Bristol Clear Bulletin

Posted on by josie.dunne

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Friday 02nd June 2023

Your development matters!
Issued every fortnight, this bulletin for Researchers at Bristol brings you the latest news about personal and career development opportunities, both from inside and outside of the University.
If you have any queries or feedback, please contact the Bristol Clear team, bristol-clear@bristol.ac.uk

In this bulletin:

Promotion and End of Contract Q&A

Upcoming Bristol Clear opportunities

Announcements

Training from other providers

Promotion and End of Contract Q&A

Are you unclear about the promotion and end of contract policies and procedures? 

Would you like the opportunity to put forward your questions to a memberofthe HR team?

In this 1-hour Q&A session, led by an HR colleague we will screen the Promotion and End of Contract recording (15mins). This will be followed by a 45min Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about where to find important information and who to approach when in need of support. 

Enrol on Develop.

Upcoming Bristol Clear and Other Opportunities

Places are now available on the following courses:

  • 06 June 09:30-12:45- Being Strategic About Your Career as a Researcher
  • 07 June 14:00-15:30- Intro to Research Funding [Arts & SSL)
  • 12 June 12:00-13:00- Promotion and End of Contract Q&A
  • 13 June 13:30-17:00- Strong Roots (in person) 
  • 15 June 10:00-13:00- Interview Confidence
  • 20 June 10:00-13:00- Developing Your Career Plan (in person)
  • 21 June 13:30-17:00- Working Towards a Lectureship (STEM) in person waiting list
  • 28 June 14:00-15:00- Intro to Writing a Grant Proposal (Arts + SSL) 
  • 29 June 10:00-12:30-  How to Peer Review Manuscripts for Journals (in person)
  • 18 July 11:00-13:00- Working Towards a Fellowship [Arts & SSL]

To book, please sign in to Develop now and search the catalogue for these course titles.

To book a place when registration has closed, please email sd-course@bristol.ac.uk

person holding a megaphone

Announcements

How can we improve research culture at Bristol
If you have a suggestion, or any thoughts or comments about research culture at Bristol, let us know through this suggestions box.
Contact: If you’d like to discuss research culture, get in touch with Marcus Munafò, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Culture at marcus.munafo@bristol.ac.uk

Career Exploration Month- Events for Researchers
The Postdoctoral Development Centre from Queen’s University Belfast is delighted to invite any interested researcher to their free online Career Exploration Month weekly events in June 2023.

Events will include four panel discussions with former postdocs and PhDs from multiple disciplinary backgrounds now working in a range of roles and sectors. They will talk about their current role, how they managed the transition from academia, which skills and expertise they use from their research background, the advantages and challenges of their position, as well as advice for current postdocs and PhDs interested in similar roles.

List of events (details below and on individual event webpages):

Science meets the Arts on the Big Screen at Bristol SciFilmIt Hackthorn
Exciting news! The Bristol SciFilmIt Hackathon team are gearing up for the SciFilmIt Hackathon Bristol 2023 and our team of volunteer sci-comm enthusiasts wants YOU to be a part of it Imagine: Scientists, science enthusiasts, and filmmakers all in one place, exchanging ideas, creating, and having a blast on July 7-9 at the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol🔬🎬 And it’s all completely free, with complimentary food and drinks provided! Sounds like a dream, right?

You don’t need a lab coat or a director’s chair to join. You just need a curious mind, a love for stories, and a knack for adventure. You’ll be grouped into a power team of two scientists, one Black Box (‘the wildcard’), and one filmmaker. And you know what’s even cooler? You’ll be mentored by storytelling wizards, science communication gurus, teamwork champions, and experienced filmmakers throughout this journey. 🧙‍♂️🔬🏆🎥

Ready for the big finale? At the end of these epic three days, your team will have transformed a scientific idea into a captivating short film! And guess what? These cinematic masterpieces will grace the silver screen in a FREE public screening at the Watershed cinema on July 11th! 🎉🍿

So what are you waiting for? Applications are open until the 4th of June (this Sunday!🙀). Just hit this link and you’re one step closer to a mind-blowing SciFilmIt experience: https://scifilmit.com/bristol-2023/. Apply yourself and tell all your friends who are excited about science, film, and art, who have a curious and creative mind!

Got questions? Need more info? Just check out their website or drop a line to bristolhack@scifilm.it! Let’s fuse science and cinema together and create something epic!

Histories of Tobacco- part of the 2023 Research Culture event series
Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building Watershed 1, Canon’s Road Bristol, BS1 5TX
7th June- 2PM- 5PM
The use and trade of tobacco has a long and complex history, and is intertwined with a number of national and global social issues. The history of tobacco provides an insightful and though-provoking perspective on the past, but also a reminder that what is uncontroversial today may be viewed very differently in the future.

We are delighted to be joined by experts in the field including: Ian Tyrrell, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of New South Wales, who brings a wealth of expertise and academic insight into the sociopolitical history of tobacco use, advertising and subsequent health reforms, and Patricia Nez Henderson, a University of Yale alumna and indigenous North American scholar, who became the first indigenous President of the Society for Research on Nicotine or Tobacco.

