Workshop Aims
Have you ever wondered how some people 'make it' in their career and others don't? Not everyone is a gifted genious but most of us have the potential to make a success of our careers, whether it is in research or not, by being proactive and keeping pace with the job market. If you examine what people have done to get on in their career it's not just a case of being in the lab 24/7 it's about being strategic, knowing when to attend a conference, who to make links with, being aware of the research environment and where the opportunities lie. Sometimes it's more productive to take a few days out of the lab to consider your options and get a perspective so that you come back more effective and productive and with a more proactive eye on your own career.
The aim of this workshop is to show you ways you can look at your research and that of others in a more wide-ranging and creative context.
By considering the 'Big Picture' and how you and your research fit into the whole science strategy for the UK and Europe it will help you to succeed in your career whatever you are planning to do following your PhD or postdoc post. Gone are the days when scientists could work in isolation with no concern about the applicability and relevance of their research. You are probably already aware that academics work in a highly competitive environment nowadays and any postgraduate or postdoc aiming for an academic position needs to be proactive and forward-thinking in order to be successful. Some things still haven't changed: you still need to have excellent technical skills and scientific knowledge to be a successful scientist. However, employers (in the public and private sectors) look for additional skills from highly qualified researchers such as yourselves: you will need to have an eye for productive collaborations at a national and international level; work with partners in academia, industry and business; be able to present your work confidently; you need to be enterprising in the way you view your own science coupled with a broad understanding of other research which may complement your own and lead to potential technological developments.
Technology transfer, patents and spin-off companies are the result of innovative thinking but an enterprising take on science can happen at the lab-level even if it's only trying out an experiment in a different way, approaching others to look for new methodologies, etc.
The workshop's aims are based on the European Research Area paper and two key UK government reports which were published in 2002 (Roberts
Report) and 2007 (Leitch report). They set out the key requirements for training researchers which will provide the best opportunities for you to forge a successful career in science whether it is in academia or in industry. Moreover, the skills acquired will also be useful to those wanting to leave research and pursue other careers.
For more information see:
The Joint Statement of RCUK Training Requirements for Researchers: Click here to view the Skills Statement
