If you're applying for a post-doc/PhD position, read this helpful guide on writing your CV and preparing for interview.

Career Development

The University’s Research Development group provides professional development opportunities to academic and research staff, including grant-writing support, strategic career planning, business engagement and entrepreneurship, academic leadership skills, and communication of research. Many of these resources are useful to early career PIs including information on who to contact for grant applications, public engagement, developing research impact, and teaching skills. More information including contact details can be found here.

Further information on career development can be found under the Staff Resources section.

Grant Opportunities

Information and support for grants applications can be found on the Grants Academy webpages. You can find information particularly relevant to ECR PIs on available grants and support on how to apply for grants including courses such as the UKRI Bootcamp. Further information on the grant application process can be found on the Research and Knowledge Exchange webpages or by contacting a member of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Team.

Mentoring Scheme

The University provides an opportunity for staff to have a mentor to support their career and professional development. The Rowett Institute has a mentoring advisor, Alex Johnstone, can provide more details on the mentoring structure. Further information on the mentoring program can also be found on the staff development page or by contacting Alex directly.

The University has a traffic light system in place to support ECR Fellowship applications. This process supports ECRs in applying for fellowships by ensuring they have the correct support for project planning and development. Further information on the support of fellowship applications can be found on the Research and Knowledge Exchange webpages or by contacting a member of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Team. It is advised that, as an initial step, you discuss your idea and intention to apply for a fellowship with your PI who will advise on the process.

Further information on available research grants and grant applications support can be found on the Funding Opportunities page.

The IMS has an ECR networking group, called NVision, that organises social and networking events aimed at postdocs based in the Institute of Medical Sciences. This group is open for ECRs across the whole school to join. This group organises various talks and seminars on a wide range of subjects from career development to grant writing. Contact details for the NVision committee can be found here.

The University provides an opportunity for staff to have a mentor to support their career and professional development. The Rowett Institute has a mentoring advisor, Alex Johnstone, can provide more details on the mentoring structure. Further information on the mentoring program can also be found on the staff development page or by contacting Alex directly.

Further information of support for staff can be found in the EDT staff resources.

The University’s Research Development group provides professional development opportunities to academic and research staff, including grant-writing support, strategic career planning, business engagement and entrepreneurship, academic leadership skills, and communication of research. They run a R&I Postdoctoral Professional Development Programme which includes several courses specifically aimed a postdoctoral researchers. More information including contact details can be found here.

Researcher Development also have a Postdoctoral Research Committee which has been established to support the alignment professional and career development provision with the Researcher Development Concordat, and to oversee the planning and implementation of the University's HR Excellence in Research Award strategy. 

There are several University resources and staff training courses that are available to all postdoctoral ECRs. These include courses on skills development and career progression. The University webpages on staff development and professional development explain these in more detail. You can find details of current courses and book a place on the course booking system.

Postgraduate students are encouraged to engage with the Aberdeen University Student Association (AUSA) who represent the student body in Senate and across the University. AUSA provides support and advice for all students including support for academic and non-academic issues.

PGRs have representation with Aberdeen University Students’ Association. Your rep can be contacted by emailing pgrs-ausarep@abdn.ac.uk.

Students are also welcome to join any of the Trade Unions that represent the interests of staff at the University. Further information on Trade Unions can be found here.

Further information on postgraduate monitoring and assessment for research students can be found on the PGR School pages. All PGR students will be allocated an advisor, who is independent of their immediate supervisory team. If you have any concerns about your progress, then you can talk to your advisor or immediate supervisory team.

PGRs are always welcome to contact the PGR School engagement team on pgrs-engagement@abdn.ac.uk to discuss any concerns and queries they may have about their studies.

The University provides a range of services to support you during your time at Aberdeen. This includes student support advisers, disability advisers, mental health support, international student advisers, as well as the chaplaincy and counselling service. You can find out more information about the teams on the student advice & support pages, you should also explore the student support and wellbeing pages.

There are several student representatives that represent the interest of PGR students across the University. The SMMSN has two student representatives that sit on the PGR Committee for the PGR School. 

For PGR students, the University Careers Service provides an excellent service offering advice, mentoring, and courses for student career development and employment options. The careers service has school-specific specialised career advisors who can advise postgraduate research students on career options.

There are several University resources and staff training courses that are available to all PGR students. These include courses on skills development and career progression. The University webpages on staff development and professional development explain these in more detail. You can find details of current courses and book a place on the course booking system.

The University recognises the importance of early career researchers (ECR) career development and is a result has become a signatory to the Researcher Development Concordat. This pledge outlines the University’s commitment to ECR career development by creating an inclusive and diverse research culture. The Concordat is based on the Researcher Development Framework  which outlines skills development for academic career progression.
 

The Rowett Institute Athena Swan 2021

There were 12 respondents answering questions about Athena Swan at the institute, workload and the impacts of COVID-19 on work.

The summary can be accessesd here

The results are completely anonymous and can be accessed here 

A parents and carers network has been established as a resource fo  staff or students who work at the University of Aberdeen. Monthly face to face meetings take place.  Further information on the group can be found on the group’s facebook page or by emailing parents.network@abdn.ac.uk 

Below is a link to a useful pdf with questions on aspects of employment affecting parents and carers with answers to these questions from HR.

