Researcher Development Programme (RDP) course timetable

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Wed 13 Jan 2016 – Thu 12 Jan 2017

January 2016

Wed 13	Scientific Writing Finished 09:00 - 17:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 This workshop will focus on the structure of good scientific writing, first at the micro-level of sentences and paragraphs and then at the macro-level of abstracts and entire papers. We will look at the practical process of writing, the nature of scientific publishing and the importance of editing. The day will finish with a group editing session in which you apply the ideas you have learnt by editing each other's work. The course instructors are Mark Buchanan and Justin Mullins, two highly experienced scientific writers and editors. For the group editing session you will need to write a 300-word abstract about your work in advance and bring it with you as a print out. REGISTRATION starts at 9.00am on the day. Please ensure you arrive on time as late comers may be refused entry.
	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment (Postdocs/Research Staff) CANCELLED 09:30 - 13:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
Fri 15	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Tue 19	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Engineering) (1 of 2) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 Department of Engineering, Oatley Meeting Room 1 (Seminar Room) So, you’ve got an important presentation coming up and you want make the right impression. Whether you’re new to presenting, looking to speak at your first conference, or wanting important tips to finesse your delivery or presenting to a wider audience, this is the course for you. The course is in two parts: The pre-workshop information covers: how to prepare an effective presentation: the essential questions that guide all good talks; different, appropriate methods to structure it; tips for making the most of powerpoint; ways to overcome nerves and present with confidence. As you go, you will apply this learning to create a 5 minute presentation. In the supportive environment of the face-to-face workshop, you will deliver your 5 minute talk to a group of 10 people in the first session. Then in the second session you will receive 25 minutes 1-2-1 coaching with the trainer to work on one or more specific aspects of presenting, linked to the pre course material and the feedback you receive from the group.
	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Engineering) (2 of 2) Finished 13:00 - 17:00 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room So, you’ve got an important presentation coming up and you want make the right impression. Whether you’re new to presenting, looking to speak at your first conference, or wanting important tips to finesse your delivery or presenting to a wider audience, this is the course for you. The course is in two parts: The pre-workshop information covers: how to prepare an effective presentation: the essential questions that guide all good talks; different, appropriate methods to structure it; tips for making the most of powerpoint; ways to overcome nerves and present with confidence. As you go, you will apply this learning to create a 5 minute presentation. In the supportive environment of the face-to-face workshop, you will deliver your 5 minute talk to a group of 10 people in the first session. Then in the second session you will receive 25 minutes 1-2-1 coaching with the trainer to work on one or more specific aspects of presenting, linked to the pre course material and the feedback you receive from the group.
Wed 20	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 13:00 - 13:45 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 13:45 - 14:30 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:30 - 15:15 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:15 - 16:00 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
Fri 22	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far. By the end of this course you will know: the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge how to deal with common supervision scenarios how to provide effective feedback the practicalities of starting to supervise Topics covered: Stage 1 – Online Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them) Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system) Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop Role of a supervisor Dealing with different supervision scenarios Departmental information Stage 3 – Online Summary of what you have learnt Practical tips and advice Resources for ongoing support and information
Mon 25	Lecturing: An Introduction for Postdocs (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Finished 15:00 - 17:00 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 5 This introductory workshop will examine the processes of preparing and giving lectures. It will encourage you to consider what makes a good lecture and what lecturing is for. *Please note that this course is not aimed at PhD students*
Tue 26	Starting Your PhD (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:30 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room Why this course might make a difference: Beginning a PhD can be a daunting experience for many people. It is the transition from being taught to having responsibility for your workload and deadlines. How do you make a start? Are there specific requirements? What can you expect from your supervisor? These and many other questions will be addressed during the course. By the end of this course, you will: make a draft of your research proposal plan a year ahead have an action plan (next three months) on what will you do and strategies for carrying it out Topics covered: Defining your research project PhD timeline You and your supervisor Planning and managing your PhD PhD skills
Wed 27	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 11:15 - 12:00 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 12:00 - 12:45 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 13:30 - 14:15 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 14:00 - 16:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:15 - 15:00 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:00 - 15:45 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:45 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
Fri 29	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far. By the end of this course you will know: the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge how to deal with common supervision scenarios how to provide effective feedback the practicalities of starting to supervise Topics covered: Stage 1 – Online Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them) Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system) Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop Role of a supervisor Dealing with different supervision scenarios Departmental information Stage 3 – Online Summary of what you have learnt Practical tips and advice Resources for ongoing support and information

February 2016

Wed 3	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:00 - 14:45 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:45 - 15:30 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:30 - 16:15 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 16:15 - 17:00 Department of Engineering, Signal Processing Seminar Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
Fri 5	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 10:30 - 11:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 11:00 - 11:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 11:30 - 12:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 12:00 - 12:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 12:30 - 13:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 14:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:30 - 15:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 15:00 - 15:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 15:30 - 16:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
Wed 10	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 09:30 - 10:15 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 10:15 - 11:00 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 11:00 - 11:45 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 11:45 - 12:30 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 13:30 - 14:15 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:15 - 15:00 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:00 - 15:45 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:45 - 16:30 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
Thu 11	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
Fri 12	Being Assertive: Making Yourself Heard Finished 14:30 - 16:30 CCTL, Revans Room Building and maintaining a professional reputation is an essential skill for researchers at any stage of their careers. This course will help researchers to develop assertive communication strategies to enhance their professionalism through everyday interactions with others. By the end of the course, you will: Understand the benefits of being assertive Know what assertiveness looks and sounds like Enhance your skills in communicating assertively Topics covered: how to develop an assertive mind-set the difference between assertive, aggressive, indirectly aggressive and passive thinking and behaviour guidance on how to use assertive language in day-to-day conversation identifying your rights and responsibilities
Tue 16	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 09:30 - 10:15 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 10:15 - 11:00 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 11:00 - 11:45 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 11:45 - 12:30 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 13:30 - 14:15 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 14:15 - 15:00 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Writing Your First Year Report (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:30 - 17:30 CCTL, Revans Room If you’re feeling lost and uncertain about writing your 1st year report – or if you want to become a more effective writer – the course has two objectives in its overall aim of helping you improve the writing of your research: 1) To help you understand: the requirements of the 1st year report; the writing process; your work patterns as a writer. 2) To help you progress your writing, by working through the techniques and topics of: Writing warm-ups, to quell your internal editor so you write more freely Writing in layers to help you develop an overall structure to your thesis, so that writing feels less daunting and you take a step towards procrastinating
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:00 - 15:45 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Engineering) Finished 15:45 - 16:30 Institute for Manufacturing, Meeting Room 2 What are transferable skills, why are they important and how do you know which ones to develop? This course gives you the chance to find out the answer to all these questions and more. It is also your chance to have input into the types of training you would like to spend your time on and speak to the people who could help develop them.
Thu 18	Writing Your First Year Report (Life Sciences ) Finished 14:30 - 17:00 Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Room 215A This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
	Lecturing: An Introduction for Postdocs (Sciences) Finished 16:00 - 18:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room This introductory workshop examines the processes of preparing and giving lectures. It will encourage you to consider what makes a good lecture and what lecturing is for. *Please note that this course is not aimed at PhD students*
Fri 19	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 14:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:30 - 15:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 15:00 - 15:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 15:30 - 16:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
Tue 23	Editing Your Academic Writing (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room Editing your academic writing can be a challenge: so often we "can't see the wood for the trees". By equipping you with practical strategies for editing your own writing, this half-day course aims to improve your confidence in academic editing. You must bring a draft piece of academic work in order to practice the exercises. Outcomes: Understand what academic writing is Know how rhetoric works in English Develop strategies to help you edit your academic writing
Wed 24	Finishing Up and Moving On: FUMO (Engineering) Finished 09:15 - 17:00 Peterhouse, Upper Hall Why this course might make a difference: This course is designed to equip participants with skills to finish their PhD successfully and move on to the next stage of their careers. By the end of this course you will know: What are the PhD submission requirements and when the deadlines are How to be a (better) leader How to prepare and what to expect from your Viva How to do decide what to do next Topics covered: PhD submission process Leadership: Skills and qualities of leaders Viva: What to expect and how to prepare Careers: How to do decide what to do, different career options
Fri 26	Presentation Skills: (Sciences & Technology) Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Whether you’re new to presenting, looking to speak at your first conference, or wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, this is the course for you. The course is in two parts: Once you book on the course you will receive the pre-workshop information on how to prepare an effective presentation. Before attending a face-to-face session you will have to prepare a 5 minute presentation. You will deliver your presentation to the rest of the participants and receive feedback.

