Upcoming events calendar

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join us to discover the benefits of using curated lists on the Prosper portal.

Postdocs

Join the University of Oxford Careers Service for a session with Associate Professor Ludovica Griffanti, NIHR Oxford Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN). She will share her experiences of dealing with rejection in academia, and reflect on what she learnt in different phases of her career as well as suggest guidance for dealing with rejection.

The Postdoc Power Hour (PoPoH) is a series of monthly one-hour online events designed specifically for postdocs and other research staff who are not students and takes place on the first Friday of every month, 11 am to 12 pm.

Each PoPoH session covers:

a brief overview of career and training support available to postdocs and other research staff across the University of Oxford
a 30-minute lecture by an expert on the session’s theme
(if time) a Career Chat where a Careers Adviser for Research Staff will address careers concerns and questions

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join the Prosper team for an online event to officially launch the pilot of the Prosper Exchange – a framework designed to sustain the future impact of Prosper, keeping resources relevant and free to access for all users.

The event will serve as an follow-up to the Practice Exchange in February, providing an opportunity to connect with peers to discuss Prosper use and share postdoctoral career development practice.

Others - PGRs, Postdocs

During this fireside chat-style session, Prosper’s stakeholder development manager Kerry McElroy will interview Ely Sandler (Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and co-founder of the Article-Six Group) to discuss:

– His career path, including key milestones, decisions and transitions along the way.
– Similarities and differences when working with colleagues in the private sector and academia.
– The importance of broad networks across academia and the private sector, and tips he would share to develop these networks.
– Advice on exploring career options.
– Questions from the audience in the chat.

There will also be opportunity to ask your own questions by submitting them in advance or using the chat function during the session.

Managers of researchers

In this session, you will learn to use a structured, business-inspired tool—the Research Canvas—to guide early-career researchers in shaping their own ideas into compelling, fundable projects—supporting their progression toward research independence or diverse future careers. At the same time, you’ll find it valuable for structuring and stress-testing new research directions in your own work.

You’ll learn how to visually map and assess research concepts and focus on key factors that influence their success. Whether you’re mentoring, exploring new research avenues, or preparing for funding pitches, this session will offer practical strategies to make your group’s research more cohesive, impactful, and future-ready.

By the end of this session, you will be able to use the Research Canvas to:
– Support your ECRs in refining their own research ideas and articulating a clear research value proposition.
– Guide effective communication of research aims to collaborators, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
– Strengthen the strategic development and funding readiness of both your own and your team’s research initiatives.

Others - PGRs, Postdocs

Join us for this fireside chat, which will give an insight into the value researchers can add to the medical communications company, Inizio Medical. During this session, we’ll be joined by two employees from Inizio Medical – Matt McGinley (Talent Acquisition Lead) and Susan Jalicy (Scientific Team Director) who will provide their perspectives on transitioning from a research career to the medical communications industry.

During this fireside chat-style session, Matt and Susan will provide insight into:
– The medical communications industry and day-to-day work at Inizio Medical, focusing on medical writing and project management roles.
– The value that skills developed through academic research can add to medical communications, with a focus on how to showcase transferable skills during the recruitment process for non-academic jobs.
– The transition from academia into industry, including top tips for preparing for this transition and being successful in the medical communications industry.
– Entry-level opportunities at Inizio Medical.

There will also be opportunity to ask your own questions by submitting them in advance or using the chat function during the session.

Postdocs

During this fireside chat-style session, Emily Fallon, National Framework Water Resources Modelling Lead (and former postdoc), and Pam Reynolds, Training and Skills Senior Advisor, will provide an insight into:

– Day-to-day work at the EA, with a particular focus on Water Resources.
– The value which skills developed through academic research add to their organisation – and how you can showcase these in non-academic job applications.
– The transition from academia into industry, top tips for preparing for this transition and the practicalities of a career with the EA.

There will also be opportunity to ask your own questions by submitting them in advance or using the chat during the session.

Managers of researchers

A recent review conducted at the University of Sheffield looked at attitudes and access to postdoc career development, from the perspective of both PIs and postdocs.