Visit the Facebook page >>

The University are committed to supporting healthy working lives and staff.  Further information can be found here:  https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/working-here/wellbeing-portal/index.php

Career Development

The University’s Research Development group provides professional development opportunities to academic and research staff, including grant-writing support, strategic career planning, business engagement and entrepreneurship, academic leadership skills, and communication of research. Many of these resources are useful to early career PIs including information on who to contact for grant applications, public engagement, developing research impact, and teaching skills. More information including contact details can be found here.

Further information on career development can be found under the Staff Resources section.

Grant Opportunities

Information and support for grants applications can be found on the Grants Academy webpages. You can find information particularly relevant to ECR PIs on available grants and support on how to apply for grants including courses such as the UKRI Bootcamp. Further information on the grant application process can be found on the Research and Knowledge Exchange webpages or by contacting a member of the Research and Knowledge Exchange Team.

Mentoring Scheme

The University provides an opportunity for staff to have a mentor to support their career and professional development. The Rowett Institute has a mentoring advisor, Alex Johnstone, can provide more details on the mentoring structure. Further information on the mentoring program can also be found on the staff development page or by contacting Alex directly.

Welcome to the Rowett! You will have initiated or perhaps completed the induction process at entry to your new position or studentship at the Rowett. However, we thought it might be useful to have the information you have received available on this page so you can refer back again if something is not clear or you missed something. The resources available here have been designed in mind to support the formal induction process initiated by our Quality Assurance manager Mr Gary Cooper.

This resource will be added to and updated as presentations are available. However, do not hesitate to ask Gary Cooper or people responsible for a given section of the induction, if you have questions or want further information.

Rowett analytical facility induction pdf

Health & Safety student presentation >>

Athena Swan equality and diversity presentation >>

Mentor Scheme Overview >>

Biological safety induction >>

Quality Assurance induction presentation

The University of a range of courses  and workshops to aid staff development. This includes leadership, management, project management, coaching and if not met by courses on offer, bespoke support to meet a particular need.

Further information can be found here >>

The Rowett Institute Athena Swan 2021 survey

There were 62 respondents answering questions about Athena Swan at the institute, workload and the impacts of COVID-19 on work.

The summary can be accessessed here

The results are completely anonymous and can be accessed here 

A useful guidebook detailing types of leave and entitlement for parents-to-be, parents with newborn children or staff adopting children and the support available has been produced by the University. The link can be found here >>

Homeworking

The University has now put in place a Home Working Policy. The Homeworking Policy sets out provision for different types of homeworking arrangements which includes occasional, regular or a permanent arrangement. It is not designed for one-off arrangements (which would continue to require discussion and approval from your line manager). The policy is applicable to all contract types in the university except temporary service contracts. The Homeworking Policy is available online with detailed information including guidance and a request form.

A parents and carers network has been established as a resource for staff or students who work at the University of Aberdeen. Monthly face to face meetings take place.  Further information on the group can be found on the group’s facebook page or by emailing parents.network@abdn.ac.uk

Visit the Facebook page >>

Staff are reminded that to be eligible to be involved in a recruitment selection process, which includes shortlisting and membership of a selection panel, staff are required to undertake a mandatory recruitment and selection course. Enrolment for this course is made via HR (HRRecruitment@abdn.ac.uk). Furthermore, all staff are required to have attended an unconscious bias seminar within the previous 24 months. We would recommend giving yourself a reminder of unconscious bias. There are number of good YouTube videos that are very useful to view before undertaking a recruitment selection process.

Recruitment Bias in Research Institutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g978T58gELo

Understanding unconscious bias  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVp9Z5k0dEE

4 steps for busting unconscious bias https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-n7el87Dmo

• Equality Diversity Inclusivity Team meeting 28th April 2022
• Equality, Diversity Inclusivity Team meeting 23rd May 2024

Composition of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Team

Co-leads Dr Karen Scott and Dr Silvia Gratz

Maria Cascio (University Athena SWAN co-ordinator)

Prof. Alex Johnstone (Mentor co-ordinator)

Karen Taylor (Family Support Advisor)

Alasdair Leeson-Payne (social and culture convenor)

Fiona MacAskill (Human Resources)

Professor Jules Griffin (Director)

Lynn Pirie

Dr Justin Rochford

Dr Sandy Ross

Dr Nick Hayward

Karen Hislop

Dr Antonio Gonzalez Sanchez

Gary Cooper

Claire Hammerton

New members are always welcome.

To volunteer, or for more information contact Karen Scott or Silvia Gratz

Karen Taylor (Karen.Taylor@abdn.ac.uk) (left) is our Family Support Advisor. 

Alex Johnstone (Alex.Johnstone@abdn.ac.uk (right) is the Mentoring Advisor for the Rowett, and she can provide help and advice for anyone looking for a mentor or looking to become a mentor.

Further information on the University's Family Friendly Policies 

• 2024 Rowett Athena Swan business cycle
• The Future of Athena SWAN
• Rowett Institute Athena SWAN Bronze renewal
• Rowett Institute Athena Swan extended action plan 2021-26 
• Rowett Institute Athena SWAN Action Plan 2017-2021
• University Athena SWAN page
• Trade Unions
• SMMSN Equality, Diversity and Inclusion information
• Summary of the 2023 staff survey