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Medical School Postdoctoral Society

Medical School Postdoctoral Society. Richard Mead (President) 22 January 07. Overview. Background-why we need Postdoc societies Formation of Medical School Postdoc Society Goals and activities to date Our experience Things you need to know. Background. Feb 16 2007

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Medical School Postdoctoral Society

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  1. Medical School Postdoctoral Society Richard Mead (President) 22 January 07

  2. Overview • Background-why we need Postdoc societies • Formation of Medical School Postdoc Society • Goals and activities to date • Our experience • Things you need to know

  3. Background

  4. Feb 16 2007 ‘Academe risks losing talent’ • Of 9000 ‘early stage’ researchers who left academia in 2004/5 • 1000 went to another UK institution • 1000 abroad (400 to Universities) • 600 to UK Industry • Rest? Lack of attractive career path? Higher Education Statistics Agency figures 2004/5

  5. Postdoc –stepping stone to Lecturer? • Traditional model – now outdated • 35000 research staff in UK HEIs • >30000 on fixed term contracts • 21%>10 years experience • 35% between 5 & 10 years experience • ~50% want to continue in Higher education (mostly in research or teaching) Figures vary but the reality is that 5-25% (10%) of postdocs get a permanent academic post

  6. Professor Independent fellow Lecturer PostDoc Leave academia PhD

  7. Postdoc issues • Better Career structures and stability • Control over careers • Not just adjunct of PI • Greater responsibility • Supervision, teaching, management • Recognition • RAE, publications, supervision, teaching, management • More information • Better Communication

  8. Initiatives • 1996 concordat on research staff management • RCI 1996-2002 • SET for success (Roberts review) 2002 • Supporting research staff-making a difference (Sheffield 2003)

  9. Progress • Good in some areas • RCUK fellowships • Training for Postgrads and Postdocs • Slow in others • Career structures/stability for Postdocs • Management of contract research staff • Training for supervisors of Postdocs • Take up of provision on offer

  10. http://www.foundation.org.uk/ • Meeting 20 Feb 07 ‘ Can the career path for young researchers be improved?’ • Some relevant points • PIs have an essential role – need help (training) to fully realise potential of research staff and guide them on appropriate career paths • HEFCE and research councils should require evidence of good research staff management as a condition of grants - Institutions should insist on this or ‘consider themselves at risk in applying for future funding’ • Research staff also need to take responsibility for their own careers but need a voice at local and national level

  11. Formation of the Medical School Postdoc Society

  12. Initiation • Prof Peter Croucher (Muskuloskeletal Section Head) • Initiatives to improve • Training • Career Development • Career Structures • Consulted with Postdocs in the Medical School • Challenged us to create a society and for our own benefit • Overwhelming response in favour

  13. Process • Group of enthusiastic/opinionated/vocal postdocs (10-20) from within the school • Organised a general meeting • Open call for committee members • Gathered feedback on postdoc issues • Committee agreed • Society structure • Job description and nomination process for an executive

  14. Ian Wilkinson Helen Bryant Alison Cooper Rachel Ryan The committee Alan Lawrie, Janet Chamberlain, Isobel Gowers, Adrian Higginbottom, Richard Mead, Andrew Streets, Adam Jeays Helen Marriot, Tania Stevanin, Penny Ottewell, Jennifer Carlring-Wright, Lucy Lee, Paul Heath

  15. Goals and Activities to date

  16. Committee meetings Writing objectives and TOR Major activities to date 2006 2007 Activity Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Formation of society Development of Website Input to training programme Launch Party Project teams for each area

  17. Initial Goals 1 • Develop links with the leaders of the Medical School • Met with Tony Weetman, Ian Peake, supportive of society, open door for issues/ideas • Invited to present at the Research Strategy Committee Meeting • Analyse career development needs and ways of improving career structures for postdocs • Peter Croucher leading on this • Presented suggestions at RSCM • Support amongst many Section leaders

  18. Alternative career paths Senior SO Senior Lecturer Senior Fellow Independent Fellow Scientific officer Lecturer Clinical Scientist Careers outside academia PostDoc

  19. Initial Goals 2 • Act as an information portal (Website, notice board, postdoc induction) • Helen Marriot to present on website • Actively participate in, influence and improve the Postdoctoral training programme (culture of learning) • Involved in consultations for over a year • Reps for modules • Improve communication and social interaction between postdocs and with other groups

  20. Our experience

  21. Things we’ve learned • Many organisations and initiatives nationally to address our needs • Many people and initiatives locally working to improve our lot and train us • Research Office, Graduate Research Office, Careers, Personnel • Many of the issues are known and well described • Translation into practice • Postdoc Society itself is a development opportunity • Medical School very supportive of society • University very supportive - wants to see more

  22. Issues • Time • Not really within the remit of the paying job • Postdocs busy (so is eveyone else) • Takes longer to get things done • Small number of postdocs highly cynical • No surprise

  23. Things you need to know

  24. Postdoctoral training programme • Medical School successfully applied for Roberts funds • Training programme specifically for Medical School Postdocs • Postdoctoral Training Coordinator, Dr Lucy Lee (starts 5th March) • Training programme delivered by • Modules bought in from external providers • Modules delivered by Medical School • Modules taken from the Research Leaders Programme delivered by • -Careers service • -Staff Development Unit • -Research Office, Graduate Research Office

  25. Training programme

  26. Research day • Invited to place reps on the Research Day Working Group • Adrian Higginbottom and Paul Heath • Organised a postdoc led session (Mon 18th June) • Postdocs pursuing non-academic careers • Poster walks Please submit abstracts, deadline next Friday (9th March) See online abstract form at http://school-research-day.dept.shef.ac.uk/

  27. National Research Staff Association • Formed in June 2006 http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/National_Postdoc_Association • We are a member • Represent postdoc issues at a national level • Postdocs actually getting in front of relevant people to input to decsion making • Government, RCUK, Funding Councils, IOB, Royal Society, FST

  28. Next steps • Keep pushing for change • Career structures • Career management • Little things to make a big difference • Postdocs on staff webpages • Social events • Coffee mornings • Seminar series • Promote uptake of training opportunities by PIs • Staff development unit http://www.shef.ac.uk/stdu/

  29. Please use the society • Its for you, so get involved • Participate in events/training • Talk to us • Ideas • Help • Committee

  30. Summary • Momentum for change building nationally and locally • Postdoc societies needed to provide a voice and ensure change happens • Postdocs/PhDs need to think and plan more for their own careers • Postdocs must partake in the training being provided

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