ac.uk - for general enquiries
ScottishCrucible@hw.ac.uk - for enquiries about Scottish Crucible programme

EuropeanCrucible@hw.ac.uk - for enquiries about European Crucible 2020
 
 
Telephone:  0131 451 3789






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Centre for Academic Leadership and Development · Lord Balerno Building · Heriot-Watt University · Edinburgh, EH14 4AS · United Kingdom

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