Dear Barry, Odette and all.

The Careers in Research On-line Survey (title changed two years ago from 
Contract Research On-line Survey) is of course for all Research Staff and 
not just those employed on a fixed term contract.

In my view the issue of management development for 'early stage' PI's, 
those that have recently been awarded a grant and as a result will be 
employing staff, is absolutely essential to HEI's for many reasons.  These 
colleagues are our research leaders of the future, they are generally keen 
to develop and play such an important role in the career development of 
less experienced research staff.  Over the longer term they are a key group 
on which to concentrate effort and resource.

A number of projects have worked on this, notably the Leicester / Cambridge 
project at:

<http://www.le.ac.uk/researchleader/index.html>

Here at Bristol we are looking into such a development and you may be 
interested in talking to my colleague Magdalena Bak-Maier, Research Staff 
Development Manager about this ([log in to unmask]).

Happy Christmas all!

Regards
Christian



--On 20 December 2006 16:31 +0000 "Barry, Terence J" <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:

>
> Dear Odette
>
> I had an e-mail from an academic just this week which mentioned something
> similar. We contacted him tolet him know about a survey of contract
> resarch staff we are running. His comment was:
>
> all research staff need proper career development - not just the more
> vulnerable fixed-term contract staff.
>
> Whilst this is a much more general appeal for support, and yours is a
> much more specific project,  I thought it was worth passing on to you. We
> are just beginning to look at training for PIs but would be interested in
> hearing from you if you think we might be a useful site for a pilot.
>
> Terry
>
> Terry Barry
> Professional Development Manager
> Learning and Teaching Unit
> University of Essex
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for HEI professionals working with research staff
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Odette
> Dewhurst
> Sent: 20 December 2006 15:47
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: A Course to Help New PIs in Science/Engineering
>
>
> Good afternoon
>
> I recently submitted a bid with a colleague here at the University of
> Leeds, to the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE)
> requesting funding for the development of a course for to help new PIs
> set up and run their first research group in the science/engineering
> disciplines. From our CROS and Leadership surveys, we've identified that
> new PIs (both new to the role and new to the university) often feel
> unsupported in making the transition and that the move from being a
> researcher IN a lab to being a researcher IN CHARGE of a lab is a
> particularly challenging one.
>
> The idea is that the course would be composed of a number of modular
> "building blocks" on topics such as:
> - recruiting and managing staff and PhD researchers
> - financial management and planning
> - time management
> - project management
> - managing lab and office space
> - research politics and influence
> - succession planning
> - collaborations with other groups
> - health and safety
>
> The modules would be made freely available to any HEI wishing to use
> some/all of them and institutional-specific information could be added
> where needed.
>
> The bid failed, not because it wasn't considered to be a good project but
> because the reviewers didn't feel that:
> a) there are sufficient research staff networks in place to be able to
> disseminate the course (particularly that "UKHERD seems very limited" (!)
> b) that the issue of supporting research staff during this stage of their
> academic career is a "local matter for management/staff development to
> sort out"
>
> We're resubmitting the bid but would like your help. What I'd be really
> grateful for is if you could answer these 2 questions:
> 1. Is it a local problem? Do you have any evidence of researchers at your
> HEI expressing a need for support during this stage of their career?
> 2. Would you be interested in piloting this course at your HEI, if the
> bid is successful?
>
> I'm aware that we're almost at the Christmas break, so have kept this
> email fairly brief, however I am in the office all tomorrow and am happy
> to discuss this further. I'm back in the office on 2nd Jan - the bid
> needs to re-submitted by 25th Jan.
>
> Kind regards
> Odette
>
> Dr Odette Dewhurst
> Research Training & Development Officer  |  1.38 Graduate Training &
> Support Centre  |  SDDU   |  Parkinson Building  | University of Leeds  |
> Leeds
> LS2 9JT  |T +44 0113 34 36883  | e mail [log in to unmask] |
>



----------------------
Christian Carter
Personnel Manager (Policy Development)
Senate House
Tyndall Av
Bristol BS81TH
[log in to unmask]
0117 9287776
Personnel Services Website: /www.bristol.ac.uk/personnel
Positive Working Environment Web site: www.bristol.ac.uk/pwe
Research Staff Web site: www.bristol.ac.uk/researchstaff