March 2016

Tue 1	Writing Your First Year Report (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room If you’re feeling lost and uncertain about writing your 1st year report – or if you want to become a more effective writer – the course has two objectives in its overall aim of helping you improve the writing of your research: 1) To help you understand: the requirements of the 1st year report; the writing process; your work patterns as a writer. 2) To help you progress your writing, by working through the techniques and topics of: Writing warm-ups, to quell your internal editor so you write more freely Writing in layers to help you develop an overall structure to your thesis, so that writing feels less daunting and you take a step towards procrastinating
	Writing Your First Year Report (Engineering) Finished 11:00 - 13:00 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 3A It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
Wed 2	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 10:00 - 12:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
Thu 3	Writing Your First Year Report (Life Sciences ) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Fri 4	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
Tue 8	Making the Most of Meetings Finished 10:00 - 13:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Meetings can be very important and they can also be very frustrating. This workshop is aimed at everyone who attends meetings and feels a need to make them more effective. The workshop includes presentation and discussion but is largely made up of group exercises, most in the form of meetings, revealing the main learning points. Topics covered include: Meetings as a personal development platform Understanding and practising the meeting process Techniques for coming to an objective decision Dealing with different personality types The role of the Chairman
	Building Resilience and Coping with Setbacks Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room By virtue of being at the interface between the known and the unknown, Research seems to be inherently stressful. The overall aim of this half-day course is, therefore, to help you build your emotional resilience by focussing on its 4 Cs: Coping, Commitment, Challenge, Control. By the end of the course: participants will know and develop effective coping strategies and learn about how to increase their commitment, challenge and control of their research.
Wed 9	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) (1 of 2) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room Whether you’re new to presenting and looking to speak at your first conference, wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, or presenting to a wider audience, the overall aim of this course is to help you be a more effective presenter. Amongst the topics covered, participants will learn: How to structure the introduction of the presentation using the A-B-C-D model How to create a presentation appropriate for the audience How to handle nerves, both in the run-up to the presentation and on the day
	Promoting Yourself and Your Ideas Finished 10:00 - 13:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Please note: this course was formerly titled 'Selling Skills'. If you have already attended this course under its former name it may not be necessary to attend this course again. You are in Cambridge because you have something to offer. This workshop helps you to make the most of the opportunities presented to you. It focuses on face to face interactions, it is not a course on using social media. The skills taught are selling and marketing abilities. This quick moving workshop is delivered in a participative style with individual and group exercises to reveal key points. Topics covered include: Clarifying who your target audience is and how to find them The reasons that people would be interested in your proposition How to present your ideas in a way that resonates with the other party A structure for face to face discussions with potential stakeholders Developing the right attitude
	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) (2 of 2) Finished 12:30 - 17:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room Whether you’re new to presenting and looking to speak at your first conference, wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, or presenting to a wider audience, the overall aim of this course is to help you be a more effective presenter. Amongst the topics covered, participants will learn: How to structure the introduction of the presentation using the A-B-C-D model How to create a presentation appropriate for the audience How to handle nerves, both in the run-up to the presentation and on the day
Fri 11	Effective Researcher (Sciences & Technology) Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 This interactive and intensive one-day course, based on the programme developed by Vitae, is intended for PhD students in their first year. You will look at practical ways to increase your effectiveness and meet the challenges of your PhD. The programme covers: Looking at your PhD as a project Working with other people Managing your relationship with your supervisor
Mon 14	The Art of Negotiation and Influence Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Meeting Room 5, AL.02 A one day master class in communication from two external trainers who have previously been employed as hostage negotiators and detectives in the Metropolitan Police Force. Participants will gain a practical insight into how professional communicators communicate, and how it can be applied in everyday life. At the end of the session participants will: Know how to persuade and influence effectively Understand how to have greater impact when communicating Have practiced the fundamental tools of professional communicators Topics: Levels of communication Trust Stages of active listening Non-judgemental language Achieving win/win Building rapport Dos and don’ts
Tue 15	How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room This course will help you to review research manuscripts more quickly and effectively. By learning how to review research manuscripts for journals you will: gain a core skill that every STEMM researcher should have free up more time for your own research develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscripts "But how long should you spend reviewing a manuscript? And what should you write in your review? Find out in this workshop with the results from a survey of 80 editors of international peer-reviewed journals." Topics covered: how the peer-review system works about your responsibilities as reviewers what editors expect in a review how to critically evaluate a research manuscript what to include in written comments to editors and authors how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript practical methods for reviewing a manuscript quickly.
	How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 16:30 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Designed specifically for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) postdocs and researchers at an early stage of their career with little or no experience of reviewing manuscripts for journals. Focus is on subjects covered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. The peer-review system helps to ensure the quality of published research. Journal editors are therefore reliant on experts who can deliver independant reviews in a timely fashion. The ability to review manuscripts should be a core skill of every researcher. But how long should you spend reviewing a manuscript? What should you write in your review? Find out with the results from a survey of 60 editors of AHSS journals. By learning how to review research manuscripts for journals you will: gain a core skill that every AHSS researcher should have free up more time for your own research develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscripts Topics covered: how the peer-review system works about your responsibilities as reviewers what editors expect in a review how to critically evaluate a research manuscript what to include in written comments to editors and authors how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript practical methods for reviewing a manuscript quickly.
	You and Your Future Career: a Creative Approach Finished 14:00 - 17:00 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 6 Whatever you plan to do next, you need to be totally clear why you’re making that choice. You need to able to 'sell' your unique story, and translate the value of your life experience so far, to your future employer. This workshop will give you the energy and tools to help you do that. This practical and reflective workshop, designed for PhD students and post docs, will be led by Alastair Creamer, career coach and is co-founder of 'Eyes Wide Opened', which helps people create and maintain fulfilling working lives. He has been described in industry as 'a catalyst for change' and promises to change the way you think with his creative approach to preparing yourself for a career that suits you.
Thu 17	Effective Researcher (Sciences & Technology) Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 This interactive and intensive one-day course, based on the programme developed by Vitae, is intended for PhD students in their first year. You will look at practical ways to increase your effectiveness and meet the challenges of your PhD. The programme covers: Looking at your PhD as a project Working with other people Managing your relationship with your supervisor
Tue 22	Writing Your First Year Report (Life Sciences ) Finished 14:00 - 16:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
Wed 23	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:30 Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Room 215A Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Thu 24	Writing Your First Year Report (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
Wed 30	Effective Researcher (Sciences & Technology) Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 This interactive and intensive one-day course, based on the programme developed by Vitae, is intended for PhD students in their first year. You will look at practical ways to increase your effectiveness and meet the challenges of your PhD. The programme covers: Looking at your PhD as a project Working with other people Managing your relationship with your supervisor

