Making the most of Support Andy Pithouse Research Staff Co-ordinator School of Social Sciences

Support on four levels At School/Centre level –Your PI –Your mentor –Research Staff Reps - SOCSI model –Your School’s Research Staff Co-ordinator –Director of Research/Centre Director –Head of School (peer support system) At Research Graduate School level –Training and career development

At University level –Human Resources and research support Training and career development Individual career advice (eg Josie Grindulis, Sara Williams) Research application support (Sally O’Connor RACDV) At UK level –Research Staff Concordat –Higher Education and Research Opportunities guidelines –(

Managing your PI - ‘Always be smarter than the people who hire you’ (Lena Horne) Six rules of thumb! Clarification of roles and responsibilities Mentoring arrangements and probation Anticipating difficulties – prof & domestic Publication plans and authorship Researcher staff development needs Exit strategies

Clarification of roles and responsibilities Understanding the project –Clarify expectations of responsibilities –When are the key deadlines? Understanding your PI –What kind of manager are they? –What are their patterns of working? –What contact strategies they prefer - informally? –How often will you meet formally? –Who is responsible for recording meetings?

Probation review and mentoring Be familiar with the University’s procedures Even if you are no longer on the Probation Scheme, you are entitled to have a mentor if you would like one.

Anticipating difficulties ‘If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?' (Albert Einstein) Ask your PI what they think the pressure points of the project will be, eg: –Access –Ethical issues –Health and safety issues –Data storage and archiving

Publication plans and authorship ‘You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.’ (Henry Ford) What are the publication plans? Who will take lead responsibility? How will the respective contributions of co- authors and researchers be recognised? Will you be able to publish any sole-authored work from the project? And what about after the contract ends? Do you have any plans for publishing from earlier projects that need to be discussed? Does your subject association have guidelines?

Staff development needs Building up your own portfolio of research skills –Expertise in methodologies/analytical techniques –Grant-getting and publishing –Project management and administration Broadening your portfolio of academic experience – connect beyond the PI. –Teaching and tutoring: ‘an opportunity not an obligation’ –Co-supervision of students –Face work – get known at seminars –But consult with your PI.

Exit strategies ‘Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.’ Work out at what point (months?) you need to think about what you will do once the project has ended. Have a back-up plan: –Post-doc fellowships –Small research grant proposal submissions Plan well in advance.