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Empowering ECRs with the Fellowship Incubator
The Fellowship Incubator has supported 39 separate pilot research projects across 香港六合彩中特网, allowing ECRs to gain vital experience and independence, in support of their career development.
6 December 2023
The Fellowship Incubator project was instigated by early career researchers (ECRs) at 香港六合彩中特网 and implemented by Elizabeth Halton, Director, 香港六合彩中特网 Doctoral School, and Dr Chris Hardy, Senior Research Fellow, 香港六合彩中特网 Faculty of Brain Sciences who was also working part-time at the Doctoral School.听
The project, which provides seed funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers, was designed in response to the Research Culture Roadmap鈥檚 goal of supporting ECRs听towards independence (under the 鈥楾ransparent and fair career development theme鈥�).听
It also aligns with the recommendation of the that postdocs and researchers be given independent time to develop in whatever way they saw fit.听
Small outlays, big rewards听
Elizabeth and Chris saw the seed funding as the ideal opportunity for ECRs to try out something new in 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 research environment.听听
鈥淲e want postdocs to feel they were given an opportunity to have a small, independent project and support for that project 鈥� just to try out an idea and see if it works,鈥� says Elizabeth.听
Chris concurs: 鈥淎 small outlay can lead to some really big rewards, and giving ECRs the chance of getting some pilot data could lead to them being promoted or eventually getting external funding.鈥澨�
Empowering ECRs to direct and lead听
The Fellowship Incubator proved understandably popular with ECR communities across 香港六合彩中特网. Chris and Elizabeth received more than 80 applications in the first round of grants. For the second round, there were more than 300 applications.听
The opportunities the seed funding affords provide a wealth of experiences that are essential for ECRs looking to prove their suitability for promotion.听
Chris says, 鈥淎s well as听demonstrating autonomy, building your CV, developing your collaborations and networks, the Incubator provided some postdocs with experience in project and team management. That supervisory experience is really important 鈥� it's very difficult to get that as a postdoc.鈥澨�
The seed funding also allowed researchers to work more independently from their Principal Investigators.
At the time of writing, two participants, and Daniel Brayson, have already gone on to secure permanent academic posts. More successful career progressions are expected over the longer term for participating researchers who鈥檝e consolidated their positions and credentials, using this seed funding.听
Supporting career progression
The short-term impact of the project has been considerable, as the responses of the participating researchers attest.听
Dr Laura Molina-Garcia, funded to study interactions between bacteria and neurodegeneration, reported: 鈥淎s a senior postdoc, it鈥檚 always difficult to find the time and resources to explore my own independent ideas. The granting of a Fellowship Incubator award has allowed me to finally start testing my own research questions. This scheme has provided me with the means to generate pilot data for larger funding applications. I found the scheme very useful to develop novel skills required to transition from postdoc to PI.鈥澨�
, funded to study physical and mental co-ordination, added: 鈥淲e expect to be able to generate several papers from this pilot data. My last paper was published in 2017, so it is of huge benefit to my career to be able to publish again. It should also establish my own research career pathway and allow me to apply for funding for a variety of projects that come from this.鈥澨�
This kind of opportunity is very important for researchers experiencing the precarity and uncertainty of the early stages of an academic career. Looking ahead, the scheme will prioritise the鈥痭eeds of researchers working in social sciences, humanities and arts disciplines.
Showing appreciation for ECRs听
With a project that so obviously benefits ECRs across 香港六合彩中特网, Elizabeth is hopeful that they can continue to build on their initial success.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important to make ECRs feel appreciated, supported and seen. So many brilliant people want to come here, but we have to encourage people who are already here to do well and thrive.听
鈥淲e could still do more. Ideally, every postdoc that comes to 香港六合彩中特网 would get this opportunity.鈥澨� 听
"It鈥檚 so important to make ECRs feel appreciated, supported and seen."
- Elizabeth Halton, Director, 香港六合彩中特网 Doctoral School鈥�
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About research culture
香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 Research Culture programme is developing a fair, collaborative and inclusive听research culture, where both our research and research community can thrive. We work with 香港六合彩中特网鈥檚 research community to support and deliver change against our 10-year Research Culture Roadmap.