Academic Career Development 

Strategy

We have a strong track-record of investing in research capacity development. Our values, culture and actions create a working environment that enables everyone to develop to their full potential in a supportive, dynamic and responsive centre.

Our strategy is to provide a platform for knowledge exchange, networking opportunities and shared resources combined with individual mentoring and personalised training plans. We recognise that strong support and flexibility are crucial. For each trainee, an individually agreed programme of formal training is developed, designed to support their personal development in addition to essential research and leadership skills.

Objectives

1. Develop the Interdisciplinary BRC Training Academy by recruiting PhD students, postdocs, interns and clinical fellows.

2. Increase NIHR Research Capacity by attracting high-quality candidates through offering inclusive, high-quality training with integral mentorship, prioritising leadership and interdisciplinarity, and developing matched-funded faculty positions.

3. Training Capacity Development of Non-Medical Staff

a. Expansion of the Sheffield NMAHP Research Internship Programme

b. Development of the Technical Training Academy

c. Deliver an Informatics Training Programme

d. Support for Postdoctoral Staff

e. Development of the Northern BRC Operations Network 

4. Deliver PPIE training to BTA Members

Work in areas of strategic need

COVID-19 recovery:

• integrate research into healthcare services via the NMAHP Internship Scheme and clinical fellowships.

Health and social care research:

• encourage LA-SPARC placements for multi-disciplinary career development.

• remain committed to progressing dementia research.

MLTCs:

• encourage collaboration across disciplines and disease areas by supporting postdoctoral researchers to work across themes.

• encourage multi-disciplinary PhD supervisory teams.

Under-served communities:

• grow relationships with established community partners.

• develop new collaborations by sharing best practice.

• deliver PPIE training to BTA members, including engaging under-served communities.

EDI:

• track and report on protected characteristics of BTA members.

• encourage participation in the reverse mentoring scheme.

• support a 4-year EDI PhD studentship.

• deliver inclusive and interdisciplinary training.

• develop EDI principles across the BTA in collaboration with our EDI co-leads.

• integrate the EDI strategies of STH and UoS to actively attract, engage and develop talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• employ transparent application/review processes in partnership with UoS postgraduate team and EDI Directors.

Under-represented disciplines:

• further develop a local NMAHP Internship Scheme.

• encourage participation in the Associate PI Scheme.

• support postdoctoral researchers to work on data science projects that span BRC themes.

• provide personalised career advice for a breadth of roles across multiple disciplines.

• fund placements for engineers, physicists and radiographers.

Life sciences industry:

• encourage matched funding opportunities for ECRs with industry.

Pathways to impact

• Publications in high-impact journals

• Presentations and prizes at leading external conferences

• Successful funding applications and career progression of BTA members

• Increased diversity / breadth of involvement in research

Collaboration

We will collaborate with the Northern BRCs to maximise training opportunities and develop integrated training across NIHR Infrastructures, including developing the Sheffield NMAHP scheme with other regional programmes. Our BTA mirrors the principles of the NIHR Academy, integrating many collaborative initiatives. We will encourage members to partake in various external mentorship programmes.

Click here to read the full Academic Career Development Strategy.