A programme to help develop your career
Contract Researcher Cohort Training Programme 2025 Programme Details
The СÀ¶ÊÓƵ recognises the value that all our Contract Research staff bring to delivering high-quality research and innovation activity and our research culture. We also acknowledge the importance of providing appropriate development opportunities and guidance to support these staff, not only in their current roles, but also in planning and preparing for future roles. This programme has been co-designed by researchers to offer access to valuable resources, skills and knowledge aimed at meeting specific needs of our contract researchers.
Objectives
- To actively engage contract researchers in their own development and to ‘take ownership’ of their career.
- Provide practical support and skills development that will enable research staff to develop their current research activity, enhance their CV and be best prepared for future careers.
- To gather feedback and insight from contract researchers with regards their professional and career development in order to inform future planning and support.
Target Audience
Open to any contract (research only) staff
Programme Structure
The programme offers participants opportunities to access support in a variety of modes, coming together as a cohort, as well as time to carry out individual reflections and planning.
Sessions offered through the programme as below
Programme Element 1
1a. Programme Welcome - skills and development planning.
1b. Panel session - Exploring and overcoming the challenges of being a fixed term contract researcher - real-life experiences.
This session will outline aims of the programme and give you the opportunity to meet your fellow participants. We will also explore your expectations and development needs and share tools to plan the next steps for your career. There will also be the opportunity to hear from previous contract researchers and how they have progressed their careers.
Session Lead/s
- Lisa Rhodes - Training and Research Culture Manager.
- Devran Gulel - Post-Doc Research Fellow/Convenor of Research Staff Forum, BaL.
- Roja Hadianamrei - Lecturer, School of Medicine Panellists.
Date/s, Time and Mode
Wednesday 14 May 2025, 10.00am-12.00pm, in-person.
Programme Element 2
2a. Applying for Fellowships
2b. Career mobility - moving between sectors, careers outside academia and working towards an academic post
Gain practical advice and guidance on how to apply for fellowships, along with reflections and support that may be available to you if you are working towards academic posts or careers outside of academia.
Session Lead/s
- Christian Jorgensen - Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine
- Roja Hadianamrei
- Lisa Rhodes
Date/s, Time and Mode
Friday 23 May 2025, 1.00pm-2.30pm, in-person
Programme Element 3
Networking and Profile Building Sessions to help raise your profile, and build the networks that can help you succeed, whether your career aims are in academia or beyond it.
These online sessions will cover a range of skills that will help you raise your profile, and build the networks that can help you succeed, whether your career aims are in academia or beyond it. The interactive workshops are collaboratively delivered by 15 UK Higher Education Institutions and during this workshop you will get the opportunity to network, online, with researchers based at these institutions.The sessions include practical strategies for gaining confidence in networking, building collaborations and use of social media for profile building.
Session Lead/s
- External HEIs,
- Speakers
- Panellists
Date/s, Time and Mode
9 June 2025
16 June 2025
23 June 2025
10am-1pm each day, online.
Programme Element 4
Mentoring. Participants will be matched with a СÀ¶ÊÓƵ mentor. Mentoring sessions are entirely voluntary and are arranged between mentee and mentor at a frequency to suit both.
Programme Element 5
Programme Close - reflections and next steps. This session will reflect back on the programme and allow time to consider next steps.
Session Lead/s
- Lisa Rhodes
Date/s, Time and Mode
Monday 7 July 2025, 11.00am-12.00pm, in-person.
Applying to the Programme
To apply for a place, please complete the by Friday 25 April 2025. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Wednesday 30 April 2025. We are particularly keen to encourage applications from participants from under-represented groups.
10 Day Development Entitlement
By being a signatory of the , the University has committed to allocating Researchers a minimum of 10 days professional development (pro rata) time, (which does not have to be linked to your current project). This programme counts towards your 10 day entitlement. Please discuss your access to the programme with your line manager and build it into your work plans.
To note, your development entitlement can also include activities such as:
- Self-directed learning (could include exploring the guidance in these web pages)
- Conferences
- Receiving mentoring or being a mentor
- Public engagement
- Knowledge exchange activities
- Attending a training course, workshop or webinar
To explore other training and development opportunities and resources facilitated through the Department of Research and Innovation, please see our webpage and our .