April 2016

Wed 6	Getting the Most out of Conferences Finished 10:00 - 12:00 University Centre, Cormack Room This workshop will examine how you can make the most of conferences as an environment to strategically network and build research connections. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is an old cliché, but it’s particularly true in research where over (reportedly) 90% of jobs go to a candidate who is already known to the employer prior to the recruitment process.
Mon 11	GRADschool (1 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 18:00 Fitzwilliam College, Storey's Way GRADschool is an intensive 3 day course that can change the course of your life! GRADschool bookings are made by completing the application form. The deadline for applications is 10am on 14th March 2016 For details about this activity and links to the application for please read all the information at http://www.ppd.admin.cam.ac.uk/information-research-students/gradschool-research-students
Tue 12	GRADschool (2 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 20:00 Fitzwilliam College, Storey's Way GRADschool is an intensive 3 day course that can change the course of your life! GRADschool bookings are made by completing the application form. The deadline for applications is 10am on 14th March 2016 For details about this activity and links to the application for please read all the information at http://www.ppd.admin.cam.ac.uk/information-research-students/gradschool-research-students
Wed 13	GRADschool (3 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 18:00 Fitzwilliam College, Storey's Way GRADschool is an intensive 3 day course that can change the course of your life! GRADschool bookings are made by completing the application form. The deadline for applications is 10am on 14th March 2016 For details about this activity and links to the application for please read all the information at http://www.ppd.admin.cam.ac.uk/information-research-students/gradschool-research-students

May 2016

Tue 3	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 10:00 - 12:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
Wed 4	Oral Presentation Skills Workshop Finished 09:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course is designed for those who would like to build their confidence and competence by learning the key ingredients of preparing and delivering effective oral presentations, with opportunities to practise what has been preached. During this interactive session, participants will learn about the theories behind effective preparation and presentation. Participants will then prepare and deliver a short presentation. There will be an opportunity to reflect on strengths and “what could be improved” and also to receive immediate feedback from the audience. The speeches will be recorded, and excerpts replayed toward the end of the workshop.
Thu 5	Oral Presentation Skills Workshop Finished 09:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course is designed for those who would like to build their confidence and competence by learning the key ingredients of preparing and delivering effective oral presentations, with opportunities to practise what has been preached. During this interactive session, participants will learn about the theories behind effective preparation and presentation. Participants will then prepare and deliver a short presentation. There will be an opportunity to reflect on strengths and “what could be improved” and also to receive immediate feedback from the audience. The speeches will be recorded, and excerpts replayed toward the end of the workshop.
Fri 6	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 10:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 10:30 - 11:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 11:00 - 11:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 11:30 - 12:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 12:00 - 12:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 12:30 - 13:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 14:30 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
	Skills Analysis One-to-One (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:30 - 15:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room The overall aim of these one-to-one sessions is to help you identify the skills you would like to develop to be more effective both during and after your PhD. Topics covered include: evaluating your current skill levels; identifying the areas you wish to focus on to create a tailored development plan.
Tue 10	Solving Research Problems Creatively Finished 10:00 - 13:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course aims to unleash the creativity within you so you can apply it to your research and find new ways to tackle old challenges. At the end of the course you will: Understand more about what makes us creative and what stops our creativity Know some simple tools to improve your creativity toward problem solving Have applied the creative approaches to solve a challenge of your own Topics covered: What is creativity? What is innovation? Why do we become less creative as we get older? Creativity exercises Creativity tools Convergent and divergent thinking Applying creativity to your challenge
Thu 12	Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) (1 of 4) Finished 09:30 - 17:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page. The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia. It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own. Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass) Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3 Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate
Fri 13	Your Final Chapter Finished 09:45 - 17:00 St John's College, Fisher Building As the end of your time as a PhD student approaches you might be feeling a bit apprehensive about the future. It isn’t just the practicalities of submitting and defending your thesis but questions about the skills you have and how you might use them in the future. Your Final Chapter is a one day workshop designed to both inform you about the requirements at the end of a PhD and inspire you to secure the future that is right for you. This course replaces both RSVP (GSLS) and FUMO (STEM)
Mon 16	Making Contact and Making Your Contacts Work For You Finished 15:00 - 17:00 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 Networking is a word that fills many researchers with dread, evoking unpleasant images of oily self-promoters or painfully stilted small-talk. But there is a vital link between who knows you, whom you know, and being successful. There is even evidence that somewhere between 70 and 90 per cent of jobs go to candidates who are in some way known to their employer prior to the recruitment process. Networking or, simply, making contact with other people is not just for the garrulous or the extrovert; it is a powerful skill that anyone can learn and practise. This bite-size workshop is designed to help unpick some of our assumptions about what’s involved in networking, to learn some simple strategies for doing it, and to try some of these out.
Wed 18	Procrastination Workshop Finished 11:30 - 13:00 17 Mill Lane, Training room A (First Floor) We all procrastinate and we all know we want to work more efficiently. But how can you achieve that? In this workshop you will first identify your own procrastination type (perfectionist? adrenaline seeker?) for a better understanding of your motivations for procrastination and then learn effective techniques to manage them, such as 4D prioritising. No excuses not to be present!
Fri 20	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
	Getting the Most out of Conferences Finished 10:00 - 12:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room This workshop will examine how you can make the most of conferences as an environment to strategically network and build research connections. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is an old cliché, but it’s particularly true in research where over (reportedly) 90% of jobs go to a candidate who is already known to the employer prior to the recruitment process.
Mon 23	Writing Your First Year Report (Life Sciences ) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.
Tue 24	Building Resilience and Coping with Setbacks Finished 13:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room By virtue of being at the interface between the known and the unknown, Research seems to be inherently stressful. The overall aim of this half-day course is, therefore, to help you build your emotional resilience by focussing on its 4 Cs: Coping, Commitment, Challenge, Control. By the end of the course: participants will know and develop effective coping strategies and learn about how to increase their commitment, challenge and control of their research.
	How to Prepare a Grant or Fellowship Application with Impact (Sciences and Technology) Finished 14:00 - 16:30 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Seminar Room This course will help you learn how to write a successful research grant or fellowship application. At the end of this course you will: Understand how research is funded, including the dual funding system for research and the background to the impact agenda Know tips and strategies to help you to get your current & future projects funded Understand how proposals are assessed by funders Gain experience of reviewing funding applications Gain information about translational research funding and support available to post-docs
Wed 25	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) CANCELLED 13:30 - 16:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Thu 26	Writing Your First Year Report (Physical Sciences & Technology) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room This course is most effective to 1st year researchers who are at least 3-4 months into their PhD. It’s that time of year, the report is looming on the horizon and the reality of writing is here! Aimed at 1st year PhD students this course is designed to get you thinking and working effectively on your end of first year report/CPGS. How do you start? What’s expected? How do you make it work for you? These and many other important questions, hints and tips will be addressed in this half day session.

