Prospects Postgrad 1

ADVICE AND GUIDANCE Postgrad 35 The postgrad programme TENNIE VIDELER is a programme manager for Vitae, an organisation set up to support postgraduate researchers and research staff. Before that she was a researcher herself, completing a PhD in structural biology and later post-doctoral research. She explains how Vitae works with students to enhance their research and career options. There was very little in the way of transferable skills training or tailored careers advice around when I was studying for my doctorate. The University’s careers service was completely geared towards undergraduates and academics seemed unaware of career options, other than their own various paths within academia, available to postgraduate researchers. I also suffered from a lack of awareness on issues, such as time and project management and managing my supervisor. I have since seen lots of postgraduate researchers go through their degrees in the labs I have worked in and I am pleased to say there has been an increasing amount of support on offer in the shape of transferable skills courses, careers advice and development opportunities. I joined Vitae a couple of months ago and am now the person dedicated to making contact with researchers, both postgraduates and research staff. My job involves lots of writing and commissioning of resources for researchers (see below) as well as attending events where I meet researchers and staff who support them. I really hope Vitae will make a positive impact on people’s learning and career experiences. Vitae benefits postgraduate researchers on several levels: championing the development and implementation of effective policy, enhancing higher education provision through sharing practice and resource, providing access to development opportunities and resources and building an evidence base to support the researcher development agenda. POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHER SPECIFIC RESOURCES Tennie Videler The Balanced Researcher A booklet with strategies for busy researchers, written by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner. PGR Tips Monthly email bulletin containing tips on diverse aspects of the postgraduate experience. Recent issues have covered critical reading, handling peer review, time management and overseas researchers. GRADBritain A magazine written by and for postgraduate researchers in the United Kingdom. It is published once a term and contains articles written by PGRs of all ages, backgrounds and disciplines. It provides a platform for PGRs to share experiences, advice and to ask questions. On occasion, it may even make you laugh. You can sign up on the Vitae website. PhD planners Most people embarking on a doctorate receive our wall planner with an academic year calendar and ideas on how to manage your time as well as tips on how to develop as a researcher, raise your profile and manage your supervisor. Completing your doctorate z-cards A handy resource packed full with tips on the different aspects of finishing your thesis, preparing for your viva and thinking of your postdoctoral career options. Events We organise career based events nationally. These include Careers in Academia, Broadening Horizons and different Careers in Focus events in collaboration with potential employers, for example, investment banking. This is your chance to find out what is really involved, what skills and strengths it will take to succeed and to decide what career is for you. For more information visit www.vitae.ac.uk/event Vitae.ac.uk A great resource with a large section written specifically for postgraduate researchers. It has lots of advice on different aspects of postgraduate research, from start to finish. You can find out more about work life balance, careers and resources here. GRADschools An opportunity to think about your own career and personal development through experiential learning in a fun, inspirational and supportive environment. There are both national GRADschools and local ones. National GRADschools are three to four day residential courses which include outdoor activities. They are open to all postgraduate researchers from the second year onwards and are free to Research Council funded postgraduate researchers. Local GRADschools may not be residential but are built around the same experiential learning principles. http://www.vitae.ac.uk http://www.vitae.ac.uk/event http://www.vitae.ac.uk/event

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Prospects Postgrad Autumn 2008 Contents: What’s Inside For Love and Money Cash for Qualifications A Tale of Two Students Meet the Postgrad People All Aboard The Postgraduate Environment Maths Market The Postgrad Programme Teacher Training Arts and Humanities Science and Engineering Business and Management Social Sciences

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