Postdoc Academy course timetable
October 2024
Tue 8 |
Mid-Contract Check-In for Postdocs
[Places]
This event is for postdocs near the mid-point of their current contract at Cambridge, and has been designed specifically for this key career stage to help you position yourself for the next step in your career (in academia or otherwise). This interactive online session will cover:
Please also complete this registration form when you make a booking so that we can tailor the session to suit the needs of participants. Your booking will be approved upon our receipt of this form. The booking deadline is 1 October. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Thu 10 |
This masterclass will introduce you to a range of core project management principles which you can apply within your research projects to more effectively plan and monitor your activities. In this 3-hour online session, you will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Tue 15 |
We humans are storytelling animals. We have evolved with and through stories, sharing vital information about food sources and dangers but also morality and values, thereby bringing communities together. In this information age, can the ancestral art of storytelling help researchers to better communicate their work? In this workshop, you will learn:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Wed 16 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Pensions Explained for Postdocs
[Places]
Are you unsure how state pensions work in the UK, what the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is, or how making international moves affects your pension as a postdoc? This session will cover:
There will also be plenty of time for you to ask questions. Please note: it is important that when you book this course, you select 'Add to Calendar' on the booking confirmation page to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
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Thu 17 |
Have you heard of the 'Narrative CV' structure? Funders are increasingly using it in their calls, and you may begin to notice it in job recruitment, too. If you have not worked with this format before, or if you have but feel there is room to improve, this workshop is for you. During this interactive session, we will:
Crucially, you will leave this writing retreat having started an initial draft that you can polish and use for future applications. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Do you find it difficult to stay on track in the pursuit of your career aspirations? Or would you like to improve your ability to set achievable goals? In this one-hour interactive masterclass, you will:
By the end of this session, you should have developed at least one goal that will lead to progress within your overall career plan and strategies for holding yourself accountable. The session will give you protected time, space and support to develop your goals. Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
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Tue 22 |
How do you protect time to focus and manage your workload? In this 1-hour session, you will learn how to:
The session is followed by a 4-day Mini Habit Course. This is one technique per day to help attendees convert proven techniques into useful habits. PLEASE NOTE: You must complete the facilitator's Zoom registration form to access your personalised meeting link. See joining instructions for further details. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Thu 24 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Fri 25 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
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Mon 28 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Tue 29 |
This short, interactive session will introduce the fundamental principles of Lean - a methodology which prioritises continuous improvement and respect for people. Lean is a philosophy and way of working which removes waste from activities and ensures that emphasis is given to tasks that provide added value. Originally developed by Toyota, it is now widely used across many sectors including the NHS and Higher Education. During this masterclass for postdocs, you will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Wed 30 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Thu 31 |
This short, interactive workshop will introduce you to practical tools that will help you test and refine how you are articulating your research vision. We will not generate ideas for new research projects in the session but, rather, explore what makes a potential research topic compelling. We will also explore how you can assess whether your ideas add up to a vision that is bold, exciting, coherent, and – hopefully – fundable. This session would benefit researchers at the initial stages of developing a proposal for funding, and may work well as preparation for one of our sessions on Writing Fellowship Grants with Impact. We will not review specific funding schemes or application materials in this workshop. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
November 2024
Mon 4 |
In the increasingly competitive field of fellowship funding, your applications need to stand out immediately. During this online masterclass for early career researchers, you'll learn key considerations for preparing a strong fellowship application. The session will explore:
It will consist of a 60-minute talk, followed by 30 minutes for you to ask questions. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Wed 6 |
Academic Writing Month, or 'Writefest,' invites researchers at all career stages to collaborate and foster a supportive writing environment. In this spirit, the Postdoc Academy, University Libraries, and the Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme invite you to a panel event exploring the publishing cycle, offering postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers the chance to engage with an expert panel. This session will provide a forum for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers to bring their questions to an expert panel, including:
It will feature a discussion between our panellists and plenty of time for questions from the audience. Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Thu 7 |
Postdoc Welcome Event
[Places]
The Postdoc Academy provides welcome events specific to postdocs joining the University of Cambridge - these are open to postdocs affiliated with the University, Colleges and University Partner Institutes. These sessions include presentations from the Postdoc Academy, PdOC and Careers Service, followed by a Q&A and then networking. You will be given information on how to navigate life as a researcher in Cambridge and then have the opportunity to network with other new postdocs and University services. During the session, postdocs will learn about:
Please note: it is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. If you have any questions or problems with signing-up, please email welcome.pda@admin.cam.ac.uk. |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
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Wed 13 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Postdoc Groups Series
[Places]
Meet with postdocs, academics and those who support postdocs from a range of departments, to share best practice of postdoc support, learn what others are doing, and identify improvements and future activities. We will be hosting three sessions throughout the academic year. This session will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
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Thu 14 |
How can you make your research proposition stand out in a competitive funding landscape? In the business and start up world, the Business Model Canvas tool is used to help companies work out how they will create, deliver and capture value. The research canvas is an adaptation of this and helps researchers plan and present their case for applying for research funding. In this workshop, you will learn to use the Research Canvas. You will also have the opportunity to submit your research canvas after the workshop for personalised feedback. This workshop will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Tue 19 |
Virtual Writing Retreats
[Places]
Do you have a deadline coming up or a piece of writing that’s long overdue? Or maybe some data analysis that keeps slipping to the bottom of your to-do list? Our online retreats give you time, peace, and space to think and write. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges, and work in a focused way using the Pomodoro technique. These virtual retreats are being hosted collaboratively across several institutions to encourage researchers across career stages and institutions to come together in a sustainable writing environment. The retreats will take place several times per month throughout the academic year and you can attend as many as you like (within booking limits for each session). Please note: It is important that when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, click on Add to Calendar to start the process of importing the course appointment to your calendar. |
Thu 21 |
This workshop will familiarise postdocs with the process of, and the various issues involved with, turning their PhD thesis into a published work. When we talk about turning a thesis into a ‘book’, we are really talking about a ‘monograph’. A monograph is generally considered a written work that focuses on one specialised subject with a view to contributing original insight and knowledge. Given a doctoral thesis – particularly in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences – is a dedicated study on one specialised area of research, it is a kind of proto-monograph. During this 2-hour session, you will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |
Fri 22 |
Have you ever walked into a meeting and questioned your right to be there? Or taken on a new job and then felt you weren’t really the right person for it? For many people, this is a common life experience and one which can be quite debilitating if left unchecked. This session focuses on identifying the set of behaviours that are often referred to as ‘imposter syndrome’, and the implications they can have for yourself and your work environment. During this session, you will:
Please note: when you book this course, on the booking confirmation page, select Add to Calendar to start importing the appointment to your calendar. |