June 2016

Thu 2	Introduction to Leadership Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Institute of Criminology, Room B3 Increasingly, successful researchers are expected to be leaders and lead others. The purpose of this event is to introduce participants to leadership, by introducing the 4 elements of leadership and a set of tools to help them lead. To deepen the learning, each participant will have the opportunity to apply an element and tool to lead a small multi-disciplinary group in an overarching activity, and receive feedback by the group on their leadership.
Fri 3	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 10:00 - 12:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
Tue 7	Making the Most of Meetings Finished 10:00 - 13:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Meetings can be very important and they can also be very frustrating. This workshop is aimed at everyone who attends meetings and feels a need to make them more effective. The workshop includes presentation and discussion but is largely made up of group exercises, most in the form of meetings, revealing the main learning points. Topics covered include: Meetings as a personal development platform Understanding and practising the meeting process Techniques for coming to an objective decision Dealing with different personality types The role of the Chairman
	Being Assertive: Making Yourself Heard Finished 14:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Building and maintaining a professional reputation is an essential skill for researchers at any stage of their careers. This course will help researchers to develop assertive communication strategies to enhance their professionalism through everyday interactions with others. By the end of the course, you will: Understand the benefits of being assertive Know what assertiveness looks and sounds like Enhance your skills in communicating assertively Topics covered: how to develop an assertive mind-set the difference between assertive, aggressive, indirectly aggressive and passive thinking and behaviour guidance on how to use assertive language in day-to-day conversation identifying your rights and responsibilities
Wed 8	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) (1 of 2) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room Whether you’re new to presenting and looking to speak at your first conference, wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, or presenting to a wider audience, the overall aim of this course is to help you be a more effective presenter. Amongst the topics covered, participants will learn: How to structure the introduction of the presentation using the A-B-C-D model How to create a presentation appropriate for the audience How to handle nerves, both in the run-up to the presentation and on the day
	Promoting Yourself and Your Ideas Finished 10:00 - 13:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Please note: this course was formerly titled 'Selling Skills'. If you have already attended this course under its former name it may not be necessary to attend this course again. You are in Cambridge because you have something to offer. This workshop helps you to make the most of the opportunities presented to you. It focuses on face to face interactions, it is not a course on using social media. The skills taught are selling and marketing abilities. This quick moving workshop is delivered in a participative style with individual and group exercises to reveal key points. Topics covered include: Clarifying who your target audience is and how to find them The reasons that people would be interested in your proposition How to present your ideas in a way that resonates with the other party A structure for face to face discussions with potential stakeholders Developing the right attitude
	How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room B This course will help you to review research manuscripts more quickly and effectively. By learning how to review research manuscripts for journals you will: gain a core skill that every STEMM researcher should have free up more time for your own research develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscripts Topics covered: how the peer-review system works about your responsibilities as reviewers what editors expect in a review how to critically evaluate a research manuscript what to include in written comments to editors and authors how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript practical methods for reviewing a manuscript quickly.
	Presentation Skills: With One-to-One Feedback (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) (2 of 2) Finished 12:30 - 17:00 PPD, Second Floor Meeting Room Whether you’re new to presenting and looking to speak at your first conference, wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, or presenting to a wider audience, the overall aim of this course is to help you be a more effective presenter. Amongst the topics covered, participants will learn: How to structure the introduction of the presentation using the A-B-C-D model How to create a presentation appropriate for the audience How to handle nerves, both in the run-up to the presentation and on the day
Thu 9	The Art of Negotiation and Influence Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Meeting Room 5, AL.02 A one day master class in communication from two external trainers who have previously been employed as hostage negotiators and detectives in the Metropolitan Police Force. Participants will gain a practical insight into how professional communicators communicate, and how it can be applied in everyday life. At the end of the session participants will: Know how to persuade and influence effectively Understand how to have greater impact when communicating Have practiced the fundamental tools of professional communicators Topics: Levels of communication Trust Stages of active listening Non-judgemental language Achieving win/win Building rapport Dos and don’ts
	Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) (2 of 4) Finished 09:30 - 17:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page. The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia. It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own. Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass) Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3 Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate
	Presentation Skills: (Sciences & Technology) Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Whether you’re new to presenting, looking to speak at your first conference, or wanting important tips to finesse your delivery, this is the course for you. The course is in two parts: Once you book on the course you will receive the pre-workshop information on how to prepare an effective presentation. Before attending a face-to-face session you will have to prepare a 5 minute presentation. You will deliver your presentation to the rest of the participants and receive feedback.
Fri 10	Postdocs: How to Negotiate and Influence for Success Finished 09:30 - 12:30 Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Meeting Room 3, AL.01 This lecture is specifically for Postdocs and Research Staff Richard Mullender is a former lead trainer at the National Hostage and Crisis negotiation Unit, Scotland Yard. Richard's elite-level training gives you the rare power to influence whoever you're with, including work colleagues, friends and even your PI! All effective communication starts with listening; a skill that has long been undervalued in all walks of life. Sell your ideas and solutions using your prospect's most deeply held beliefs, rather than your own. It's amazingly effective. To succeed, all you have to do is listen as if lives depended on it. The core knowledge: get people to open up know precisely what to listen for understand how to interpret the intelligence you have gained Learning Outcomes: get information without asking questions listen with heightened awareness know what to listen for interpret the true significance of what's being said test your understanding without offending the other person position a course of action as desirable using your prospect's values and beliefs What can you expect? to be entertained to be challenged to learn invaluable skills form the closely guarded world of hostage negotiation What is the biggest benefit? Gaining a skill very few people have and using it ethically to influence and persuade
Wed 15	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Thu 16	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
Mon 20	Your Final Chapter Finished 09:45 - 17:00 Peterhouse, Upper Hall As the end of your time as a PhD student approaches you might be feeling a bit apprehensive about the future. It isn’t just the practicalities of submitting and defending your thesis but questions about the skills you have and how you might use them in the future. Your Final Chapter is a one day workshop designed to both inform you about the requirements at the end of a PhD and inspire you to secure the future that is right for you. This course replaces RSVP (GSLS) course.
Thu 30	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk

July 2016

Tue 5	Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) (3 of 4) Finished 13:30 - 17:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page. The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia. It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own. Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass) Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3 Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate
Tue 26	Writing Skills Summer School (1 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Centre for Mathematical Studies THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!) WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July Why this course might make a difference: The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.
Wed 27	Writing Skills Summer School (2 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Centre for Mathematical Studies THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!) WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July Why this course might make a difference: The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.
Thu 28	Writing Skills Summer School (3 of 3) Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Centre for Mathematical Studies THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WSSS 2016 IS NOW OPEN WHEN: 26 - 28 July 2016 (THREE FULL DAY SESSIONS!) WHERE: Centre for Mathematical Studies, Wilberforce Road, University of Cambridge APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday 1 July Why this course might make a difference: The researcher Development Programme (RDP) at the University of Cambridge is delighted to announce the annual Writing Skills Summer School. This event is open to all postgraduate researchers at the University and offers a unique opportunity for participants to develop their writing skills by focusing on their work and particular writing concerns.

