Theme 2 - 5th Research Staff Conference

The career destination of research staff is varied and spans across different occupations and employment sectors. Opportunities for researchers exist within academia through the academic or a research only career path. In addition, opportunities for researchers have appeared in strategic positions of academic support that exist within universities in professional services departments or faculty structures. Researchers have also the capacity to move to industry posts or establish spinout companies by commercialising research findings.

For this parallel theme, presenters will reflect on their career development and discuss relevant career management strategies and destinations with participants. The purpose of each parallel session is to provide participants with an opportunity to think about their career and reflect on their plans for progression.

Points to be covered include:

• Employment opportunities for university researchers in academia and beyond
• What employers are looking for in terms of personal and professional attributes of employees with strong research background
• Strategies towards managing a potential career transition from University to industry
• What skills researchers can offer and how their chosen career path can benefit from these skils
• How researchers can demonstrate their attributes and communicate their abilities to progress to a new career opportunity in research or elsewhere
• Provide opportunities for participants to reflect on own career development and progression
• Challenges and rewards available in the chosen career path

The following sessions will run in parallel, please select the one you would like to attend:
Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki,Fellowships and Academic career – Further information about Aphrodite
Dr Alison Fairclough, Academic support services – Further information about Alison
Dr Dave Adams, Industry and SMEs – Further information about Dave
Prof. Steve Taylor, Spinouts and commercialisation of research – Further information about Steve