Research Staff AssociationsStructures for the Development of Researchers

David J. Proctor

Newcastle | 11 January 2010

Why is it important to have a collective voice for research staff?

Association

Partners

Mission

Structure

Mission

Representation

Support

Engagement

Mission >> Representation

Concordat Steering Group

College of Life Sciences Board

School of Research Board

Health & Safety Committee

Women in STEM Committee

Partners

Mission >> Support

Handbook

Support Group

Career Development Scheme

Conference Attendance Scheme

Courses

Funding

Contracts

Employment Opportunities

Mission >> Engagement

SeminarsAlumni, External, Internal, Resource, Technique

NetworkingBarbeque, Ceilidh, Dinner, Quiz, Welcome

DiscussionsPI-Researcher, Women in STEM, Employment

Rights, Library Resources, Families in Science

OutreachArt, Education, Tours, Website

Partners

University of Dundee Careers Service

Scottish Research Staff Forum

UK National Research Staff Association

International Forum for Researchers

Structure

Divisional Representatives

CoordinatorsSeminars, Publicity, Conferences, Meetings,

Websites, Networking, Recruitment

OfficersCo-chair, Treasurer, Secretary

AdvisorsFaculty, Partners

How can one sustain knowledge despite turnover of research staff?

Research staff associations must be structured to preserve knowledge so that they are independent of individual members.

Create a committee to oversee the activities of the research staff association.

Provide clear roles and responsibilities for committee members.

Communicate effectively.

Examples of research staff association structures

University of DundeeCollege of Life SciencesCollege of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing

University of EdinburghChemistry Research Staff SocietySocial & Political Studies Research Staff SocietyPhysics Research Staff SocietyBiological Sciences Research Staff SocietyInformatics Research Staff SocietySchool of Geosciences Research Staff OrganisationPODS (Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine)QMRI Little France Postdoctoral SocietySERS School of Engineering Research StaffCAPS Central Area Post-doctoral SocietyEBRC Easter Bush Research Consortium Post Doc Society

University of OxfordUniversity of Cambridge

http://tr.im/K0YY

Examples of research staff offices

University of BristolResearch Staff

University of LeedsFaculty of Biological Sciences Continuing Professional Development for Postdocs

University of YorkPostdoctoral Biology

http://tr.im/K0YY

How will you organize research staff at Newcastle University?

University (1)

Faculty (3)Faculty of Humanities and Social SciencesFaculty of Medical SciencesFaculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering

Academic Schools (30±)Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Arts and Cultures, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Business School, Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Chemistry, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Combined Honours Centre, Computing Science, Dental Sciences, Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, English Literature, Language and Linguistics, Geography, Politics and Sociology, Historical Studies, Law School, Marine Science and Technology, Mathematics and Statistics, Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Medical Sciences Education Development, Modern Languages, Psychology

Research Units (130±)

£€ $U L $ ¥ Lek B/. Lt BZ$ Ft MT C$ KM $b

http://tr.im/K1ce

online resources

http://sites.google.com/site/clspacommittee/

http://postdoc.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/

http://vitae.ac.uk/researchers/

http://tr.im/K1dp