September 2016

Tue 27

Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP)

(4 of 4) Finished 15:00 - 17:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room

All applications for this programme are registered through this link: https://cambridge.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/erldp-3. For further details, see application process below. Please do not use the ‘register my interest/waiting list’ links at the top of this page.

The Emerging Research Leaders' Development Programme (ERLDP) has been designed for you as a postdoctoral researcher/member of research staff aspiring to achieve research independence in order to lead your own research group and/or to become a research leader in your field through a variety of career pathways, including academia.

It is a unique opportunity for you to develop and reflect upon your personal leadership style in the context of those who you lead in either an official or unofficial capacity. We will provide tailored training workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions so you can develop solutions relating to your current situation and your future needs. Participants will also be encouraged to use the online resources provided, and find and share their own.

Workshop 1 (full day): Introduction to the programme; getting to know each other; self-leadership; the strategic academic (masterclass)

Between workshops 1 and 2: beginning the coaching process; completing activities to identify personal styles and preferences

Workshop 2 (full day): Leading others collaboratively: personal styles; leadership and management; negotiating and influencing

Between workshops 2 and 3: continuing coaching process, preparation for individual and group leadership activities for workshop 3

Workshop 3 (half day): A strategic approach to career management; managing yourself; practising your own leadership

End of Programme Presentation and Networking Event (two hours plus informal networking): reflecting on your learning from the programme; receiving your programme completion certificate

October 2016

Thu 6	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:30 NA - Mill Lane, Seminar Room A Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Fri 14	Hit the Ground Running: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences PhD Induction Event Finished 10:30 - 13:30 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 1 After your Departmental inductions, actually starting your PhD, particularly in an institution such as Cambridge, can be an inspiring, but daunting experience: how do I start? Where do I start? How do I make the best start?... and after your PhD: what of your career?! 'Hit the Ground Running on your PhD: your research, your career’, 16 October is an Arts, Humanities and Social Science 1st year PhD skills induction afternoon, developed by PhD students for PhD students to: Alert you to resources and challenges they wish they knew when they arrived; Provide advice and guidance for getting the most out of your time at Cambridge; Get you thinking ahead to maximize your preparation for long-term term career and research goals.
Tue 18	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far. By the end of this course you will know: the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge how to deal with common supervision scenarios how to provide effective feedback the practicalities of starting to supervise Topics covered: Stage 1 - Online Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them) Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system) Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop Role of a supervisor Dealing with different supervision scenarios Departmental information Stage 3 - Online Summary of what you have learnt Practical tips and advice Resources for ongoing support and information
Wed 19	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: online material introducing the basics of undergraduate teaching in Cambridge; a face-to-face workshop, that is based on discussions and group activities; and follow-up online material that consolidates what you have learned so far. By the end of this course you will know: the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge how to deal with common supervision scenarios how to provide effective feedback the practicalities of starting to supervise Topics covered: Stage 1 - Online Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them) Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system) Stage 2 - Face-to-face workshop Role of a supervisor Dealing with different supervision scenarios Departmental information Stage 3 - Online Summary of what you have learnt Practical tips and advice Resources for ongoing support and information
Thu 20	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 13:30 - 16:30 Postdoc Centre @ Biomedical Campus, Newman Library Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
Tue 25	Leadership: A Concise Guide for Postdocs Finished 10:30 - 12:30 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Are you in a formal leadership role, or have you taken on leadership positions informally? When, where and how do you lead? This session will help you consider the variety of situations and contexts you find yourself leading in and guide you in understanding your leadership skills so that you can improve them and deploy them thoughtfully. We will look at a variety of definitions of leadership, consider various leadership styles and reflect on leadership within and out of the research environment. This workshop aims to offer a very brief introduction to leadership which can be developed further on a range of leadership development events and workshops that are part of the RDP. Outcomes: - Recognise your own current skills and strengths in relation to developing further as a leader - Review a range of definitions of, and styles of leadership - Apply this to your own context
Wed 26	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 14:00 - 16:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues

