Introduction to Personal Research Strategy and Planning

Key Questions Who are you now? Who do you want to be? What do you need to do to get there? Who do you need to know to get there?

And how are you going to manage the competing demands of teaching, research, public engagement/outreach, impact, and admin?

Plan ahead Think strategically; act tactically Don’t put in effort if there isn't any (potential) reward Remember “in academic life, the important all to often gets pushed aside by the urgent” (Professor Edward Sweeney, Head of Group, ESM) As a member of academic staff, you are expected to spend at least 30%* of your time on research and research related activities 30% = 1.5 days a week, on average. Find what works for you – including your work life balance – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Who are you now? How good is your track record? How good are your networks? – Both within Aston and externally Do you have access to a mentor and a peer group? – Both within Aston and externally What are your research plans for the next 12 months?

Who do you want to be? How do you improve your track record? How do you improve your networks? – Both within Aston and externally How do you improve your access to mentors and peer groups? What are your research plans for the next 5 years?

What do you need to do to get there? Improve your track record – Know your subject – Publish strategically (review articles? significant data; good journals; international collaborators; open access etc.) Improve your networks and access to mentors and your peer group – Get to the right conferences – Meet the right people – Approach potential collaborators – Access your networks of networks – Networking bids? Plan your for the next 5 years and 10 years – Research costs money; plan your funding applications – Plan your outputs; consider things like the REF cycle – Don’t overlook the impacts of your research; this can provide opportunities e.g. for commercial funding which can be less competitive

Who do you need to know to get there? Who are the best names in your field? How do you make your name known to them? – Conferences Volunteering to help can allow you to build links and get into good conferences for free – Peer review/editorial work Most journals (and funders) are desperate for reviewers and, in some instances for junior colleagues to support editorial admin – Collaboration (direct or indirect) Networks of networks, advisory boards etc. – Subject-specific groups – Strategy level meetings e.g. sandpits, briefings, surveys etc.

This all takes time… And how are you going to manage the competing demands of teaching, research, public engagement/outreach, impact, and admin?

This all takes time… And how are you going to manage the competing demands of teaching, research, public engagement/outreach, impact, and admin? Find what works for you – including your work life balance – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year

This all takes time… And how are you going to manage the competing demands of teaching, research, public engagement/outreach, impact, and admin? Find what works for you – including your work life balance – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Accept that the first few years will be very, very tough…

1. Recognised independence 2. Established reputation 3. Increase knowledge 4. Change behaviour 5. Increase health

How to Strategise Effectively (this is taken from a stocks and shares investment programme but is transferable with some minor tweaks)

funding research projects funders

How to Strategise Effectively How do you choose which to follow? Which avenue is the most fundable? Which will lead to the highest quality outputs? What is most interesting to you? are you truly passionate about this area? How many avenues can you keep up with? Trust your instincts and preliminary data…………….. There can be more than one potential avenue for your research

But most importantly….

But most importantly…. novelty

How to Operationalise your Strategy…

Haven’t I seen much of this before?

Practicalities…Planning ahead Current & Future Projects TARGET STRATEGY 5 years

Planning your strategy “WHAT?” Manpower (PhDs / postdocs) Dissemination / track record (conferences; seminar series) Pilot funds Research grants Equipment

European: FP7; Marie Curie; ERC; COST Research Councils: ESRC; EPSRC; BBSRC; MRC Industry (contracts / CASE / KTP) Charities: medical & other Professional bodies & Societies NIHR British Academy Royal Society Planning your Strategy “WHERE FROM?”

Planning your Strategy “APPLICATIONS” 5 years

Planning your Strategy “APPLICATIONS” 5 years Tomorrows ‘Research Funding Landscape’ talk will help you to fill in this diagram with the right types of funders for your research

Planning your Strategy – an alternative Research Strands/ Projects What is required to move project forward ? Sources of funding and deadlines? Option 1Option 2

External Resources that may help you Vitae - Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development. aims to: – build human capital by influencing the development and implementation of effective policy relating to researcher development – enhance higher education provision to train and develop researchers – empower researchers to make an impact in their careers – evidence the impact of professional and career development support for researchers

The Researcher Development Framework development-framework-rdf-vitae.pdf/view

The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers ‘ The UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is an agreement between funders and employers of research staff to improve the employment and support for researchers and research careers in UK HE. It sets out clear standards that research staff can expect from the institution that employs them, as well as their responsibilities as researchers.’ development-of-researchers