Researcher Development Programme (RDP) course timetable

All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page.

The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia.

It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own.

Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass)

Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences

Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing

Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3

Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership

End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN

WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!)

WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July

Why this course might make a difference:

The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN

WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!)

WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July

Why this course might make a difference:

The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN

WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!)

WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July

Why this course might make a difference:

The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.

All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page.

The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia.

It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own.

Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass)

Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences

Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing

Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3

Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership

End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate

Why this course might make a difference:
Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else.

A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions.

This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course.

About the trainer:
The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors.

If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk

After your Departmental inductions, actually starting your PhD, particularly in an institution such as Cambridge, can be an inspiring, but daunting experience: how do I start? Where do I start? How do I make the best start?... and after your PhD: what of your career?! 'Hit the Ground Running on your PhD: your research, your career’, 16 October is an Arts, Humanities and Social Science 1st year PhD skills induction afternoon, developed by PhD students for PhD students to:

• Alert you to resources and challenges they wish they knew when they arrived;
• Provide advice and guidance for getting the most out of your time at Cambridge;
• Get you thinking ahead to maximize your preparation for long-term term career and research goals.

This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far.

By the end of this course you will know:

• the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge
• how to deal with common supervision scenarios
• how to provide effective feedback
• the practicalities of starting to supervise

Topics covered:

Stage 1 - Online

• Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them)
• Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system)

Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop

• Role of a supervisor
• Dealing with different supervision scenarios
• Departmental information

Stage 3 - Online

• Summary of what you have learnt
• Practical tips and advice
• Resources for ongoing support and information

This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far.

By the end of this course you will know:

• the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge
• how to deal with common supervision scenarios
• how to provide effective feedback
• the practicalities of starting to supervise

Topics covered:

Stage 1 - Online

• Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them)
• Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system)

Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop

• Role of a supervisor
• Dealing with different supervision scenarios
• Departmental information

Stage 3 - Online

• Summary of what you have learnt
• Practical tips and advice
• Resources for ongoing support and information

Why this course might make a difference:

Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else.

A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions.

This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course.

About the trainer:
The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors.

If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk

Are you in a formal leadership role, or have you taken on leadership positions informally? When, where and how do you lead?

This session will help you consider the variety of situations and contexts you find yourself leading in and guide you in understanding your leadership skills so that you can improve them and deploy them thoughtfully. We will look at a variety of definitions of leadership, consider various leadership styles and reflect on leadership within and out of the research environment.

This workshop aims to offer a very brief introduction to leadership which can be developed further on a range of leadership development events and workshops that are part of the RDP.

Outcomes:
- Recognise your own current skills and strengths in relation to developing further as a leader
- Review a range of definitions of, and styles of leadership
- Apply this to your own context

This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will:

• explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs
• explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers
• discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them
• introduce the University’s research ethics system
• use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues

Are you able to ask for the things you need and want? The career of a postdoc researcher is demanding, and it involves forging careful relationships with a variety of figures, from PIs to fellow researchers and peers to postgraduate students. Are you capable of asking for help from others? Do you spread yourself too thin by saying yes to others’ requests for support? This course is designed to help you develop an assertive mind-set and to communicate your needs in an honest, clear, and respectful way.

Outcomes:

• Understand the benefits of being assertive and the difference between assertive, aggressive, and passive thinking and behaviour
• Know what assertiveness looks and sounds like
• Develop skills in communicating assertively in day-to-day conversation

Feedback:

“It was one of the best training sessions I have attended while at the University. Went back to the lab and recommended it to my colleagues.”

“[This course] highlighted a new way of thinking/mindset that I was not very aware of. It gave me confidence that I can be more assertive.”

Beginning a PhD can be a daunting experience, but this half-day course is designed for first-year students to help you make the best start that you possibly can. It provides an overview of doing a PhD, complementary to other introductions you may attend. We examine what's involved in doing a PhD, how to usefully define 'research', and how to plan a research project.

Outcomes:

• Understand what a PhD is, and what's involved in doing a PhD
• Have a definition of 'research' that enables you to be effective
• Be able to plan

Do the terms ‘coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ intrigue you? Do you want to understand how they can be part of your future progression? There are many opportunities and programmes across this university for postdocs to get involved in coaching and mentoring in different ways. The overall purpose is to help postdocs understand the importance of being coached and mentored, and/or being a coach or a mentor. This short workshop introduces these two methods to explore what they are and how they can be helpful to postdocs. It will also direct you to where you can access these opportunities at Cambridge University.

Outcomes:

• Describe the terms ‘coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ in more detail.
• Differentiate between the two and identify situations for each that are specifically relevant to postdocs.
• Compose a way forward to plan for coaching and mentoring to be part of your personal, professional and career progression.

Feedback:

“Great trainer - very professional, supportive and helpful.”

“This was a great coaching and mentoring session. I liked the interaction with other people.”

“I like the approach to the topics covered. [There was] useful information that I would like to explore more to enhance my coaching and mentoring.”

This introductory workshop will examine the processes of preparing and giving lectures. It will encourage you to consider what makes a good lecture and what lecturing is for. The workshop is interactive: it is a chance to exchange experiences and ideas with peers and to think of feedback and evaluation.

*Please note that this course is not aimed at PhD students*

Beginning a PhD can be a daunting experience, but this half-day course is designed for first-year students to help you make the best start that you possibly can. It provides an overview of doing a PhD, complementary to other introductions you may attend. We examine what's involved in doing a PhD, how to usefully define 'research', and how to plan a research project.

Outcomes:

• Understand what a PhD is, and what's involved in doing a PhD
• Have a definition of 'research' that enables you to be effective
• Be able to plan

The life of a postdoc can be inherently stressful, with making applications for research grants, publishing and maintaining a work life balance, as well as coping with the precariousness of temporary contracts or visa regulations. Postdocs need an ample supply of resilience to deal with the ups and downs of being a professional researcher.

The aim of this workshop is to help you build emotional resilience by further developing coping strategies to overcome challenges. We will focus on what constitutes resilience, identifying your current coping strategies, and using theories of resilience to strengthen your ability to deal with whatever life and work throws at you, whilst maintaining a good level of wellbeing.

Outcomes

• Recognise that you already have emotional resilience and use strategies on an ongoing basis.
• Cultivate further effective coping strategies for various contexts.
• Discover how to use a range of tools and techniques to increase your resilience.

Feedback:

“I would like more courses like this! Thank you!”

“Really good framework for applying it personally.”

“Interacting in groups worked well while exploring real-life examples.”

Have you started a postdoc at Cambridge? Now is the time to create a plan for how you would like it to unfold. In this workshop, we will consider how to navigate the research landscape, how to think strategically about your strengths, and how to develop mental and emotional discipline for coping with how demanding and competitive the research environment can be. We will explore case studies illustrating that there’s no one recipe for success, but there are common ingredients. You will identify potential obstacles that might stand in your way as well as enablers that will aid your career progression. This workshop is for postdoctoral researchers who want to maximise their chances of succeeding in their chosen careers.

Outcomes:

• Devise an action plan for the near future including how to deal with the unexpected
• Learn how to identify enablers and obstacles to career progression and how to work with or around them
• Begin to take charge of your own career path

Feedback: “It encouraged an overall view of thinking about my career and what I want out of it and what I am good at. It also covered examples of people who stayed in academia as well as those who did not, so that I was able to consider the pros and cons of more than just one route.”

“I'm right at the start of my post-doc and it helped me to think about what I wanted to get out of the next few years in terms of my career.”