Helpful links for postdoctoral fellows. Careers service The university careers service provides information, advice and guidance; more information can be found on their website here. They can offer individual career development consultations. Postdoctoral society For more local support and networking consider joining a Post-Doctoral Society, created and run by post-docs for post-docs and for other interested researchers. This is a great way to get to know your local community through social, information sharing and training events. There are 3 in the Medical School: If you are based at George Square then learn more from G2 Post Docs by following them on twitter @g2_pd, or on facebook: George Square Post-Docs. You can join their mailing list by contacting g2pd@mlist.is.ed.ac.uk If you are based at Little France then learn more from LFPDS by following them on twitter @LFPDS, or by checking out their website at http://www.lfpds.ed.ac.uk . You can join their mailing list here https://mlist.is.ed.ac.uk/lists/subscribe/lfpds If you are based at the IGMM/WGH then learn more about PoDS by joining their mailing list at podscommittee@mlist.is.ed.ac.uk University-based personal and professional development: IAD The university’s Institute for Academic Development (twitter: Researchers@Ed) offers many opportunities and courses for developing and improving various skillsets in preparation for a wide array of career paths, and produce a monthly newsletter. Of relevance is ‘Making the most of your postdoc’ booklet available here: http://www.docs.hss.ed.ac.uk/iad/Researchers/Research_staff/Making_the_Most_of_Your_Postdoc_Online_Resource.pdf Programmes of interest include: 1) Ingenious Women: to empower female researchers to take control of their careers (https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/leadership-in-research/women), 2) Research Leader Training Programme: for aspiring principal investigators (https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/leadership-in-research/rlp), 3) Scottish Crucible: to help early career researchers see the bigger picture (https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/leadership-in-research/scottish-crucible) Funding opportunities and research applications The College Research Support Office (CMVM RSO, and on twitter @cmvm_research) provide advice and practical help with funding opportunities and developing research applications. This includes horizon scanning, guidance on research funders, advice on targeting the right opportunities, identifying pathways to impact, developing the bid and dealing with contractual matters upon award. The CMVM team are also interlinked with ACCORD and the NHS, due to many academics having integral clinical and research commitments. Follow @EdMedECR on twitter to get regular updates on local, national and international training, funding, publishing, communicating, academic and alternative career info. Topics of interest are circulated through the EdMedECR mailing list and a new quarterly newsletter. Other useful links: Code of Practise for Management and Development of Research Staff https://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/research-roles/research-only-staff/advice/codes/code-practice Research Staff 18/19 manual http://www.docs.hss.ed.ac.uk/iad/Researchers/Research_staff/Research_staff_IADBrochure_1819_online.pdf Guide for New Researchers in Edinburgh http://www.docs.hss.ed.ac.uk/iad/Researchers/Research_staff/Beginning_your_research_position_in_Edinburgh.pdf Thriving in Your Research Position http://www.docs.hss.ed.ac.uk/iad/Researchers/Research_staff/Resilience/Thriving_in_your_research_position_FINAL.pdf External researcher support Vitae is an international programme to support researchers. They are dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development. The UK Research Staff Association, in association with Vitae, “aims to provide a collective voice for research staff across the UK, through building researcher communities and influencing policy”. SULSA ( Scottish Life Science Alliance) has a number of resources for early career researchers, including an annual prize and case studies of careers beyond academia: https://www.sulsa.ac.uk/researcher-development/ Mentorship program The University of Edinburgh has a staff mentorship scheme Mentoring Connections, which provides all staff with time and space to meet with a mentor/mentee to talk through a variety of issues that affect them at various stages of their career and development, for example work life balance, career development, or promotion paths. https://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/learning-development/other-development-options/mentoring-connections Performance and development review guidelines All staff at The University of Edinburgh go through an annual review with their line manager, training and guidelines for a productive review can be found here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/human-resources/about/in-colleges/medicine-vet-medicine/p-and-d-r Transportation in Edinburgh New students might not familiar with how public transportation works in Edinburgh. This can include the types of transportation (i.e. bus, tram) as well as the different types of tickets (one-time tickets, day tickets, monthly passes, student discounts). Transport for Edinburgh main website: http://transportforedinburgh.com/ Disabilities Services The disability homepage of the university has information as well as contact numbers. https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-disability-service Counselling/mental health The university is equipped with a variety of services that offer support: In person: https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff Online: Big White Wall: https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff/big-white-wall-bww SilverCloud: via https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff App: https://www.ed.ac.uk/counselling-services/staff/feeling-good-app This article was published on 2024-09-09
