Thoughts on how to structure a research staff association based on the experiences of the College of Life Sciences Postdoc Association at the University of Dundee.

1. Researc h Staff Associations Structures for the Development of Researchers David J. Proctor Newcastle | 11 January 2010

2. Why is it important to have a collective voice for research staff? Association Partners Mission Structure

3. Mission Representation Support Engagement

4. Mission >> Representation Concordat Steering Group College of Life Sciences Board School of Research Board Health & Safety Committee Women in STEM Committee Partners

5. Mission >> Support Handbook Support Group Career Development Scheme Conference Attendance Scheme Courses Funding Contracts Employment Opportunities

6. Mission >> Engagement Seminars Alumni, External, Internal, Resource, Technique Networking Barbeque, Ceilidh, Dinner, Quiz, Welcome Discussions PI-Researcher, Women in STEM, Employment Rights, Library Resources, Families in Science Outreach Art, Education, Tours, Website

7. Partners University of Dundee Careers Service Scottish Research Staff Forum UK National Research Staff Association International Forum for Researchers

8. Structure Divisional Representatives Coordinators Seminars, Publicity, Conferences, Meetings, Websites, Networking, Recruitment Officers Co-chair, Treasurer, Secretary Advisors Faculty, Partners

9. How can one sustain knowledge despite turnover of research staff? Research staff associations must be structured to preserve knowledge so that they are independent of individual members. Create a committee to oversee the activities of the research staff association. Provide clear roles and responsibilities for committee members. Communicate effectively.

10. Examples of research staff association structures University of Dundee College of Life Sciences College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing University of Edinburgh Chemistry Research Staff Society Social & Political Studies Research Staff Society Physics Research Staff Society Biological Sciences Research Staff Society Informatics Research Staff Society School of Geosciences Research Staff Organisation PODS (Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine) QMRI Little France Postdoctoral Society SERS School of Engineering Research Staff CAPS Central Area Post-doctoral Society EBRC Easter Bush Research Consortium Post Doc Society University of Oxford University of Cambridge http://tr.im/K0YY

11. Examples of research staff offices University of Bristol Research Staff University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences Continuing Professional Development for Postdocs University of York Postdoctoral Biology http://tr.im/K0YY

12. How will you organize research staff at Newcastle University? University (1) Faculty (3) Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty of Medical Sciences Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering Academic Schools (30±) Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Arts and Cultures, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Business School, Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Chemistry, Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Combined Honours Centre, Computing Science, Dental Sciences, Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, English Literature, Language and Linguistics, Geography, Politics and Sociology, Historical Studies, Law School, Marine Science and Technology, Mathematics and Statistics, Mechanical and Systems Engineering, Medical Sciences Education Development, Modern Languages, Psychology Research Units (130±)

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14. online resources http://sites.google.com/site/clspacommittee/ http://postdoc.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/ http://vitae.ac.uk/researchers/ http://tr.im/K1dp