{"id":1066,"date":"2018-09-06T12:48:27","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T11:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/socialscienceresearchfunding.co.uk\/?p=1066"},"modified":"2018-09-06T12:48:27","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T11:48:27","slug":"eight-tips-for-attending-a-research-call-information-and-networking-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socialscienceresearchfunding.co.uk\/?p=1066","title":{"rendered":"Eight tips for attending a research call information and networking day"},"content":{"rendered":"

A version of this article first appeared in\u00a0Funding Insight<\/a>\u00a0in July 2018 and is reproduced with kind permission of\u00a0Research Professional<\/a>. For more articles like this, visit www.researchprofessional.com<\/em><\/p>\n

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‘School of Athens’ by Raphael. Aristotle is willing to join Plato’s project as co-I, but only if his research group gets at least two FT research fellows. Unfortunately, Plato’s proposal turns out to be merely a pale imitation of the perfect (JeS) form and isn’t invited to full application stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many major research funding calls for substantial UKRI investments now include one or more workshops or events. These events typically aim:<\/p>\n

(a) to publicise the call and answer questions from potential bidders; and
\n(b) to facilitate networking and to develop consortia, often including non-academic partners.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an application process to gauge demand and to allocate or ration places (if required) between different disciplines and institutions. These events are distinct from \u2018sandpit\u2019 events – which have a more rigorous and competitive application process and where direct research funding may result. They\u2019re also distinct from scoping meetings, which define and shape future calls. Some of the advice below might be applicable for those events, but my experience is limited to the call information day.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve attended one such meeting and I found it very useful in terms of understanding the call and the likely competition for funding. While I\u2019ve attended networking and idea generation events before, this was my first UKRI event, and I\u2019ve come up with a few hints and tips that might help other first time attendees.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Don\u2019t send Research Development staff<\/strong>. People like me are more experienced at identifying similarities\/differences in emphasis in calls, but we can only go so far in terms of networking and representing academics. However well briefed, there will come a point at which we can\u2019t answer further questions because we\u2019re not academics. Send an academic if you possibly can.<\/li>\n
  2. Hone your pitch<\/strong>. A piece of me dies inside every time I use a phrase like \u201celevator pitch\u201d, but the you\u2019re going to be introducing yourself, your team, and your ideas many, many times during the day. Prepare a short version and a long version of what you want to say. It doesn\u2019t have to be crafted word-for-word, but prepare the structure of a clear, concise introduction that you can comfortably reel off.<\/li>\n
  3. Be clear about what you want and what you\u2019re looking for<\/strong>. If you\u2019re planning on leading a bid, say so. If you\u2019re looking to add your expertise on X to another bid TBC, say so. If you\u2019re not sure yet, say so. I\u2019m not sure what possible advantage could be gained about being coy. You could finesse your starting position by talking of \u201clooking to\u201d or \u201cplanning to\u201d lead a bid if you want, but much better to be clear.<\/li>\n
  4. Don\u2019t just talk to your friends<\/strong>. Chances are that you\u2019ll have friends\/former colleagues at the event who you may not see as often as you\u2019d like, but resist spending too much time in your comfort zone. It\u2019ll limit your opportunities and will make you appear cliquey. Consider arranging to meet before or after the event, or at another time to catch up properly.<\/li>\n
  5. Be realistic about what\u2019s achievable<\/strong>. I\u2019m persuadable that these events can and do shape the composition\/final teams of some bids, but I wonder whether any collaboration starting from ground level at one of these events has a realistic chance of success.<\/li>\n
  6. Do your homework<\/strong>. Most call meetings invite delegates to submit information in advance, usually a brief biog and a statement of research interests. It\u2019s worth taking time to do this well, and having a read of the information submitted by others. Follow up with web searches about potential partners to find out more about their work, follow them on twitter, and find out what they look like if you don\u2019t already know. It\u2019s not stalking if it\u2019s for research collaboration.<\/li>\n
  7. Brush up your networking skills<\/strong>. If networking is something you struggle with, have a quick read of some basic networking guides. Best tip I was ever given \u2013 regard networking as a process to identify \u201chow can I help these people?\u201d rather than \u201chow can I use these people to my advantage?\u201d and it\u2019s much easier. Also, I find\u2026 \u201cI think I follow you on twitter\u201d an effective icebreaker.<\/li>\n
  8. Don\u2019t expect any new call info<\/strong>. There will be a presentation and Q&A, but don\u2019t expect major new insights. As not everyone can make these events, funders avoid giving any unfair advantages. Differences in nuance and emphasis can emerge in presentations and through questions, but don\u2019t expect radical additional insights or secret insider knowledge.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If your target call has an event along these lines, you should make every effort to attend. Send your prospective PI if you can, another academic if not, and your research development staff only if you must. Do a bit of homework\u2026 be clear about what you want to achieve, prepare your pitch, and identify the people you want to talk to, and you\u2019ll have a much better chance of achieving your goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A version of this article first appeared in\u00a0Funding Insight\u00a0in July 2018 and is reproduced with kind permission of\u00a0Research Professional. For more articles like this, visit www.researchprofessional.com Many major research funding calls for substantial UKRI investments now include one or more workshops or events. These events typically aim: (a) to publicise the call and answer questions … Continue reading “Eight tips for attending a research call information and networking day”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[16,8,7,6,13,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-application-advice","category-career-young-researchers","category-esrc","category-funding","category-funding-policy","category-university-culture"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t