On joining TU Dublin:

• You will be invited to attend a TU Dublin Staff Induction
• You should meet with your PI to begin the process of developing a Researcher Development Plan. For postdoctoral researchers it is recommended that the first iteration should be developed within the first three months of joining TU Dublin 
• You may avail of supports in REIS around research funding opportunities and proposal development
• You may avail of the workshops and developmental opportunities arranged locally and centrally
• You should have regular meetings with relevant colleagues e.g. PI and REIS colleagues in order to ensure a consistent and planned approach to your development as a researcher and also to ensure that you are continuing to acquire knowledge and skills which support this development

Using the RCD Framework & Programme 2021/22, the Career Planning Template, and through conversations with your PI and other colleagues you should identify training and development gaps related to both an immediate priority (e.g. your work on a specific research project/s) and also your longer term career aspirations.

Typically a postdoctoral researcher/early career researcher is concerned with applying for research funding as a stepping stone on the road to independence. So becoming familiar with relevant funders and the requirements of their funding schemes is a goal all postdoctoral and early career researchers are likely to have. Your relevant funders will have expectations around the quality they expect of successful proposals and the curriculum vitae of the submitting researcher. So early familiarity with research funders and their funding schemes is recommended. You can then begin your developmental journey, acquiring the knowledge and skills to submit an excellent research proposal, supported by a curriculum vitae that will convince evaluators that you are appropriately and excellently qualified to undertake a particular research project.

Research funding agencies regularly hold information sessions around funding calls. Some may take place in TU Dublin and some may be held externally, for example, at a funder’s headquarters. Some funders also hold webinars. Around the time of funding calls opening for applications is a time when funders often issue information around a particular call and hold an event to publicise the call and to provide advice and guidance around it.

While you may not be intending to apply immediately to a particular funding scheme, attending a funder advisory session is highly recommended as this will allow you to become familiar with a particular funding scheme and it's requirements well in advance of a submission deadline. Also, you will start to become familiar with common language and key elements related to proposal submission and development. Many funding agencies issue ezines and signing up for these is an easy way to stay in touch with relevant funding calls and events arranged by funders of particular interest to you.

TU Dublin operates a Fee Support Scheme (for externally provided programmes) and a Fee Waiver Scheme (for internally provided programmes).

Contact Staff Development to find out more information: peopledevelopment@tudublin.ie.

TU Dublin offers its employees and families an Employee Assistance Service (EAS) which is a free and confidential counselling and information service operated by Spectrum Life.