Training for PIs and Postdocs – Managing Research

The Oxford Learning Institute has introduced four new workshops, targeted at Principal Investigators (PI) and at those postdocs aspiring to be PIs, or who manage researchers.

The new workshops have been developed following the results of a year-long research study into the transition from DPhil to researcher independence at Oxford, and will be delivered at or near to the Department to make attendance easier.

You can find out more about the contents and how to register your interest below.

So you want to be a PI

This two-hour workshop is for postdocs who want to explore what it means to be a PI and what they might need to do to become one. The workshop looks at what a PI is and at the typical requirements for someone to make the transition from talented postdoc to research independence. It will enable participants to explore their standing in their field and how they match-up to the typical criteria that funders and departments have for those seeking to make this key transition.  The workshop is analytical and exploratory as there is no single, well-defined route to achieving research independence.

 Register your interest in this workshop at:

http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/register.php?cc=MAN/PI1

Managing researchers: an introduction for postdocs

This half-day workshop is for postdocs who find themselves, by design or default, managing other research staff on behalf of, or in support of, their PI. It covers the basics of managing research staff, from supporting them through the first few months to shaping performance and encouraging reflection and development.

Register your interest in this workshop at:

http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/register.php?cc=MAN/PI2.

The new PI: the challenges of managing research

This one-day workshop is for those PIs who have their first grant and are relatively new to managing staff and to the challenges of keeping on top of all the demands a new PI faces.

It explores the challenges faced by the new PI, particularly in making the transition from start-up soloist to a group leader. It looks at what PIs who have made this transition have to say about it, and what they wish they had known at the time. It also covers the fundamentals of bringing in and managing staff and how to get them performing at a high level.

Register your interest in this workshop at:

http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/register.php?cc=MAN/PI3

 

Research group leadership: leading a productive research group

This one-day workshop is for those PIs who have experience of growing and leading a research team and want to explore how their approach to leadership affects the productivity of their group.

It looks at what research has to say about what makes a research group productive and at the PI’s influence over these factors. It explores topics such as the impact of your approach on outputs and the pros and cons of giving staff more say in what they do. Whether you want a refresher or simply to validate what you do, this workshop helps you think about how you lead your group.

Register your interest in this workshop at:

http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/register.php?cc=MAN/PI4

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Data Research – “R” Courses

logo_largeThe Consumer Data Research Centre at Leeds is pleased to offer two R courses in September, comprising of an introductory and a more advanced course. The courses will take place in their newly opened training suite at the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics.

Introductory R for Spatial Analysis:
Date: 16/09/15
Time: 9:30 – 17:00

As spatial datasets get larger more sophisticated software needs to be harnessed for their analysis. R is now a widely used open source software platform for statistical analysis and is increasingly popular for those working with spatial data thanks to its powerful analysis and visualisation packages.  This course introduces the basics of how R can be used for spatial data. No previous experience of computer programming is required.
More Info

R for Big Data (2 Days):
Date: 17/09/15 + 18/09/15
Time: 9:30-17:30

The last decade has seen an increase in the amount and variety of data across many disparate disciplines. Analysing this data is non-trivial, and traditional point-and-click tools often lack flexibility when dealing with “Big Data”. This two day course looks at leveraging R’s power for dealing with large data sets. The course covers the advantages and limitations of using R, and provides practical advice for getting the most out of your data.
More Info

Royal Society Writing and Media Skills – Training

royal_society_large

Scientists communicating their work is key to expanding the frontiers of knowledge, and the Royal Society’s courses will help you to do this effectively and memorably. These courses are designed exclusively for scientists, and are tutored by leading communication specialists.

Writing about your research:
Effective communication skills allow scientists to share their work with wider audiences and so enhance the contribution of science to society.  Such skills can also help to secure research funding and build collaborations across disciplines. This course trains scientists to write about their research for non-specialist readers in a variety of contexts, from press releases and news stories, to longer features that sustain the interest of audiences through narrative, and articles for online social media. >>More Info

Date: 29th April 2015
Time: 9:30-17:00
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London
Cost: £450

Media Skills Training:
On this one-day course you will work with an experienced TV production team, a top voice coach, and a leading science communicator to prepare and practice media interviews.  During the course you will discover how the media works, and how to use that knowledge. You will be shown how to interrogate your work into a story the media will be interested in, and what to expect when the media calls. The tutors will work with you to prepare your story for interview, and you will learn techniques so that you, and your message, come across as well as possible. >>More Info

Date: 21st May 2015
Time: 9:00-17:00
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London
Cost: £450

Residential Course (Writing about Research + Media Skills Training):
This two-day residential course covers Writing about your research on Day 1, which includes key principles for communicating research effectively to non-specialist audiences, and Media skills training on Day 2, enabling participants to develop their experience further for interactions with print, broadcast and online media. Its residential format also enables further discussion of social and ethical issues for specific research areas, and the utility of the skills in writing funding applications and generating “impact” from research. >>More Info

Date: 22nd-23rd June 2015
Time: 2 Full Days
Location: Chicheley Hall, London
Cost: £900

To register for a course – Click Here

Research Professional Demo Session – Training

RP

Oxford Research Services have arranged for a representative of ResearchProfessional.com to hold divisional ResearchProfessional demos for the MPLS division.

ResearchProfessional.com is the online research funding information service to which the University subscribes, and so all current Oxford staff and students with a valid ox.ac.uk email address can use this service. It is an invaluable resource in locating funding opportunities that fit your individual needs and can be used to create subscriptions for when new calls arise. This is ideal for Oxford post-graduates/post-doctoral staff, academics/contract researchers, research support staff, and anyone else interested in finding research funding in the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences.

The event is free, but participants will need to register via the link below.

Date: Monday 20th April 2015
Time: 2:00-3:30 pm
Location: Large Lecture Theatre, Plant Sciences, South Parks Road (map).

To register for the event – Click Here