Vitae News: October 2024

Vitae Events -  it's Vitae 3MT® Week!

Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) - join us live

This week, from Wednesday 2 October to Friday 4 October, the Vitae 3MT® Competition, sponsored by Universal Impact, gets underway!

There's still time to register to watch the live broadcast, which will be shown on Wednesday 2 October 2024 12:30-13:15 (GMT+1).

The six finalists are all practising their three-minute speeches - learn more about them and follow updates on the competition on the Vitae Instagram.

 Once the broadcast on Wednesday is over, we will open the vote so that you can pick your People's Choice winner. The vote will close on Friday 4 October 10:00 (GMT+1).

Join us again as we go live on Friday 4 October 12:30 (GMT+1) to announce the Vitae 3MT® Judges', People's and Editor's Choice award winners!

 The new category of Editor’s Choice Award for most ‘newsworthy’ finalist, will be chosen by The Conversation UK.

For this year's competition, Vitae will be offering prizes for the Judges' and People's Choice Award winners, as well as to the 12 semi-finalists and 6 finalists. Thank you to all of the sponsors for contributing prizes, which will help to support career development for the finalists.

 With thanks to our sponsors Universal Impact, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and to our supporters, The Brilliant Club and Engagement with Impact.

Register to watch

#VitaeCon2024 - highlights of the in-person element

Thank you to all who attended the in-person element of the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference in Birmingham, UK last week - we loved seeing you there.

There were many highlights across the two days:

• Opening keynotes from Professor Tom Stoneham on generative AI, and from Dr Gemma Derrick on research culture and the importance of individual choices in academia
• Panels on 'Recognition in academia' and 'Belonging through allyship'
• Inspiring workshops on topics ranging from wellbeing, developing researchers, academic engagement, creativity for researcher developers, and mid-career researchers.

If you haven't already, follow the Vitae LinkedIn page to catch up on the excitement during the conference.

Testimonials from attendees for both elements of the conference:

'It was my first time at the conference. I was fortunate to receive a bursary for the online element of the conference from British Academy ECR network, following my application. Many thanks for organising such a professionally valuable event and please extend my thanks to the British Academy ECR Network.'

'A stupendous day at the #VitaeCon2024, such incredible and inspiring presentations that really challenge my own (sometimes lack of) understanding and makes you think and reflect.'

'It was intriguing to see what themes of kindness, belonging, positive research culture mean in the UK research landscape specifically. Thanks to everyone who allowed me to gain insights into their work and working lives!'

Thank you to all our featured exhibitors at #VitaeCon2024 

Vitae ICE Awards - winners announced!!

In case you missed it, the awards ceremony for the Vitae Impact, Culture, and Engagement (ICE) Awards happened last Monday 23 September at #VitaeCon2024.

 It was a fantastic night, celebrating the vital but sometimes unrecognised work of researcher developers.

 The winners and their categories were:

• Hanan Fara - Newcomer of the Year
• C- DICE - Innovative and Inclusive Practice
• Research Culture Uncovered Podcast - Research Culture Impact through Researcher Development
• Dr Julie Reeves - Outstanding Contribution

Congratulations to all winners and thanks to all the nominees and nominators. Over the coming weeks we will be profiling the winners on the Vitae LinkedIn page, to inspire you to nominate a colleague for next year.

Keep up to date on LinkedIn 

Researchers' Corner

Researcher experiences on the Vitae blog

We've recently published two fantastic articles on the Vitae blog from a researcher's perspective.

 The first is 'Stars among constellations: how Vitae and the British Academy are supporting researchers at risk' in which Iryna Starovoyt, Associate Professor, Ukrainian Catholic University and a Research Fellow at University of Oxford, details her experiences on Vitae’s Career and Professional Development Programme, funded through the British Academy, to support Ukrainian researchers at risk.

The second is another reflective piece from PhD researcher Jasmine Miller, from the University of Stirling. Jasmine kindly wrote about her experience attending the online element of #VitaeCon2024, as a recipient of a bursary from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Read her experience of the online element of Vitae's flagship conference in 'Reflections of an early career researcher: attending the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference'.

 The Vitae blog 

Vitae Updates

New job vacancy at CRAC/Vitae - Researcher Development Manager

We are looking for a Researcher Development Manager to join our friendly team at the Careers, Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC Limited), which manages the Vitae programme.

The role involves managing and delivering a range of researcher development related projects and programmes, building and supporting new business opportunities, as well as maintaining client relationships to extend our positive reputation.

 We would like to hear from you if you have experience of working with universities to design professional development resources and services, you have excellent project management skills, and enjoy developing and delivering workshops and events.

 The closing date for applications is Wednesday 16 October 2024 at 5pm GMT+1 and online interviews are planned for Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October 2024.

Full job description and how to apply

Sector news

Black in Plant Science (BiPS) Conference 2024

There's under a month to go until the Black in Plant Science (BiPS) Conference on Tuesday 22 October.

 It's a one-day event to connect with the UK Plant Science community, with a programme of plenaries, talks and networking.

Taking place: Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge 47 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR

The deadline for in-person attendance registration payment is Friday 4 October.

 Register to attend the BiPS Conference

 The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) event

Register for the National Centre for Universities and Business event on Thursday 17 October 2:00-3:00pm (GMT+1), to mark one year on from the launch of the Researcher Mobility Taskforce. The event will explore why removing barriers to cross-sectors careers is vital for innovation and growth.

Register for the NCUB event

Vitae is now on Instagram!

Who says research can't be fun? And what better place to interact with Vitae's work than Instagram?

Join us there and be part of our community, as we share resources, news on our events, and inspiration for your researcher journey. It's also the place to be for all our updates on the Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition.

Expect many an emoji 👍

Vitae Instagram