November 2016

Tue 1	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room B Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
	Postdocs: Being Assertive and Making Yourself Heard Finished 14:30 - 16:30 OPdA at Biomedical Campus - Seminar Room Are you able to ask for the things you need and want? The career of a postdoc researcher is demanding, and it involves forging careful relationships with a variety of figures, from PIs to fellow researchers and peers to postgraduate students. Are you capable of asking for help from others? Do you spread yourself too thin by saying yes to others’ requests for support? This course is designed to help you develop an assertive mind-set and to communicate your needs in an honest, clear, and respectful way. Outcomes: Understand the benefits of being assertive and the difference between assertive, aggressive, and passive thinking and behaviour Know what assertiveness looks and sounds like Develop skills in communicating assertively in day-to-day conversation Feedback: “It was one of the best training sessions I have attended while at the University. Went back to the lab and recommended it to my colleagues.” “[This course] highlighted a new way of thinking/mindset that I was not very aware of. It gave me confidence that I can be more assertive.”
Wed 2	How to Prepare a Grant or Fellowship Application with Impact (STEMM) Finished 09:30 - 12:00 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Do you know how to write a successful research grant or fellowship application? This course is designed for STEMM postdocs with little or no experience of getting their research funded. It will explore the current research environment and impact agenda and help you understand how research is funded. You will also experience the process of reviewing applications and gain valuable and timely knowledge about how to get research funded. Outcomes: Learn tips and strategies to help you to get your current & future projects funded Understand how proposals are assessed by funders Gain experience of reviewing funding applications Gain information about translational research funding and support available to post-docs Feedback: “Both the online resources presented, and the focused training sessions were well structured and passed through the importance of well-structured proposal, and often overlooked issues such as impact.” “[I liked] seeing a grant from another discipline, to realise that a well-written grant (even if not perfect) can be understood also by people external to the field.”
	Starting Your PhD (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 13:00 CCTL, Revans Room Beginning a PhD can be a daunting experience, but this half-day course is designed for first-year students to help you make the best start that you possibly can. It provides an overview of doing a PhD, complementary to other introductions you may attend. We examine what's involved in doing a PhD, how to usefully define 'research', and how to plan a research project. Outcomes: Understand what a PhD is, and what's involved in doing a PhD Have a definition of 'research' that enables you to be effective Be able to plan
Fri 4	Postdocs: Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring Finished 13:00 - 15:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do the terms ‘coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ intrigue you? Do you want to understand how they can be part of your future progression? There are many opportunities and programmes across this university for postdocs to get involved in coaching and mentoring in different ways. The overall purpose is to help postdocs understand the importance of being coached and mentored, and/or being a coach or a mentor. This short workshop introduces these two methods to explore what they are and how they can be helpful to postdocs. It will also direct you to where you can access these opportunities at Cambridge University. Outcomes: Describe the terms ‘coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ in more detail. Differentiate between the two and identify situations for each that are specifically relevant to postdocs. Compose a way forward to plan for coaching and mentoring to be part of your personal, professional and career progression. Feedback: “Great trainer - very professional, supportive and helpful.” “This was a great coaching and mentoring session. I liked the interaction with other people.” “I like the approach to the topics covered. [There was] useful information that I would like to explore more to enhance my coaching and mentoring.”
Mon 7	Lecturing: An Introduction for Postdocs and Staff (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Finished 15:00 - 17:00 8 Mill Lane, Lecture Room 6 This introductory workshop will examine the processes of preparing and giving lectures. It will encourage you to consider what makes a good lecture and what lecturing is for. The workshop is interactive: it is a chance to exchange experiences and ideas with peers and to think of feedback and evaluation. *Please note that this course is not aimed at PhD students*
Wed 9	Starting Your PhD (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room Beginning a PhD can be a daunting experience, but this half-day course is designed for first-year students to help you make the best start that you possibly can. It provides an overview of doing a PhD, complementary to other introductions you may attend. We examine what's involved in doing a PhD, how to usefully define 'research', and how to plan a research project. Outcomes: Understand what a PhD is, and what's involved in doing a PhD Have a definition of 'research' that enables you to be effective Be able to plan
Thu 10	Postdocs: Building Resilience and Coping with Setbacks Finished 13:00 - 15:00 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room The life of a postdoc can be inherently stressful, with making applications for research grants, publishing and maintaining a work life balance, as well as coping with the precariousness of temporary contracts or visa regulations. Postdocs need an ample supply of resilience to deal with the ups and downs of being a professional researcher. The aim of this workshop is to help you build emotional resilience by further developing coping strategies to overcome challenges. We will focus on what constitutes resilience, identifying your current coping strategies, and using theories of resilience to strengthen your ability to deal with whatever life and work throws at you, whilst maintaining a good level of wellbeing. Outcomes Recognise that you already have emotional resilience and use strategies on an ongoing basis. Cultivate further effective coping strategies for various contexts. Discover how to use a range of tools and techniques to increase your resilience. Feedback: “I would like more courses like this! Thank you!” “Really good framework for applying it personally.” “Interacting in groups worked well while exploring real-life examples.”
Mon 14	Map your Postdoc Journey NOW! Finished 14:00 - 16:00 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Have you started a postdoc at Cambridge? Now is the time to create a plan for how you would like it to unfold. In this workshop, we will consider how to navigate the research landscape, how to think strategically about your strengths, and how to develop mental and emotional discipline for coping with how demanding and competitive the research environment can be. We will explore case studies illustrating that there’s no one recipe for success, but there are common ingredients. You will identify potential obstacles that might stand in your way as well as enablers that will aid your career progression. This workshop is for postdoctoral researchers who want to maximise their chances of succeeding in their chosen careers. Outcomes: Devise an action plan for the near future including how to deal with the unexpected Learn how to identify enablers and obstacles to career progression and how to work with or around them Begin to take charge of your own career path Feedback: “It encouraged an overall view of thinking about my career and what I want out of it and what I am good at. It also covered examples of people who stayed in academia as well as those who did not, so that I was able to consider the pros and cons of more than just one route.” “I'm right at the start of my post-doc and it helped me to think about what I wanted to get out of the next few years in terms of my career.”
Wed 16	Solving Research Problems Creatively Finished 10:00 - 12:00 CCTL, Revans Room While we might associate creativity with innate ability and creating beautiful works of art, thinking creatively can be seen as a skill to be developed and Research itself can be seen as a creative process. This two-hour course is intended to help you develop and feel more confident in your ability to think creatively. Participants are taken through a systematic two-part creative thinking process, exploring divergent and convergent thinking, as well as the 'rules' of brainstorming. Outcomes: Understanding that creativity is a thinking process comprising divergent and convergent thinking Practice strategies to improve your divergent and convergent thinking Know a systematic creative thinking strategy for improving creative problem solving
	Building Resilience and Coping with Setbacks Finished 14:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room By virtue of being at the interface between the known and the unknown, Research seems to be inherently stressful. The overall aim of this half-day course is, therefore, to help you build your emotional resilience by focussing on its 4 Cs: Coping, Commitment, Challenge, Control. By the end of the course: participants will know and develop effective coping strategies and learn about how to increase their commitment, challenge and control of their research.
