Prosper PI Network: Simple Steps to Supporting Postdoc Career Development

Short-term contracts are a reality of postdoc life, compelling postdocs to apply for new positions as projects draw to an end. For many postdocs, especially those on work visas, this can feel like an unceasing cycle of job seeking. Submitting job applications is demanding, time consuming and sometimes disappointing; it’s a process that can be hard to watch when you just want the best for both your project and your postdoc.

But what can Principal Investigators and line managers do to help?

Join us to discuss and discover how you can support your postdocs to make these difficult transitions, whether they’re continuing within or looking beyond academia. Get practical advice on helping postdocs understand what employers value, craft competitive CVs and use online networking to their advantage, and learn how you can help your postdocs identify and grow their skills in their current role. Whether your postdoc is applying for academic roles or interested in jobs beyond academia, this session will help you to support them to take their next step.

Benefits of attending

· Share best practice with other PIs and line managers.

· Gain a better understanding of what is and isn’t expected of you.

· Deepen your knowledge about job applications beyond academia.

· Learn how to support your postdocs identify their skills, write CVs and build a LinkedIn profile.

This session is only available to University of Liverpool, University of Manchester and Lancaster University staff. When registering for this event please ensure you use your institutional staff email address.

Format of the session

This session will be held on Zoom, delivered by the Prosper team. The session will comprise of a series of talks and discussions.

More about Prosper and the PI network

Prosper is a new approach to career development that unlocks postdocs’ potential to thrive in multiple career pathways.

Based at the University of Liverpool in partnership the University of Manchester and Lancaster University, our ultimate goal is to open up the huge talent pool that exists within the postdoctoral research community, to the benefit of postdocs themselves, Principal Investigators, employers and the wider UK economy.

We’re establishing a PI network that will put you at the centre of championing postdocs and driving change in how we approach their career development.

The network gives you the opportunity to:

• Influence, pilot and shape the development of Prosper and its resources to support both you and your postdocs in their career development.

• Share knowledge and learn from colleagues across the full range of disciplines at the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and Lancaster University.

• Share experiences and build relationships with employer partners, opening up new networks and opportunities for collaboration.

• Raise the profile and recognition accorded to successful postdoc development at institutional level.

Who can attend?

We encourage PIs at all levels to participate, and we welcome anyone who line-manages a postdoc or hopes to employ a postdoc in the future to come along. Find out more by visiting our webpages, emailing us at prosper.postdoc@liverpool.ac.uk or follow us on Twitter.

Accessibility Adjustments and Alternative Format requests

If you require any accessibility reasonable adjustments or have any questions about this session, please contact the RSA at ResearchStaffAssociation@liverpool.ac.uk at least 7 days before the session date so that your requirements can be referred to the facilitator(s) who will make every effort to address them where possible.

Academy Code of Conduct

All events organised or facilitated by Prosper, part of The Academy, follow a Conduct of Conduct irrespective of the number of participants or session format. The Academy thanks all participants in advance for your cooperation to help ensure a safe and constructive environment for everybody. The Code of Conduct is available here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/development/conduct-events/