During this session Rebecca Ehata, Careers and Employability consultant for researchers at the University of Sheffield, will share some of the key findings of this work and look at what we might learn from it. Using the conclusions of the review as a basis for discussion, we’ll be exploring questions such as:

– What are the similarities and differences between postdoc and PI attitudes to career development?
– What support do postdocs say they need—and they receiving it?
– How can you as PIs best prepare to offer career development support alongside the other demands of your role?

By the end of this session, participants will have greater awareness of:
– Challenges in aligning PI and postdoc attitudes towards career development opportunities.
– The practical barriers preventing postdoc uptake of development opportunities, and strategies to reduce these.

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

As staff focused on delivering postdoc career development you may know of Prosper and might be interested in using the Portal resources in your own practice. This virtual session is here to show you a way of doing that.

The session will provide a tour of the Learning & Development area of the portal and its features, show you examples of different uses and give you the chance to ask any questions or queries you might have.

During the session you will:
• Learn what features and resources are available in the Learning & Development area of the Prosper portal.
• Discover different ways of using the resources.
• Have time to ask questions.

Others - PGRs, Postdocs

This event is planned and hosted by the team who lead career development for researchers at the University of Nottingham. However, it is open to researchers at any institution, so we are advertising it on their behalf via the Prosper Portal.

Date: Thursday 27th February
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Link for the webinar: https://tinyurl.com/5n8yc4tn

Come along to this session to hear from Dr Maddy Hallewell, Social Researcher at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Maddy previously worked at the Human Factors Research Group, University of Nottingham as Research Fellow in Human Factors. Find out about Maddy’s journey from academia to the civil service – and where the similarities and differences are within the roles and sectors. Maddy will also talk about the application process and share career tips on how to get into the sector.

Managers of researchers

Lab handbooks are becoming an increasingly popular resource that outline expectations to group members. They help onboard new team members, outline responsibilities around working culture and practice, and set a general theme that all in the group can follow.

The session addresses how to prepare a lab handbook. The invited speakers have written their own lab handbooks, and we will hear about how these resources were developed, adapted and implemented. The session will also include advice on preparing your own lab handbooks alongside a Q&A so that you can ask your own questions.

This session will be held on Zoom and led by the University of York, featuring speakers Dr. Stuart Higgins, Dr. Noémie Hamilton, Dr. Benjamin Tendler and Professor Karla Miller.

Others, Postdocs

In the fourth instalment of our series of new career exploration interview sessions, we are delighted to welcome Dr Anthony Kavanagh, former Physicist, now Senior Patent Counsel

at Key Patent Innovations investigating exciting technology and related monetization opportunities.

Managers of researchers, Postdocs

Getting your work on social media may be easy – but making it popular is more challenging. C-DICE is hosting a workshop with award-winning communicator and engagement professional Jamie Gallagher that will explore effective use of social media and help you to develop your profile and presence on the main social media platforms. The session will take you through the main social media channels and looks at how to create share-worthy content. Discover how to use social media to foster meaningful interactions and share your work with as many people as possible. From tweets to live streams, this interactive session is packed with ideas on how to maximise your use of social media as a researcher.

Postdocs, Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Career exploration interview with Dr Chris McCallum
This session will provide postdocs and research staff with the opportunity to hear about Chriss Career journey and experiences. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask Chris questions at the end of the interview.

Postdocs

How do I deal with multiple agency recruiters? How do I find out what realistic salary expectations are? What do I do if I receive two job offers?

The recruitment process can throw up challenging, time-sensitive scenarios like these – which many candidates find hard to respond in the moment. This online session is offered as a forum for research staff to have their burning recruitment questions answered, in order to feel better prepared for the process.

This session will be led by Prosper’s Kerry McElroy, with guest speakers Kadeem Houson (CEO at Kea Consultants – a boutique search firm operating in the alternative investment space) and Sarah Hodgkinson (Account Director for Recruitment Outsourcing at Robert Walters – a global talent solutions business).

Postdocs, Researcher developers / Professional support staff

This session will provide postdocs and research staff with the opportunity to hear about Victoria’s journey in academia and will explore how to navigate career aspirations and life priorities to create a healthy work life balance. This is a live podcast recording.

Managers of researchers

Join us for a session designed specifically to address leadership or management challenges faced by managers of researchers.

This engaging and interactive workshop aims to provide attendees with a toolbox of practical skills and strategies to manage difficult leadership scenarios and confidently navigate the complexities of research management. As well as offering an opportunity to enhance your leadership capabilities, the format also enables participants to connect with peers across other institutions, building their professional network.