	Map your Postdoc Journey NOW! Finished 14:00 - 16:00 OPdA at Biomedical Campus - Newman Library Have you started a postdoc at Cambridge? Now is the time to create a plan for how you would like it to unfold. In this workshop, we will consider how to navigate the research landscape, how to think strategically about your strengths, and how to develop mental and emotional discipline for coping with how demanding and competitive the research environment can be. We will explore case studies illustrating that there’s no one recipe for success, but there are common ingredients. You will identify potential obstacles that might stand in your way as well as enablers that will aid your career progression. This workshop is for postdoctoral researchers who want to maximise their chances of succeeding in their chosen careers. Outcomes: Devise an action plan for the near future including how to deal with the unexpected Learn how to identify enablers and obstacles to career progression and how to work with or around them Begin to take charge of your own career path Feedback: “It encouraged an overall view of thinking about my career and what I want out of it and what I am good at. It also covered examples of people who stayed in academia as well as those who did not, so that I was able to consider the pros and cons of more than just one route.” “I'm right at the start of my post-doc and it helped me to think about what I wanted to get out of the next few years in terms of my career.”
Thu 17	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Life Sciences) Finished 09:30 - 12:30 Postdoc Centre @ Biomedical Campus, Newman Library Why this course might make a difference: Looking back at your experience of education you can probably remember those teachers and lecturers who were excellent. We remember the ones who were good because they have left a lasting impact on us; shaping both our learning in the past and our approach to teaching at Cambridge. Supervising undergraduate students at Cambridge can be one of the most rewarding activities for PhDs and Postdocs and this course is designed to make sure that you can offer your best and hopefully be one of those memorable teachers for someone else. A blended workshop incorporates personal reflection on teaching practice, discussion of real teaching scenarios, a chance to ask questions from an experienced supervisor and access to practical information about organising and carrying out your supervisions. This training is required by many colleges before you can carry out supervisions and is always a popular course. About the trainer: The course trainer is Dr Ben Murton who has over 12 years of teaching experience in Cambridge and was an undergraduate here as well. He is now a College Teaching Associate at St John's, a tutor on the Teaching Associates Programme and offers supervision coaching for Life Sciences supervisors. If you have any specific questions you are welcome to contact him before the course on Ben.Murton@admin.cam.ac.uk
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 12:30 - 13:30 OPdA at Biomedical Campus - Committee Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 14:30 - 15:30 OPdA at Biomedical Campus - Committee Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 15:30 - 16:30 OPdA at Biomedical Campus - Committee Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
Fri 18	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 10:00 - 12:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
Mon 21	Postdocs: How to Approach Difficult Conversations Finished 15:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room As a postdoc, you’re in a transitional period of your career, one that can be precarious and uncertain at times or marked by dependency on others. Inevitably, there are moments when you have to engage in difficult conversations, whether with your PI, your peers, or with the people you now oversee. You may need to discuss the advancement of your career, settle a conflict with a colleague, or provide feedback to the students. This workshop is designed to equip you with the right tools to prepare for and have difficult conversations. We will consider the factors that make particular conversations difficult as well as the “third-generation thinking” and mindful listening that will help you elicit the response you want. This interactive workshop is for all postdocs who want to hone their communication skills, advance their careers, and develop their leadership capacities. Outcomes: To think differently in leading difficult conversations to negotiate and influence. Articulate own view point in collaboration with team members. Consider different ways to deal with difficult conversations in light of your own behaviour and that of others. Feedback: “I liked the way we explicitly broke down the process of preparing for difficult conversations by giving techniques.”
Wed 23	Introduction to Research Integrity at Cambridge Finished 11:00 - 13:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room E This course will be delivered by the University’s Research Governance and Integrity Officer and will introduce researchers to research integrity and ethics at Cambridge. The course will: explore the issue of research misconduct in academia and facilitate discussion of why and how it occurs explain the recent research integrity agenda and examine how this effects researchers discuss some of the challenges to the integrity of research and ask what individuals, groups and institutions can do to tackle them introduce the University’s research ethics system use case studies and discussion exercises to examine key issues
Thu 24	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 12:00 - 13:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 13:00 - 14:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 14:00 - 15:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 15:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 16:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
	Postdocs: Effective Research Presentations (1-2-1) Finished 17:00 - 18:00 CCTL, Revans Room Do you achieve the desired results from your presentations? This interactive, individualised workshop, which centres on your delivery of a five-minute presentation, will help you communicate your research engagingly and effectively. In addition to reviewing useful patterns and styles of presentation, you will have the chance to observe yourself in action, as we will record and watch together your five-minute presentation. This workshop is for postdocs who want to achieve the greatest impact while presenting their work and to improve their public-speaking skills in a safe and supportive environment. Outcomes - Improve on designing and delivering a successful presentation - Consider how to understand and engage your audience - Observe yourself presenting and further develop your style
Fri 25	MBTI: Understanding Personality in a Research Environment Finished 10:00 - 16:00 CCTL, Revans Room The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development. It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others. This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, and self-assessment with group exercises so that participants: Understand the concept and theories behind the MBTI types and the process to obtain a personal profile Use the self-assessed and reported types to determine their best fit MBTI type (or as close as possible) Can use their MBTI knowledge in activities relating to real world applications such as communication and understanding differences Topics: MBTI questionnaire MBTI history, background, and theory of type Self-assessment through the exploration of the four areas of MBTI Questionnaire scoring Finding best fit and exploring own type Ethics of MBTI Applications of MBTI MBTI dynamics Exploration of mental functions Q & A
Mon 28	How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (STEMM) Finished 10:00 - 12:30 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Wanting to learn more about the peer-review system and gain a core skill every researcher should possess? This course is designed specifically for STEMM postdocs and researchers at an early stage of their career and with little or no experience of reviewing manuscripts for journals. You will learn how to review research manuscripts quickly and effectively, what editors expect in a review, what to include in written comments to editors and authors and how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript. Following this course, you will know the practical methods for reviewing a manuscript swiftly and successfully. Outcomes: - Gain a score skill that every STEMM researcher should know - Understand how the peer-review system works - Develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscript
	How to Peer-Review Research Papers for Postdocs/Research Staff (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 16:30 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Wanting to learn more about the peer-review system and gain a core skill every researcher should possess? This course is designed specifically for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) postdocs and researchers at an early stage of their career with little or no experience of reviewing manuscripts for journals. Focus is on subjects covered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. You will learn how to review research manuscripts quickly and effectively, what editors expect in a review, what to include in written comments to editors and authors and how long you should spend reviewing a manuscript. Following this course, which explores the results from a survey of 60 editors of AHSS journals, you will know the practical methods for reviewing a manuscript swiftly and successfully. Outcomes: - Gain a core skill that every AHSS researcher should have - Understand how the peer-review system works - Develop a better understanding of how to write your own manuscripts
Tue 29	Introduction to Leadership Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Peterhouse, Lubbock Room Increasingly, successful researchers are expected to be leaders and lead others. The purpose of this event is to introduce participants to leadership, by introducing the 4 elements of leadership and a set of tools to help them lead. To deepen the learning, each participant will have the opportunity to apply an element and tool to lead a small multi-disciplinary group in an overarching activity, and receive feedback by the group on their leadership.
Wed 30	Writing Your First Year Report (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 10:00 - 13:00 CCTL, Revans Room If you’re feeling lost and uncertain about writing your first-year report – or if you want to become a more effective writer – this course has two objectives in its overall aim of helping you to improve your ability to write about your research: 1) To help you understand: the requirements of the first-year report; the writing process; your work patterns as a writer. 2) To help you progress your writing by working through the techniques of: writing warm-ups, to quell your internal editor so that you write more freely; writing in layers, to help you develop an overall structure to your thesis, so that writing feels less daunting and you take a step towards ending procrastination.

