The PGR-Postdoc Buddy Scheme is returning this October, and we’re inviting research staff to take part as facilitators and mentors. This initiative offers a unique opportunity to support postgraduate researchers while developing your own leadership and communication skills.
From Monday, 6 to Friday, 24 October 2025, you’ll lead a small group of PGRs in informal discussions, helping them navigate their research journey and build connections across the University.
It’s a rewarding experience that also contributes to your professional development and can be logged in your PDR under the University’s Contributions Framework against Categories 1 ‘Supporting people’ and 3b ‘Supporting PGRs’.
This cross-faculty scheme is collaborative, inclusive and responsible, in alignment with our University values. It enables you to support PGRs to meet their peers, engage in discussions about their doctoral programme and enrich their experience of the University’s research culture in an informal setting. They can also learn about your experiences as a research staff member as they consider the next steps in their career development. The scheme offers opportunities for you to meet PGRs across all three faculties, build connections outside of your own research areas and enhance your professional network.
Expressions of interest and testimonials
Expressions of interest are open from Monday, 8 to Friday, 26 September 2025.
Join the scheme where 100% of previous research staff participants said they would take part again!
What research staff have said about taking part in the scheme:
“It was a good experience leading a group and helping PGRs with their concerns and questions as someone with more experience.”
“As the lead buddy in my group, I learnt how to coordinate and organize meetings appropriately with colleagues from different cultures and research backgrounds. This has practised my leadership skills as well as give me more confidence for future career development.”
Find out more and register here.
Upcoming events for research staff
National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025
Monday, 15 to Friday, 19 September 2025
Engage with events across the National Postdoc Appreciation Week, organised by the RSA, Prosper and Research Development teams. Events include:
- Monday, 15 September, 10.30-12.30pm From Surviving to Thriving: Planning your Future, online
- Tuesday, 16 September, 10-11.30am Postdoc Power Meet: Networking for the Future, in-person
- Wednesday, 17 September, 1-4pm Writing for Public Audiences, online
- Thursday, 18 September, 11-12pm An Entrepreneur’s Journey – Bridging the Gap from Research to Impact, online
- Friday, 19 September, 12-12.45 Beyond Academia: the Ins and Outs of Consultancy & Partnerships, Online.
Celebrating Researchers
Has someone gone the extra mile to help you? Is there a postdoc who makes working at the University even better? Now is your chance to recognise their achievements and tell them how much you value their efforts.
Celebrating Researchers is an opportunity for the whole university community to show their appreciation for the hard work of research staff (including postdocs, research fellows, research assistants and research technicians). Share your messages of thanks, as well as nominating them for our Research Staff Community and Research Culture Champion prizes. You can also self-nominate! All messages of appreciation and nominations will be showcased across the University and at the Research Staff Conference on 3rd December, where the prize winners will be announced.
Nominations close on Friday, 3 October. For further information, including how to submit a nomination, see the Celebrating Researchers 2025 page.
RSA Lunch & Learn
Book Now for these upcoming RSA Lunch & Learn events (more to be announced soon):
- Introduction to PGR supervision – Monday, 13 October, 1-2pm, In-person, register: https://RSALunchLearn_Oct25.eventbrite.co.uk
- Write On: Strategies to start, shape and sharpen your writing – Tuesday, 11 November, 1-2pm, In-person, register: https://RSALunchLearn_Nov25.eventbrite.co.uk
Research Staff Conference 2025
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
The theme for this year’s Research Staff Conference will be: Beyond boundaries: developing an interdisciplinary mindset
The keynote will be delivered by Professor Iain Buchan, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Liverpool
The conference will also include workshops, panel sessions, networking and wellbeing activities.
Registration opens on Monday, 29 September.
Images of Research
The Research Staff Conference will once again host the Images of Research, giving researchers an opportunity to creatively convey and promote their research through an engaging and thought-provoking image.
The Images of Research competition will open in September 2025 – full details are available on the Images of Research 2025 webpage.
The Academy’s Researcher Development and Culture Team is committed to offering support for all researchers, academics, research-enabling staff and postgraduate researchers at all career levels, providing opportunities and developing initiatives that meet their career aspirations.
Colleagues are encouraged to regularly access the Researcher Hub for a range of on-demand development opportunities to support professional practice, supplementing the live upcoming researcher development activities.