ECRI projects

This project sought feedback from prospective and current fellows on their experiences of processes in the departments throughout the fellowship ‘life-cycle,’ from before applying to the end of the fellowship.  The report highlights best practice as well as gaps in provision to help improve practices and build upon the existing support in the departments.

• The Independent Research Fellows’ ‘Life-cycle’ at Imperial College London: A review of fellows’ experience of processes across departments final report (pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Stefanie Edler-Wollstein.

The project concluded with a report showcasing the methods adopted within HE and at Imperial to tackle bullying and harassment and improve research cultures. This informed the work of an advisory board, focused on the actions needed to improve ECRs’ wellbeing. 

• Improving the wellbeing of early career researchers through tangible actions against bullying and harassment final report (pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Stefanie Edler-Wollstein. 

This project concluded with a report highlighting the factors influencing the career perceptions of Imperial ECRs and recommendations that encourage a balanced view of the range of career opportunities available to them, including those outside academia.

• Understanding ECR Career Perceptions final report (pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Ines Perpetuo. 

This was an independent, qualitative study in response to the small representation of women in academia and at Imperial. The project team spent over 50 hours hearing from academic women about their experiences and challenges. 

• What do women need to progress in academia final report (pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Karen Hinxman. 

This project was in response to the instability and stress of researchers’ fixed-term contracts, and investigated the numbers of long-term researchers at Imperial, their experiences, and how they are perceived at Imperial. Over 300 survey respondents were involved.

• Quantifying and describing the experiences of long-term researchers (LTRs) at Imperial final report (pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Karen Hinxman. 

This project evaluated the current and potential future support provision for teaching fellows and learning technologists at Imperial. This involved 45 survey responses and 22 in-depth interviews.

• Enhancing Academic Culture final report (pdf)
• Enhancing Academic Culture final report (accessible version pdf)

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Ines Perpetuo. 

In collaboration with Dr Steve Hutchinson

Six management development sessions were delivered to 77 postdoc reps between March and July 2022. These covered aspects such as resilience, managing teams and influencing skills, and received very positive feedback.

If you have any questions about this project, please email Stefanie Edler-Wollstein. 

In collaboration with Dr Jess Wade

The event took place between 29 June – 1 July 2022 and was attended by 25 Black physicists and engineers from across the UK. This was an opportunity to encourage ECRs from historically marginalised groups to aim for academic leadership roles. The feedback was very positive.

An article about this event was published in Nature and can be accessed from here: Lessons from a UK research school for Black physicists and engineers.

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Ines Perpetuo. 

In collaboration with Dr Tanweer Beleil

This event took place on 10 June 2022 and was attended by approximately 30 Black and mixed Black heritage PhD students and research staff at Imperial. It was an opportunity for networking and showcasing achievements and received very positive feedback.

If you have any questions about this project, please email Dr Ines Perpetuo. 

Background 

Obtaining grants and funding is an important skill, which benefits academic career progression. This Research England funded pilot workshop brings together applicants for funding at different levels and involving PhD students through to current Principal Investigators (PIs). 

The workshop will help applicants to improve their drafts, practice pitching their research and provide experience of the process prior to submission, allowing them to refine their proposals following feedback. It will give PhD students insights into the writing process and the experience of being on a review panel and aims to foster an open research environment, where giving and receiving feedback is welcomed. It will also provide a networking opportunity for participants. 

Aims 

• To enable funding applicants at all levels to gain detailed feedback on grants not previously available elsewhere 

• To provide opportunities for less experienced researchers to participate in the funding application review process 

• To provide opportunities for more senior researchers to evidence that they are developing mentoring skills through passing on knowledge and experience by paying forward. It also demonstrates a commitment to collegiality, collaboration and integrity, core values of good research culture and Imperial Values. 

Project activities 

A pilot workshop will be offered centrally in Spring 2025. The workshop will have spaces for three applicants (from any Faculty) to pitch their work and receive feedback. The aim is to have a minimum of three applicants at different levels, e.g. one postdoc applying for a fellowship, one fellow applying for a larger grant, one probationary lecturer applying for a starter grant. The ‘panel’ will include ECRs at all levels, including PGRs, with places for up to 20 offered for the pilot. The input received by applicants at all levels will provide feedback to enhance their submission. 

Toolkit development to enable any researcher and/or research manager to host a similar workshop in the future (subject to resource). This would include: suggested schedule and timings, confidentiality guidelines, facilitation prompts, tips for giving and receiving feedback, methods of capturing feedback, evaluation tools and key admin processes.  

Outcomes 

• Improved quality of submissions for funding applicants, including evidence of consultation and collaborative working 

• Development of funding application skills for all workshop participants through legitimate peripheral participation in a community of practice 

• Deliverable: a facilitators toolkit on how to run a pre-submission funding workshop for further central sessions, or at the faculty and intra/inter departmental levels. (Subject to resource availability). 

Who is involved in the project? 

Project lead: Anna Seabourne, email a.seabourne@imperial.ac.uk. 

Working group: Emma Francis, Cameron Pearson, Jenna Collinson, with Elena Forasacco as our critical friend.  

Stakeholders: PGRs, postdocs, fellows, PIs; Research Office, Research Managers and Early Career Researcher Institute staff. 

Timeline: Project runs from December 2024-July 2025. In-person workshop planned for Spring 2025. 

Updates 

• Elena Forasacco joins project as a ‘critical friend’ (December 2024) 

• The workshop will pilot ECRI’s new quality assurance procedures (December 2023) 

• Date of Friday 11 April confirmed at South Kensington (workshop)