Postdocs, Researcher developers / Professional support staff

In this career exploration interview, Dr Lawrence Eagling will discuss his career as a former postdoctoral researcher at Queen’s University Belfast and how he navigated a significant career transition out of academia to set up his own business.

This session will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from a former postdoc on his career journey from academia, to following a personal passion and setting up his own business, Swimming Head Productions.

Postdocs

Join Prosper to delve into this practical session on how to thrive in your research career with Natacha Wilson.

This session will cover how to thrive in your research role, based on principles in applied neuroscience; positive psychology and best practice in research intensive environments.

Managers of researchers

Join our 60-minute online workshop designed exclusively for PIs that provides a quick guide to the Prosper Portal and how it can be used to support the career development of your postdoc whilst in their current role and beyond.

Your institution has committed to researchers having a minimum of 10 days career development a year but not sure what this looks like? Not sure how best to support your postdoc so they are as well placed as possible to drive their career forward be it in academia or beyond? Want tips from fellow PIs/managers of researchers? Resources organised by commonly encountered topics? You’ve come to the right place!

In this session we’ll give you an overview of what is on offer on the Prosper Portal, including the PI network resources. We’ll go through a variety of different ways you might wish to use it, from light touch signposting through to using it a little more intensively.

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join us to discover the benefits of using curated lists on the Prosper portal

Managers of researchers

Join our 90-minute online workshop designed exclusively for PIs on how to use Positive Intelligence to improve wellbeing. The session will be led by Dr Anne Marie Sowerbutts, University of Manchester.

Explore the concept of Positive Intelligence and learn how this can be harnessed to improve wellbeing. Positive Intelligence refers to the ability to think positively and constructively to respond to life’s challenges with a good mindset. Practising Positive Intelligence can help you lead a happier and more productive life.

In this session you will:
• Learn about how Positive intelligence relates to your perception of how you judge yourself, others and your circumstances.
• Learn strategies to help you to overcome your own assumptions in those three areas
• Improve overall wellbeing

Postdocs

A panel session with former postdocs discussing how skills gained and grown as PGRs & postdocs are used in and beyond academia. Session chaired by Prosper and Research-careers.org, part of University of Liverpool Making an Impact 2024.

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join us to discover the Prosper portal, try it out for yourself with time for questions.

Managers of researchers

A session for PIs and Managers of researchers seeking innovative strategies for leadership evolution.

Managers of researchers

A session for PIs and Managers of researchers to enhance resilience within themselves and the dedicated research staff they lead.

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Are you keen to get involved in the Prosper PI Network? Want to run a workshop for Managers of Researchers and PIs? Join us to discover more

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join us to discover how to use the Learning & Development resources from the Prosper portal in your own practice

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Are you keen to get involved in the Prosper PI Network? Want to run a workshop for Managers of Researchers and PIs? Join us to discover more

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Join us to discover the new Prosper portal, try it out for yourself with time for questions.
As staff focussed on delivering (or signposting) postdocs career development you may have heard of Prosper but not yet had time to explore the recently launched Prosper portal. This virtual session is here to address that.
This virtual session will provide a tour of the new portal and its features, give you time to explore the site yourself and ask any questions or queries.
During this session you will:
• Learn what features and resources are available in the Prosper portal.
• Discover the portal for yourself.
• Have time to ask questions .

Benefits of attending
• Learn practical tips for how get the most out of the Prosper portal.
• Quickly gain an understanding of what’s on offer.
• Meet the Prosper team to ask any questions.

Format of the session
This session will be held on Zoom and will be led by the Prosper team.

Researcher developers / Professional support staff

Prosper’s approach to career development, that unlocks postdocs potential to thrive in multiple career pathways, is rolling out across the UK. A new Prosper website has launched, containing all the resources and know-how we’ve tested and co-created for postdoc career development. In this session we’ll give you a whistle-stop overview of Prosper, take you through what’s on offer in the website and give you time to explore it for yourselves as part of the session, wrapping up with a Q&A.

What you will gain from attending this session:
– Overview of Prospers career development for postdocs
– Guided tour of the Prosper websites resources and functionality, for each user group
– Try out the website for yourself
– Ask questions and share feedback live