Learning & Development
10 days professional development
As part of the Researcher Development Concordat all research staff are allocated a minimum of ten days professional development, pro rata, per year.
Courses and Resources By Theme
Welcome and Induction
If you are a new researcher at The University of Manchester:
- Join one of our Research Staff Induction Sessions
- Access the Research Staff Handbook.
- Email resdev@manchester.ac.uk to be put in touch with your local Research Staff representative
Leading and Managing
- BlackDackel Basics (online)
- Coaching Skills for PGR Supervisors
- Cultivating Wellbeing in Postgraduate Researchers
- Fellowships and Grant Applications
- Leading for Research Fellows
- Managing at Manchester for Researchers
- Project Management for Researchers
- UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Planning your application
- UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Reflecting upon and enhancing practice
- UKCGE Supervisor Recognition support: Clinic and swap-shop
Communicating and Collaborating
Ran by Researcher Development
- Effective Research Presentation
- Entrepreneurship for Researchers
- How to Communicate your Research
- Mastering Research Collaboration
- Present with Confidence
Research Impact Training Modules (ran by the Research Impact Team)
The Research Impact Team offer five research impact training modules, which are are available through the Training Catalogue. They are cross discipline and open to early career researchers (ECRs), mid and late-stage researchers and interested Professional Service Colleagues. Topics include:
- Introduction to research impact – what impact is (and isn’t) and key elements of impact planning and delivery
- Planning for research impact – including in grant applications
- Communicating your research – with a wide variety of groups and audiences
- Working with external stakeholders to achieve research impact
- Evidencing research impact
Communicating Your Research with Impact (online, on-demand training course)
Personal and Career Development
- Academic Career Planning
- Career Consultation Appointments
- Coaching for Researchers
- Creating a Winning Job Application
- CVs for Researchers: Masterclass
- CVs in 30 Minutes (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Making Value-Led Decisions About Your Life (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Monthly Careers Conversations
- Moving Forward with Your Career – Prosper Drop-In Sessions
- Prosper Buddy Scheme
- Research IT
- Research Staff Promotions – Biology, Medicine and Health
- Research Staff Promotions – Humanities
- Research Staff Promotions – Science and Engineering
- Researcher Development Groups
- Researcher Development Seminar Series
- “Tell Me About Yourself” and Other Interview Questions (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Techniques to Describe Yourself Genuinely to Others (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Ten Top Tips for Your LinkedIn Profile (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Using LinkedIn to Build Professional Connections (part of the Career Hacks series)
- Work-Life Balance
Online Resources
Academic Promotions on Research-Only Contracts –This resource is designed to:
- outline the four sets of criteria you need to evidence for promotion
- help you identify good practice in writing a promotion application, by offering ideas of evidence to include and through providing successful examples
- highlight the application process and where you can access support
- provide you with the opportunity to start to gather your evidence as you look at successful examples and read the career guidance.
This guide is predominantly focused on the promotion from grade 6 (Research Associate) to grade 7 (Research Fellow) but will be relevant to anyone looking for promotion on the research-only track.
Career Seminar Series for Researchers – This resource is a legacy of the BMH Career Seminar Series and includes recordings of the sessions run with invited guests to talk about their careers (or career-related topics), along with other relevant resources. Topics include: CV clinic; medical writing; industry; teaching; NHS; funding bodies and project management.
CVs for Researchers – This short module provides guidance and advice for research staff on how to develop CVs which evidence their skills for roles in a range of sectors: academic; public; charity and commercial. Example CV formats include: Academic CVs, Narrative CVs and CVs for different sectors (including skills based CVs).
Getting the Most out of Your P&DR for Research Staff – The aim of this resource is to help you prepare for your Performance and Development Review (P&DR) so that you get the most out of this important career management meeting. Working through this resource will help you:
- reflect on your research achievements, your development needs and your aspirations for your future career
- use a range of communication skills to ensure that your line manager is able to support you fully
- emphasise the importance of agreeing achievable actions and provide a process for follow up and continual review
- signpost to a wider network of support and mentorship
1-1 Career Consultations
These 30minute, confidential one-to-one appointments are available for PDRAs & other early career research staff and research staff university-wide. Services available include practice interviews/interview preparation, discussion of career plans and personal feedback on written applications (CVs, covering letters or application forms). Book here.
Bespoke Training Request
If you have a bespoke training request, please email resdev@manchester.ac.uk. Please allow as much notice as possible, requests made with less than six weeks’ notice prior to the event date may not be honoured.