Lancaster University’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Researcher Career Development Group (RCaD) hosted its inaugural event on December 13, 2024.

Co-chaired by Abi Frith (Chemistry), Xiaoyun Chen (Psychology), Luis Pinho (Chemistry), and Janine Morley (LEC) the RCaD meeting had two primary goals - ensuring research-only staff are represented on key committees and providing opportunities for career development, networking, and community building.

The launch event was an informal networking session to bring together researchers from across the Faculty to discuss current experiences, future career aspirations, and the professional challenges they face to achieve them.

Attendees divided their time between four distinct discussion tables, each focusing on a different topic.

· Survey Insights – Reviewing the results from a faculty-wide survey of the experiences of early career researchers

· Employment Challenges – How individual’s experiences with induction, contract endings, and redeployment have affected them

· Networking Aspirations – Preferences for the type of professional networks they would like to join.

· Career Development – Personal definitions of career growth and aspirations.

The feedback gathered during the event, combined with the survey results, will shape the group’s upcoming initiatives.

The co-chairs said: “It was lovely to bring researchers together from across the faculty and to get a feel of what people want to see from us and the university to enhance their research career experience. We are feeling very inspired from the conversations we have been a part of and are looking forward to incorporating the feedback into future events and projects - watch this space!”

The next steps involve taking the enthusiasm and ideas the group shared into initiatives that can materially affect the group’s members. Researchers on time-limited contracts are encouraged to join the RCaD mailing list, website, and Teams network for direct updates on monthly events and initiatives. The co-chairs also welcome questions, suggestions, and involvement via email