4 minutes

The PI Network

The Prosper PI Network was launched in September 2020 with the aim of helping managers of researchers and principal investigators to support the career development of their research staff, by sharing best practice and providing peer support and resources.

Prosper recognises the wealth of experience and best practice that academic staff across the UK have, as well as the benefits of colleagues from different disciplines and with different levels of experience having a forum to discuss approaches to postdoc development.

We’re currently planning our next round of PI network events. If you wish to be directly contacted about PI network activities, please email prosper.postdoc@liverpool.ac.uk

“It’s important to share and learn different ways of enhancing the way that you support development of postdocs.”

Prof Bhavik Patel, Prof of Clinical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Brighton

Upcoming PI Network sessions

Details of upcoming PI Network events will be listed here – watch this space!

Past PI Network sessions

Revisit past events and discover video and written resources associated with them.

Leadership and management for the first-time PI: This PI network session looked at concepts to be aware of for managing and leading researchers.
Barriers to success: Supporting researchers to engage in career development and decision making: This PI network session looked at how PIs and managers of researchers can support their postdocs to engage with their careers.
Creating a working environment that lets you and your postdoc grow – skills for PIs and postdocs: This PI network session looked at helping your postdoc to develop their skills in a way that benefits you both.
Building intercultural competence: how to best support postdocs to thrive in multicultural work settings: This PI network session looked at the importance of intercultural competence and how best to lead a multicultural team.
Productivity and professional development: This PI Network session explored how you can support your postdocs to balance research and career development.
The DIY guide to getting the best out of yourself and your researchers: This PI network session looked at how to create a working environment where everyone flourishes.
Careers beyond academia – a general guide for PIs: A session exploring how to support postdocs discover career options beyond academia.
Simple steps for supporting postdoc career development: This PI network session looked at how managers of researchers can support their postdocs to make difficult transitions, whether they're continuing within or looking beyond academia.
Thriving together: Creating more inclusive research communities through the research management relationship: A session on inclusive research communities led by STEM Equals.
A template for holding a career conversation: Career and leadership coach Denise Chilton demonstrates how to hold an effective career conversation with a postdoc.
A coaching approach to career conversations: Career and leadership coach Denise Chilton explores how to use coaching techniques in career conversations with postdocs
Lessons learned from Covid and postdoc career development in the post-Covid era: Discussion about how PIs and postdocs have adapted to the pandemic and suggestions on how to prepare for the future.
The valued manager? The PI-postdoc relationship, featuring UKRI: We discuss how Principal Investigator support of postdocs is valued, recognised and encouraged.
Mutual benefits of unlocking postdoc career potential: An exploration of postdoc career development.
Managing researchers during Covid-19: Practical advice and suggestions on how best to manage your researchers during the pandemic.