(S9E7) Enhancing Research Culture as an Early Career Researcher

Research Culture Uncovered

This week, Taryn Bell chats to Ines Hahn and Stuart Higgins from the University of York about what early career researchers can do to shape research culture.

Ines and Stuart share their experiences, including how they got started, what motivates them, and what they think needs to be done to support ECRs who want to take an active role in transforming research culture.

Key takeaways:

• The research culture initiatives in which Ines and Stuart have been involved have had an effect on their respective fields and institutions, but they’ve also had major benefits for their own careers and wellbeing
• It’s important to be kind to yourself – don’t burn yourself out. Joining existing RC initiatives can make a big difference, without the pressure of taking the lead on everything
• Key challenges have included: how to reach the right people, and how to convince senior figures to carve out space for these kinds of projects
• Both funders and senior leadership have a major role to play in encouraging research leaders to take research culture seriously, and get involved in research culture locally, nationally and internationally!

Links, resources and initiatives mentioned in the episode:

• UK Postdoc Appreciation Week
• Scientists Not The Science: Being a Positive Role Model
• Angela Saini - Inferior and Superior
• Enhancing Research Culture workshops at York

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists:

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management with Tony Bromley (follow Tony on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research Leadership
• Research Evaluation

Follow us on twitter: @ResDevLeeds, @OpenResLeeds, @ResCultureLeeds

Connect to us or leave us a review on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

Leeds Research Culture links:

• Researcher Development and Culture Website
• Our Concordat Implementation plans and progress
• University of Leeds Research Culture Statement
• University of Leeds Responsible Metrics Statement
• University of Leeds Open Research Statement
• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023