Researcher Professional Development (RPD) Programme
Leading research
Want to enhance your research leadership, management and engagement skills? Expand your professional research network?
DCU's RPD Programme is a blended-learning programme for researchers designed by researchers, academics and learning and development professionals.
This programme will be of most benefit to early career researchers but there are elements of it which would benefit more experienced researchers.
You can choose to enrol on the whole programme of just individual sessions.
1. Leadership & Team Management
- Elevate Your Influence: Acquire proven leadership and management frameworks to effectively lead, motivate, and mentor a high-performing research team.
- Drive Research Success: Build your capability to organize research activities, delegate tasks efficiently, and manage resources to ensure timely and successful project delivery.
2. Funding Acquisition & Strategy
- Master Grant Writing: Advance your grant writing skills by learning strategic proposal development and language structuring that significantly increases your likelihood of securing competitive research funding.
- Navigate the Landscape: Become proficient in mapping and navigating the complex DCU research support structure and the wider external funding landscape to efficiently target and apply for the most relevant grants.
3. Professional Network & Collaboration
- Establish Key Partnerships: Develop the strategic skills necessary to establish, cultivate, and maintain robust, mutually fruitful national and international research collaborations.
- Expand Your Network: Engage in group mentoring sessions led by Principal Investigators (PIs) and connect with peers to create a strong, lasting professional network that supports career progression and new research initiatives.
4. Career Progression & Communication
- Define Your Trajectory: Formulate a clear, targeted career strategy by recognizing the necessary steps and milestones required to successfully transition from an early-career position to a senior research leadership role.
- Communicate for Impact: Refine your research communication skills, enabling you to persuasively present complex findings to diverse audiences—from funding panels to the general public—maximizing your research's impact and visibility.
The programme comprises 6 modules focused on different aspects of the researchers' role. As part of the career development module there is also a one to one career coaching session.
Application Process:
To register for the RPD, please only sign up for the INTRODUCTION workshop below.
Online Course |
Workshop |
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Module 1: |
To apply for the programme, sign up for this workshop (you can opt out after).
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Module 2: |
Developing and Consolidating your Research Career – Date TBC
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Module 3: |
Developing your Research Funding Plan – Date TBC
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Module 4: |
Grant writing - Date TBC |
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Module 5: |
Research Collaborations - Date TBC |
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Module 6: |
Communicating your Research – Date TBC |
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Module 7: |
Managing a Research Team – Date TBC |
Group mentoring (when available)
Group mentoring is a hugely beneficial approach of sharing knowledge with peers, exploring career paths and challenges, and receiving advice from seniors in the field of research.
All participants on the programme will be invited to take part in group mentoring, led by a Principal Investigator as mentor. The group will meet monthly to explore solutions to challenges that mentees face and potential areas for career development. Mentees will also benefit from peer to peer support and the opportunity to network and build relationships.
Fee: 100 euro charged to your school or research centre
If you have specific questions on the PSRL, please contact [email protected]