In Autumn 2023, we launched the Nuffield Foundation Emerging Researchers Network to provide training and networking opportunities for early career researchers (ECRs) working on projects funded by the Foundation. Uncertainty and isolation can be common experiences for researchers at this stage of their careers, and we have heard firsthand how valuable opportunities to connect with peers and build new skills can be. Through the network, we aim to support ECRs to flourish in social research careers and help nurture the next generation of research talent.
The network is co-delivered with Emerging Researchers Network Ambassadors, ensuring that its activities and priorities are shaped by the experiences and needs of ECRs themselves.
Last month, we hosted our third in-person event for the network. Here’s what Dr Alexander Braybrooke and Merissa Elizabeth Hickman had to say about their experiences of the network:
Research is often presented through its outputs: publications, findings and the impact these have on policy and practice. But behind every research project are people, and for early career researchers (ECRs), the journey towards establishing a research career is rarely straightforward.
Having recently completed my PhD, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be an ECR and the opportunities and challenges that come with this stage of an academic career.
The theme of this year’s Nuffield Foundation ECR event was ‘Connection’, something that particularly resonated with me. As researchers, we spend considerable time developing ideas, analysing data and communicating findings. However, the connections we make with others are equally important, both for the quality of our research and our career development.
During the event, I had the opportunity to present a poster showcasing research for a project funded through the Nuffield Foundation’s Oliver Bird Fund. Discussing the poster with researchers from different disciplines opened up a range of conversations about how our work can contribute to addressing wider societal challenges. These conversations reminded me that some of the most interesting research ideas emerge when we look beyond our own areas of expertise. I came away with fresh ideas from funders, people with lived experience of healthcare services, and fellow ECRs working in disciplines beyond healthcare research.
Being an ECR is an exciting but often uncertain stage of an academic career. Short-term contracts, competitive funding opportunities and the pressure to publish can make planning for the future challenging. Alongside conducting research, many of us are navigating questions about career progression, developing our research identity and establishing independence.
Connection and supportive research networks can make a real difference.
One of the most valuable aspects of the Nuffield Foundation’s ECR network is the opportunity to meet researchers from different institutions, disciplines and backgrounds.
Although our research interests may differ, many of the challenges we face are remarkably similar. Sharing experiences, learning from others and developing relationships can help create a sense of community during what can otherwise be an isolating stage of an academic career.
Importantly, supporting ECRs should be about more than helping us deliver our current research projects. It should also involve investing in our future through opportunities for mentorship, collaboration and professional development.
For me, the event reinforced that connection is not simply a benefit of being part of a research network; it is fundamental to how we develop as researchers and how research itself progresses.
After all, investing in the connections we make today can help shape the research of tomorrow.
Dr Alexander Braybrooke (Research Fellow, University of Southampton. Former PhD Researcher, Keele University)
Nuffield Foundation-funded project: Multi-level Integrated Data for Musculoskeletal Intelligence and ActionS (MIDAS-GP), funded by Arthritis UK and the Oliver Bird Fund.
I had the pleasure of recently attending the 3rd Annual Emerging Researchers Network (ERN) in-person event, hosted by the Nuffield Foundation.
The event kicked off at 11am, which was a welcome change from the usual 9am start of many academic events. As someone travelling to London for the day, the later start made the event more accessible and, I suspect, contributed to the number of researchers who were able to join from across the UK.
Following a welcome from Nicola Webb, Executive Director for Strategy, Governance and Engagement at the Foundation, and the ERN Ambassadors, Cristina Sechel, Lorna Ginnell and Sam McLoughlin, Dr Hannah Roberts led a session on Winning Introductions. Networking is an important part of research, but many of us find talking about ourselves and our work anxiety-inducing. Hannah shared a simple, practical five-step approach, with opportunities to practise our introductions with peers and a chance to receive feedback. Having attended many similarly advertised training sessions, I enjoyed how engaging and hands-on this one was, and I can genuinely see myself using this approach in future networking.
After lunch, we moved into the poster session, around the day’s theme of Connections. I was delighted to present my research exploring how preconception health is understood and constructed, bringing together different forms of knowledge. Unlike many conferences where posters compete with lunch breaks, this session had dedicated time, allowing for meaningful conversations. I was able to connect with researchers, discover unexpected overlaps in our interests, and left with lots of email addresses and new LinkedIn connections.
My personal favourite section of the day was the panel discussion on Building Connections with Research Participants. As someone passionate about participatory research, I valued hearing from Georgina Ferguson-Glover, Cavelle Buris and Mursal Rasa about their experiences as participants, co-researchers and advisers. Hearing directly from experts about their experience of what meaningful involvement looks like in practice was incredibly useful. My biggest takeaway was the importance of building trust, and thanks to the panellists’ openness and honesty I left with practical tips for creating meaningful connections and would like to thank them for sharing their experiences.
Our final session was delivered by Martin Wessel, who shared his research on social capital. It was an interesting and engaging way to bring the day’s theme of Connections together, encouraging us to think more broadly about the relationships and networks that shape our lives.
The day ended with an enjoyable drinks reception, providing another opportunity to continue conversations in a more informal setting. A huge thank you to the Nuffield Foundation, the ERN Ambassadors and everyone involved in organising such a fantastic event. It was genuinely one of the most enjoyable and valuable ECR events I have attended, and I am already looking forward to the next one.
Merissa Elizabeth Hickman (PhD Candidate, University of Leicester)
Nuffield POST Fellowship: The impacts of screen and AI use on children and young people
