Skip to main content

Researcher Development Programme

The Researcher Development Programme (RDP) is a University-wide programme of free events for PGR students and research staff from all disciplines.

The RDP is designed to enhance the experience of our PGR students, and also support early career researchers, mid-career researchers, experienced researchers and supervisors in their continuous professional development.

Mode of delivery

Sessions are delivered both on campus and online by a mix of internal and external experts. All sessions are free to attend. 

Booking

All RDP sessions can be booked via RSMS, UH's Research Degrees Supervision Management System. 

Spring and Summer Schools

The RDP Spring and Summer Schools are designed to support part-time postgraduate researchers by offering a range of RDP sessions across a three-day event. The Summer School usually takes place in September each year, and the Spring School in May.

Vitae's Researcher Development Framework

The programme extensively covers areas highlighted by Vitae's Researcher Development Framework (RDF), which describes the knowledge, behaviour and attributes of successful researchers in four complementary categories:

  • knowledge and intellectual abilities 
  • personal effectiveness 
  • research governance and organisation 
  • engagement, influence and impact 

The RDF is structured in four domains, which encompass what researchers need to know to do research, how to be effective in their approach to research, when working with others, and in contributing to the wider environment. 

Within each of the domains are three sub-domains and associated descriptors, which describe different aspects of being a researcher.

Sessions currently offered as part of the RDP

Below is an alphabetical list of all RDP sessions offered during the current academic year, and the RDF domains they relate to:

  • A guide to Applying for External Research Funding for New Researchers (C)
  • Advanced Data Modelling (A)
  • Advanced Excel for Data Management and Analysis (A)
  • Agile Project Management & Teamwork for researchers (A, B, C, D)
  • An Introduction to Academic Publishing (A, D)
  • An Introduction to Sketch Engine (A)
  • An introduction to using mixed methods research (A)
  • Approaching the Literature Review (A)
  • Assertiveness & Resilience (B)
  • Attracting your own research funding: Writing & applying for fellowships (C)
  • Becoming a Member of your Discipline (A)
  • Being a digitally capable and confident researcher (A, B)
  • Build a research website in 3 hrs (D) 
  • Creative Story Telling: Selling your Research to an Audience (A, D)
  • Creative Thinking and Problem Solving (A)
  • Critical Reading & Research-Oriented Writing (A)
  • Cross Disciplinary Research Methods (A)
  • CVs, Application Forms and Personal Statements (B)
  • Data Analysis in R (A)
  • Design Science as a research methodology (A)
  • Developing Precision and Concision through Microwriting (A)
  • Dissertation (A)
  • Empowering Excellence: Navigating Academic Transitions with Confidence for Postgrad and Doctoral Scholars (A, B)
  • Essentials of Multivariate Data Analysis (A)
  • Establishing Good Writing Habits (A)
  • Expanding your Access to Resources for your Research (A)
  • Figures, Images & Visualising information (D) 
  • First and Second Progress Assessments (C)
  • Fundamentals of Experimental Design (A)
  • Generative AI & the researcher: strategies, insights & practical uses (A, C, D)
  • Generative AI and Copyright (C)
  • Generative AI and Data Protection (C)
  • Getting Published & Promoting your Research (D) 
  • Getting Started with Statistics (A)
  • Getting started with UH Library Services and Resources (A)
  • Getting to Know R (A)
  • How Not to Procrastinate (or The Secret to Getting Started) (B)
  • How to Be an Effective Researcher (B)
  • How to Be More Confident (B)
  • How to Cope with Stress (B)
  • How to Succeed at Interviews and Assessment Centres (B)
  • How to Write and Publish a Paper (A)
  • How to Write your Thesis (A)
  • Imposter Syndrome Essentials (B)
  • Inferential Statistics (A)
  • Internal Examiner Training (B)
  • Interviewing in Qualitative Research (A)
  • Introduction to Excel (A)
  • Introduction to Research Impact (D) 
  • Introduction to Statistics (A)
  • Introduction to Systematic Reviews (A)
  • Literature Review (A)
  • Literature Searching: Using Online Resources (A)
  • Making Sense of the Literature Review (A)
  • Managing Pressure Positively (B)
  • Maximise your Memory (B)
  • Mendeley Reference Manager: A hands on approach (A)
  • Meta Analysis
  • Mini-retreat 1: Making sense of your literature search results for doctoral students
  • Mini-retreat 2: Writing an important document for doctoral students
  • NHS Research Ethics (C)
  • Open Access: How it can help you (C)
  • Open Research: Purpose, Benefits, and What it Means for You (C)
  • Open Science: conducting and reporting a replicable investigation (A, D)
  • Overcoming Challenges: Research, Resilience and You (B)
  • Pitch perfect: Public speaking, networking & engaging (B, D)
  • Poster Presentation (B)
  • Project managing your PhD (B, C, D)
  • Public Speaking for PGRs and Academics (D) 
  • Quantitative Analysis of Survey Data and Related Design Issues (A)
  • Quantitative Data Analysis 1: Hypothesis Testing, Sample Size & Power (A)
  • Quantitative Data Analysis 2: Correlation & Regression Methods (A)
  • Raising the Visibility of your Research (C)
  • Rapid Reading (B)
  • Reflexivity (B)
  • Research Data Management (C)
  • Research Degrees Supervisor Training (B)
  • Research Ethics (C)
  • Seven Habits of Highly Effective Researchers (B, D)
  • Social media bootcamp: strategy, digital profiles & connecting (D) 
  • Survey Design & Analysis 1: Collecting, Summarising & Analysing Survey Data (A)
  • Survey Design & Analysis 2: Data Analysis, Sample Size & Power (A)
  • Systematic Literature Reviews (A)
  • Systematic Literature Reviews (webinar) (A)
  • The British PhD and How to Bag One (B)
  • The Viva and Process of Research Degree Examination (B)
  • There is nothing so practical as a good theory (A)
  • Thesis Writing Bootcamp: Planning, Finishing & Avoiding Pitfalls (A)
  • Thriving Resiliently during your Doctorate (B)
  • Thriving Resiliently during your Doctorate (online) (B)
  • Time and Energy Management: Strategies for Getting Stuff Done! (B)
  • Translating Your Research Interest into a Programme of Research (A)
  • Understanding & Planning for a Research Career (B)
  • Using Multiple Qualitative and Visual Methods in Research (A)
  • What to consider when selecting a journal for your research paper (C, D)
  • Working with Supervisors​​​​​​​ (D)
  • Writing a Winning Research Proposal (A, C)
  • Writing For and Submitting to a Journal (A, B)
  • Writing styles for researchers (A)

Contact Us

Researcher Development Programme

Academic Services

Today - Closed