Training & Development Opportunities
Most relevant training and development opportunities for postdocs at the IoPPN are summarised in the Academic, Researcher & Educator Development
handbook.
Postdocs are encouraged to make use of the training offered by the Centre for Research Staff Development, who run a varied selection of courses that can be booked via Skills Forge.
King's has also signed up to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
Other opportunities include:
Grant Writing
The IoPPN has a number of useful resources to help researchers apply for grants including details of proposal writing workshops, please see the intranet for details. The IoPPN also has a repository of previously successful funding applications, many of which are relevant to postdocs.
For details of current and upcoming grants, please see Research Professional and the fortnightly IoPPN Funding Opportunities and Prizes Circular.
The Research & Innovation Committee runs mock grant review and fellowship interview events each year. Information from previous events - including a video of a mock fellowship review panel can be found here.
King's runs some very helpful courses on grant writing, including help on the financial aspects of writing applications, that can be accessed via Skills Forge.
King's also provides a complete Pre and Post Award support service to all researchers applying for research funding.
Education & Teaching
If you are a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher new to teaching in higher education you may also find the Professional Development and Recognition resources helpful.
Postdocs who make a substantial contribution to teaching at the IoPPN can apply for honorary lecturer status. Please see here for more information.
Preparing for your PDR
Once a year – for most people this will be between April and July – a formal PDR meeting takes place.
The Performance Development Review (PDR) is a valuable resource for all early career researchers. It's a platform on which to reflect on your progress, plan for your professional future and identify learning and developmental opportunities. It provides guides on the PDR process at King's and information about the roles of the PDR reviewee and reviewer.
Technical
King's is a member of HEaTED, which is an organisation dedicated to supporting Professional Development of Technical staff from all disciplines and specialisms in Higher Education and related fields, and provides access to training, regional networks and events free of charge.
Postdocs may also be interested in professional registration of the Science Council. There are various levels of registration: Registered Science Technician, Registered Scientist, Chartered Scientist or a Chartered Science Teacher.
Mentoring Opportunities
Mentoring involves an individual sharing their experience, knowledge and skills to support others in their career development or progression.
Multiple local and cross-departmental mentoring schemes are currently piloting for researach staff. Information about these schemes can be found here.
The 'More Than Mentoring Scheme' is a novel scheme that prioritises staff who identify as women, LGBTQ+ or have a disability, and those from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, recognising that these groups are significantly underrepresented at senior level. For potential mentees, this is a great opportunity for you to connect with a mentor who can offer insight, advice, opportunity – and help you navigate the next stage of your career. Our one-of-a-kind positive action scheme gives staff the opportunity to be paired with a colleague within King’s for mentorship. Where possible, we match mentors and mentees with shared lived experience to enable a deeper understanding and connection between participants. Mentor pairs are encouraged to meet at least once a month for 6 months, April 2022 - September 2022.Information about this scheme can be found here.
Useful Links