December 2016

Thu 1	Managing up for Postdocs Finished 10:30 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room The relationship you build with your PI is important for your future career development, and you stand to gain from shaping a mutually beneficial rapport. This workshop helps postdocs develop the skill of managing up, the deliberate effort to bring understanding and cooperation to a professional relationship. You will see how to consider your PI’s perspectives and motivations, and how embedding your career goals into your PI’s goals, your team’s goals, and the institution’s goals will positively influence your own progress. Come to this workshop to understand how to actively build strong, meaningful professional relationships. Outcomes: Identify what is important to you in a professional relationship Learn real steps toward building mutually beneficial working relationships Extend your awareness of your place in building strong relationships with those who oversee you Feedback: “[This workshop] increased my awareness of the concept of and the need for managing up - this was something I had been missing. Considering that not everyone has a supervisor that initiates a discussion of how you will manage working styles and communications, it is especially necessary to fill that gap.” “It was a very useful and novel (for me) session that gave a good overview of the concept of managing up, which I was unfortunately somewhat oblivious to previously.” “It was helpful to think about how my supervisor works and the importance of communicating expectations.”
Mon 5	Postdocs: Assisting with PhD Supervision Finished 10:00 - 12:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Do you supervise PhD students? Though not official supervisors, many postdocs are involved in the process of supervising PhD students. You face the challenging task of fostering creativity, delivering feedback, and managing a supervisor-student relationship. This workshop explores the principles of good supervision, the art of delivering critical feedback for best results, and the teacher/learner roles of the supervisor-supervisee relationship. It is aimed at postdocs looking to develop their skills in effective and inspired pedagogy. Outcomes: Understand the teacher/learner roles central to the supervision of PhD students Explore good practice for delivering feedback Learn techniques for fostering creativity in students Feedback: “I got to know the procedure, approaches, common problems and solutions to the problems of PhD supervision, and [to understand that] supervision is a balancing act.” “The framework introduced to describe different aspects of supervising a research student was really useful.”
Tue 6	The Art of Negotiation and Influence Finished 09:00 - 17:00 Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Meeting Room 4, AL.08 A one day master class in communication from two external trainers who have previously been employed as hostage negotiators and detectives in the Metropolitan Police Force. Participants will gain a practical insight into how professional communicators communicate, and how it can be applied in everyday life. At the end of the session participants will: Know how to persuade and influence effectively Understand how to have greater impact when communicating Have practiced the fundamental tools of professional communicators Topics: Levels of communication Trust Stages of active listening Non-judgemental language Achieving win/win Building rapport Dos and don’ts
	Being Strategic: Developing Your Media Skills (for Postdocs) POSTPONED 10:00 - 12:30 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Do you lack confidence in your communication with the media? Do you wonder how to ensure that your public engagement is planned into your research proposal? This workshop will be looking at a variety of communication methods and practical media skills to use effectively to disseminate research findings. There will be simulated interviews within a safe situation followed by advice giving to enable you to develop techniques to explain the research to wide audience. This will give an initial experience of interacting with the media. Outcomes: - Recognise how various media can be an effective tool to disseminate research findings and increase impact - Explain what journalists need to gain from contact with researchers - Experience of using techniques during an interview
	Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences) Finished 14:00 - 17:00 CCTL, Revans Room This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: an online module, which introduces practices and principles of undergraduate supervision at Cambridge, and a face-to-face workshop in which you will explore challenges and approaches to supervising. By the end of this course you will know: the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge how to deal with common supervision scenarios how to provide effective feedback the practicalities of starting to supervise Topics covered: Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them) Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system) Role of a supervisor Dealing with different supervision scenarios Departmental information Summary of what you have learnt Practical tips and advice Resources for ongoing support and information
Thu 8	Effective Researcher (Sciences & Technology) Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4 This course is designed for first-year PhD students to help you increase your effectiveness and meet the challenges of your PhD. We cover several different aspects of personal effectiveness in this one-day workshop, with practical solutions to get you started on your journey. Outcomes: Start planning the first year of your PhD Be equipped to manage your relationship with your supervisor Understand how to work effectively with others
	Collaborative Researcher (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) (1 of 2) Finished 09:30 - 17:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room B Times are changing. Collaboration for Arts, Humanities and Social Science PhDs is more than the icing on the research cake: it now lies at the heart of the research paradigm for the 21st Century. The AHRC, for example, is increasingly funding collaborative and interdisciplinary research. More and more, projects will not solely operate under the traditional model of a single researcher, but draw upon a range of partners from disciplines, institutions and sectors required to answer bigger and more far-reaching questions. To build a successful research career within or outside the academy, you will need to connect with (and impress!) a broad network of professional colleagues. Employers value, perhaps above all, communication and interpersonal skills. This is your opportunity to develop these skills. What will the course cover? This 2-day course will explore the building blocks of the collaborative style of research: Inclusive communication, Cultural awareness, Robust planning, Negotiation and the ability to work effectively with others. Whether your collaboration is with another academic in your department, or partners from different subjects, sectors and countries, it will help you to develop winning strategies for connecting and working with others. The course will be attended by up to 40 PhDs and will be led by a team of experienced facilitators who will work with you throughout the 2 days to support your learning. This event takes a ‘learning by doing' approach. There will be presentations on collaboration theory, but for the most part, you will be actively participating in the sessions and activities.
	Postdocs: Being Assertive and Making Yourself Heard Finished 10:00 - 12:00 16 Mill Lane, Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs, Eastwood Room Are you able to ask for things you need and want? The career of a postdoc researcher is demanding and it involves forging careful relationships with a variety of individuals, from PI's to fellow researchers and peers to postgraduate students. Are you capable of asking for help from others when you need it? Do you too often give up your own priorities to respond to others' needs? This course is designed to help you develop an assertive mind-set to communicate your needs in an honest, clear and respectful way. Outcomes: - Understand the difference between assertive, aggressive and passive thinking/behaviour - Know what assertiveness looks and sounds like - Develop skills in communicating assertively in day-to-day conversations
Fri 9	Collaborative Researcher (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) (2 of 2) Finished 09:30 - 17:00 17 Mill Lane, Seminar Room B Times are changing. Collaboration for Arts, Humanities and Social Science PhDs is more than the icing on the research cake: it now lies at the heart of the research paradigm for the 21st Century. The AHRC, for example, is increasingly funding collaborative and interdisciplinary research. More and more, projects will not solely operate under the traditional model of a single researcher, but draw upon a range of partners from disciplines, institutions and sectors required to answer bigger and more far-reaching questions. To build a successful research career within or outside the academy, you will need to connect with (and impress!) a broad network of professional colleagues. Employers value, perhaps above all, communication and interpersonal skills. This is your opportunity to develop these skills. What will the course cover? This 2-day course will explore the building blocks of the collaborative style of research: Inclusive communication, Cultural awareness, Robust planning, Negotiation and the ability to work effectively with others. Whether your collaboration is with another academic in your department, or partners from different subjects, sectors and countries, it will help you to develop winning strategies for connecting and working with others. The course will be attended by up to 40 PhDs and will be led by a team of experienced facilitators who will work with you throughout the 2 days to support your learning. This event takes a ‘learning by doing' approach. There will be presentations on collaboration theory, but for the most part, you will be actively participating in the sessions and activities.
Wed 14	Postdocs: Leadership 1 An Initial Guide for Postdocs Finished 10:30 - 12:30 Postdoc Centre@ Mill Lane, Eastwood Room Are you in a formal leadership role, or have you taken on leadership positions informally? This workshop will help you to consider the variety of situations and contexts you find yourself leading in and guide you in understanding your leadership skills and abilities so that you can improve them and deploy them thoughtfully. We will look at a variety of meanings and views of leadership, discover the 4 elements of leadership, consider various leadership styles, and reflect on leadership within and out of research environment. We would encourage you to take this workshop as a very brief introduction to leadership before attending Leadership 2: Next Steps for Postdocs. Outcomes Recognise own current skills and strengths in relation to developing further as a leader. Review a range of definitions of, and styles of, leadership. Apply to your own context. Feedback from Michaelmas 2016: “I found it interesting to define what leadership means and to understand the different styles there are.” “It was a very interesting and different training which was very good to attend so as to know the skills to develop.”

January 2017

Thu 12

Effective Researcher (Sciences & Technology) Finished 09:30 - 16:30 Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4

This course is designed for first-year PhD students to help you increase your effectiveness and meet the challenges of your PhD. We cover several different aspects of personal effectiveness in this one-day workshop, with practical solutions to get you started on your journey.

Outcomes:

Start planning the first year of your PhD
Be equipped to manage your relationship with your supervisor
Understand how to work effectively with others

Effective Undergraduate Supervision (Physical Sciences and Technology) CANCELLED 10:00 - 12:30 CCTL, Revans Room

This course complements the supervising training and information your Department will provide. It is a course that consists of: an online module, which introduces practices and principles of undergraduate supervision at Cambridge, and a face-to-face workshop in which you will explore challenges and approaches to supervising.

By the end of this course you will know:

the purpose of supervisions at Cambridge
how to deal with common supervision scenarios
how to provide effective feedback
the practicalities of starting to supervise

Topics covered:

Introduction to supervising (including what supervisions are, format, preparing for them)
Background information for those who need it (British education system, Cambridge undergraduate system)
Role of a supervisor
Dealing with different supervision scenarios
Departmental information
Summary of what you have learnt
Practical tips and advice
Resources for ongoing support and information

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Researcher Development Programme (RDP) course timetable

January 2016

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

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September 2016

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December 2016

January 2017

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