Join us to learn about:

  • Tobacco as a sacred product, and its colonization
  • The social history of tobacco
  • The (re)discovery of tobacco’s harms and subsequent education campaign

Register via Eventbrite

Celebrating Technicians
Reception Room, Wills Memorial Building
11:30AM – 2PM

Technicians are a vital part of the research process, supporting and furthering innovative and ground-breaking research endeavours across all Schools and Faculties at the University of Bristol. This event focuses on the past, present and future of the role of technicians in academia.

We’ll be joined by Kelly Vere MBE, Higher Education Engagement Manager and Technician Commitment Programme Director, along with Andy Connelly, writer for Technician Journey, and Catrin Harris, Technical Community Research Fellow for the Talent Project, University of Nottingham. Hear three talks on the role of technicians contributing to the success of research projects across the U.K.’s research landscape.

Join us to;

  • Celebrate the excellent work carried out by technicians in the research space
  • Join the discussion with an expert panel on the importance of technical support in research
  • Network with academic, technical and professional services colleagues and forge new links across the University

Catering (canapes, drinks and snacks) will be provided at this free event.

Register via Eventbrite

Celebrating Technicians MRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2023- Deadline 5th July 
The MRC IAA is now open for applications! Applicants can now apply for funding that aims to support the translation of scientific discoveries in Bristol’s portfolio intervention with broad, lasting impact on human health.

Translational research is the application of fundamental research to create innovations in the diagnosis, treatment, management, or prevention of disease.  Applicants can apply for up to £100,000 for translational projects lasting 6-12 months.

If you would like to apply and read more about the scheme, please visit out SharePoint page here. If you would like to speak to one of the team about your project and whether it is eligible for the scheme, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk

Celebrating Technicians Working with Industry- exciting development opportunity for those who want to work with industry!
We are excited to announce that we will be holding a valuable set of workshop series for technicians and researchers who want to work with Industry. The workshops will be focusing on how to utilise an opportunity with to work with industry, how to engage with industry and how to effectively communicate with industry partners. These workshops are open to technicians and researchers who are interested in furthering their relationship with industry or want start a new one. These workshops are free to attend and have been funded by the Impact Development team.There are three workshops available to attend in June which will be online via Zoom, for more information and a chance to sign up for this extremely beneficial opportunity, please visit this eventbrite page

Any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk.

Research Culture Uncovered Series
Leeds University are posting weekly podcasts on all matters relating to research culture. During these conversations, Research Culture Uncovered will be asking what is Research Culture and why does it matter?

Recent episodes include:

  • Becoming A Postgraduate Researcher in Mid Career
  • From Academia to Industry and across 3 Countries
  • A Career Built on Collaboration

See all Research Culture Uncovered Podcasts– also on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Google and Develop.

BBSRC FTMA Tools and Technologies Translational Support Fund
Gain exclusive access to an external expert to help you to develop plans for the translation or commercialisation of research tools and enabling technologies arising from research in the BBSRC remit. If you have a research tool or enabling technology project that you would like to progress, this is a unique and worthwhile opportunity for project teams that sit within the BBSRC remit (which must include and ECR) to access 1:1 mentoring with our new Entrepreneur in Resident Tajinder Mattu expert in the relevant field.

We are looking for innovative technologies to address current challenges/bottlenecks in human health & disease, agriculture, and animal health. Supported activities might include:

  • Developing translational plans
  • Understanding industry needs
  • Support for introductory conversations with potential project partners
  • Exploring applications of technologies and markets

If you would like to benefit from this exciting opportunity, please download the application form which can be found on the Sharepoint Page. If you have any questions, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk and susie.maier@bristol.ac.uk 

Gain exclusive access to an external expert to take your research to the next level!
Would you like to have a free 1-2-1 expert consultation with one of our Experts in Residents?
Taj Mattu and Richard Seabrook are available to offer you specialist advice and support to develop your research through the translational pathway. They both have a combined wealth of crucial knowledge, having experience working in industry and directing their own businesses (360 Biomedical Ltd, Nidor Diagnostics). Both Taj and Richard are more than happy to talk to researchers to help advance their research and offer any advise on licensing, IP and academic translation.
If you would like to set up a consultation with Richard or Taj, please contact lucy.lilwall@bristol.ac.uk

Researcher support tools
The Research Application and Award Lifecycle describes the processes to follow from having an  initial idea for a research project, to securing funding, through to project delivery and using project outputs. To clarify, simplify and strengthen the current process, a suite of researcher support tools is now available on the DREI SharePoint site.  These tools will be piloted until early 2023 when engagement will be reviewed with a view to rolling out permanently. If you have any questions or feedback about the tools or the wider End-to-End project, please contact the project manager: katie.glenton-wall@bristol.ac.uk.

Enhancing Research Culture: post-project case studies
Over 30 research projects were funded by Research England to enhance the research culture at the University. These projects are now reaching their conclusion, and the Enhancing Research Culture team are looking forward to sharing further information on their findings over the next couple of months. Three project case studies are now available to read: Untold Stories – Challenging research behaviours for study of the past; The Inclusive Research Collective; and Supporting Neurodivergent Research Culture. To learn more, visit the Enhancing Research Culture website.

Training From Other Providers

Follow the link above for details on online training courses currently available