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The Postdoc Academy has reopened its hot-desking space to postdocs for quiet working at Postdoc Centre, Eddington and we are now offering slots in the early morning and in the evening. Your patience and understanding is appreciated as we continue to reopen this facility in a safe manner.

Please read the below notes carefully before booking:

• Before booking a hot-desking space at Eddington, please complete the short online induction form here:

https://bit.ly/HotDeskingPdA

• Postdocs can book one of six hot-desks available, in 1hr 45 minute slots
• Your booking will be checked by a member of our team and upon approval your University card will be activated for access to the postdoc centre at the time of your booking(s).
• Please book your session at least one working day in advance in order for your card to be activated.
• If you do not have a University card, please note this in the 'special requirements' section of the booking form, and we will provide information on access when we confirm your booking.
• If you don't have a CRSid, please complete the following form to request your booking: https://www.postdocacademy.cam.ac.uk/forms/utbs-external-booking
• Time slots for the next week's sessions are released for booking on Wednesdays, at approximately 3pm
• The days on which hot-desking is available may vary week by week

With ever developing complexities in the UK’s immigration system, Graeme Ross, the University’s Head of Immigration for staff matters, conducts termly briefing sessions for non-UK postdocs holding UK visas. These commonly cover the ‘basic’ work visas, such as Skilled Worker and Global Talent, and how to switch into or extend these in order to remain in the UK. However additional guidance on applications for dependents and Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement is also covered. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about other immigration matters; not all of these may be answered on the day but would be followed up individually as needed.

In the increasingly competitive field of fellowship funding, applications need to stand out immediately to capture reviewers’ interest and to maximise the chance of being funded. This accelerated session, aimed at early career researchers, highlights key considerations in preparing a strong fellowship application.  The session explores: desirability, feasibility and viability, planning your project, what’s important to the funder, how applications are assessed, writing style - how to get noticed, project, person, place, partners – elements of successful fellowships, how to plan for impact – ‘so what’, ‘now what’. The session will have two parts: a talk that will last for 45-60 mins, then an opportunity for you to ask your own questions a 30 min Q&A.   

Speaker Info: Richard Henning Brodersen, Research Development Manager, Research Operations Office Richard leads the pre-award team for the School of Technology at Cambridge University. He has over 10 years’ experience supporting and co-writing research funding applications including fellowships, research grants and industry collaborations for a wide range of funders across the arts, humanities and sciences. Prior to working in higher education Richard had a successful career in financial consultancy and in the further education sector.

Do you get the results you want from your communication with others at work? Are you able to talk with confidence in meetings and interviews? Do you have a high level of impact when speaking in public?

This individually focused and completely confidential one-to-one coaching session will help you refine your presentation skills, help you speak more confidently as an emerging leader in your research field, and develop new approaches to your communication in a wide range of professional situations.

Constructive feedback will give you insight into your speaking style, how you come across to others, and how well your ideas are communicated. Coaching will focus on your individual requirements ranging from practical points about elocution and vocal projection, to holding the attention of a room, to structuring a compelling presentation.

A must-attend virtual session with information tailored to postdocs in Cambridge, whether University-based or employed by Colleges or Research Institutions.

At this event, you will be given information about:

• Your contract
• Professional development and the Careers Service
• How to connect to the wider postdoc community at Cambridge
• You will also meet representatives from various University services who may be helpful to you while you are working in Cambridge.