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Researcher Development

Helping you develop into an independent researcher.

Background

Becoming a research professional within the sciences and engineering disciplines involves more than just building your research profile and research skills. We offer personal, professional and career development opportunities for postgraduate researchers who will go on to work in a variety of careers.

We recognise that everyone is an individual with different skills and experience so the programme is flexible and can be tailored to your own requirements. Explore our online virtual learning environment (Canvas) to learn more of what's on offer or undertake a training needs analysis on NU Reflect.

 

Campus Buildings

Highlights

Key events and activities specific to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering for the 2024/25 academic year. 

ACTION 2024/25
ACTION is an innovation and entrepreneurial awareness development programme specifically designed for postgraduate researchers to think about how you can create value and impact from your research whether now or in your future research career.  We will run a series of workshops together with informal drop-ins which will focus on supporting you to be aware of the industrial and societal problems and challenges that you are addressing, and to work towards realising the impact of your research. ACTION is not a competition as such but will culminate in participants bidding into a development fund to prepare you for further opportunities which may arise later in your career, or to take an idea forward that you have developed during the programme.
 
Full information on ACTION can be found on our Teams site.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ There is no formal application process but you must be a registered research student at Newcastle University. The 6 workshops and the 2 drop-ins are offered to interested PGRs and you should book on and attend as much of the programme as possible.   
Insights Public Lecture

Public lectures at Newcastle University are free and open to all. The aim is to offer a programme that will inform, stimulate, entertain, and excite see https://www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures/ The last INSIGHTS Public Lecture: New voices on science, agriculture and engineering was held on the 5th December 2023. You can still watch the recording.

 Details on the next lecture and how to apply will appear here soon. 

PGR Conference

The annual SAgE PGR conference will take place between the 21st and 23rd January 2025 Look out for details of the 2025 conference coming soon.

PhD & Beyond Weeks

PhD & Beyond weeks are for postgraduate researchers who are coming towards the end of their research degree. Two times are planned for w/c 4th November 2024 and w/c 10th March 2025.

The content of the weeks will include sessions to help you finish your research degree and career development opportunities.

Workshops include: 

  • Interview Skills
  • Introduction to Leadership
  • IP for Researchers
  • Networking for Researchers
  • Policy Engagement for Researchers
  • Preparing for Your Viva
  • Research Funding
  • Where does all the research data go? How to archive and share research data

Browse the workshop booking system for the full programme.

Postgraduate Leadership Programme

An in-person programme for late-stage PhD students interested in exploring leadership and developing their expertise as they consider future leadership positions. 

As your career progresses – both inside and beyond academic roles – it is likely that you will be expected to take on leadership roles.  This programme will support you explore:

  • Your own current leadership style and behaviours and how these can be developed to be even more effective in future.
  • How you can communicate even more effectively with a broad range of individuals and across disciplinary boundaries.
  • How you can work with others to bring them with you on projects.
  • How you can evidence your leadership skills for future job applications – both inside and beyond academia.

The programme will bring together researchers from across the University and throughout the programme you will have the opportunity to network and work with a diverse community of researchers as you develop your leadership skills.  The programme will be include a range of activities and discussions to support you identify and develop your leadership skills and full attendance at the workshop is expected.

Dates for 24/25 will be advertised in due course.

The Brilliant Club

The Brilliant Club provides postgraduate researchers training in widening participation, research communication, and teaching. Researchers are then paid to deliver academically rigorous programmes to small groups of pupils in state schools across the UK.

How does it work?
On The Scholars Programme, tutors are trained to create a course based on their own academic research pitched at pupils in Key Stage 4 or 5. Tutors also have the opportunity to deliver a pre-designed programme to younger pupils aged 8-10. They deliver this course in university-style tutorials to groups of 7. To help fit alongside their other commitments, tutors indicate their availability on a termly basis. Placements are paid from £550 per placement, with an additional £121 for designing a Scholars Programme course (plus London weighting). Travel expenses are also paid.
For more information, register to attend an online information event
To apply, fill in the application form here
If you have any queries, please get in touch via apply@thebrilliantclub.org

Contact us

For any questions or queries please contact us at pgrdp@ncl.ac.uk