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Online Learning Resources for Research Staff

UCL Organisational and Staff Development Team and the Graduate School have collaborated with a number of other leading research intensive universities (Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Durham, Imperial College, Kings College and Reading) to commission a series of modules delivered in Moodle covering research skills important to the early career researcher.

Each of the modules will take between 1 and 1.5 hours to complete and count towards the balanced portfolio of generic skills training and career development that is encouraged for all research staff .

How to access the Modules

The materials are in Moodle, a virtual web-based learning environment. You will need a UCL (IS) computer username and password to access Moodle.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3047

IP in the Research Context

IP in the Research Context is aimed at teaching researchers the basics of Intellectual Property. Lack of awareness of intellectual property (IP) issues means that researchers in the UK are missing out, failing to commercialise their own ideas and sometimes failing to prevent others unfairly exploiting their research. IP in the Research Context plugs this knowledge gap; it enables students to determine which type of intellectual property they need to protect their work and how to take the necessary steps to get it.

The course follows the story of two researchers seeking IP protection for their invention and combines video, animation and simulation with regular testing and feedback. Guest appearances in the video sections of the course include Adam Hart-Davis (BBC presenter), Sir Harold Kroto (Nobel Prize winner), Paul Leonard (Director of the IP Institute) and Mandy Haberman (Inventor).

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=74809

Ethics 1: Good Research Practice 

Ethics 1: Good Research Practice covers standard practice and recent changes in universities' ethics relating to research that investigates people and their data. The course applies, for example, to the healthcare disciplines, to natural and social sciences, education and welfare services, humanities, law and media studies. Ethics standards apply very generally across many topics, methods and disciplines of research.

A Resources bank at the end of the course also provides more information about general ethical standards.

The research methods reviewed in the course in the context of ethics include qualitative and quantitative work, observations and experiments, surveys and interviews, analysis of texts and images.

• The aims of the course are to help you to:
• understand and use the frameworks and basic tools in research ethics debates
• explain and justify your decisions about research ethics
• know about resources for extending and updating your knowledge of ethics.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=76187

Ethics 2: Working with Human Subjects

Ethics 2: Working with Human Subjects covers the ethics of involving human participants directly, or indirectly, in research projects.

• The aims of the course are to help you to:
• define a human participant
• define informed consent
• identify the main considerations when involving human participants directly or indirectly in research
• provide case studies to help you understand the issues involved
• provide links to additional information and resources

Guest appearances in the video sections of the course include Lord Winston (Scientist/Politician) and Dr Julian Sheather (British Medical Association).

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=76197

Getting Published in the Arts

Getting Published in the Arts aims to give guidance and support to arts and humanities students who are keen to put their research into the public realm, through academic papers and books.

• Aimed at early career researchers this course will:
• provide an understanding of the publishing process
• instil confidence in dealing with publishers or journals
• assist with the process of preparing papers for publication
• develop critical skills of reading and academic writing

The course drawns on the help of a group of people in the same position, early career researchers, people who have recent experience of trying and succeeding to publish. You will meet them as you progress through the course and we are sure that you will find their experiences and thoughts helpful.

We have also brought together a group of editors to give us their thoughts on how to get published - where better than to hear it from the horse's mouth? Guest appearances in the video sections of the course include experts from Palgrave MacMillan and Yale University Press, as well as published academics from leading UK universities and early career researchers sharing their experiences.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=76315

Getting Published in the Sciences 

Getting Published in the Sciences is aimed at encouraging early career scientists in the sciences to publish, and at advising them how this may best be accomplished.

This course aims to provide:

• an overview of the publishing process
• training and tips on how to produce a paper
• critical skills in proof-reading and editing
• a supportive and pro-active attitude to academic publishing

Guest appearances in the video sections of the course include Lord Rees (President of the Royal Society)and Editors from Nature Magazine.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=76231

Project Management in the Research Context 

Project Management in the Research Context introduces you to some of the key concepts of conventional project management and show you how they can be used in the academic research context. The course will take you through the four key phases of the project life cycle.

After finishing the course, you will be able to:

• understand the difference between a 'project' and 'on-going activities'
• understand relationships between project components (resources, duration and scope)
• develop a project plan
• understand the concept of a 'critical path' and how changes in schedules and resource allocation affect the overall duration of the project
• identify the key stakeholders for your project and understand their influence and potential impact on a project
• identify and manage risk in your project including the risks related to the uncertainty of research outcomes
• have an awareness of the key project management tools you can use to manage your project.

Guest appearances in the video sections of the course include Lord Rees (President of the Royal Society) and Professor David Bogle (Head, UCL Graduate School).

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=76239

Career Planning in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences  

This course aims to encourage early career researchers (postdocs and research fellows) to explore the skills and motivations for a career in academia or beyond.

This module is divided into a number of sections that will help you plan a career in the sectors of academia, public sector, not-for-profit, commercial and self-employment. The main themes are:

• skills development
• career routes within and outside of academia
• making applications for jobs
• being successful at interviews and assessment centres
• planning ahead beyond your research.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=74817

Career Planning in the Sciences  

This course aims to encourage postdoctoral scientists to actively use career management techniques. Use of these techniques can be valuable whether planning a career in academia or exploring a variety of alternative career options. As you work through the course you will build up a picture of your skills, personal preferences and style, which can help you in your career choice. Even if you have a definite career plan in mind this course can help determine your suitability for it and may identify areas that you can work on to increase your chances of success

The aims of the course are to help you:

• be aware of key factors in career decision-making
• understand the skills you have and the career options open to you
• begin developing your own career plan
• appreciate how to engage with both academic and non-academic employers successfully.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=74821

Managing your Research Supervisor or Principal Investigator

This course is aimed at encouraging postdoctorates to consider and actively manage their relationship with their supervisor or principal investigator. The course should take you about 100 minutes and may be completed in several visits.

This course aims to provide:

• an overview of potential issues relating to your supervisor
• training and tips on how to manage your supervisor
• an opportunity to develop critical skills in relationship building
• encouragement to develop and maintain a proactive attitude to managing your supervisor.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=74823

Selecting a Conference, Presenting and Networking

The course will give you a generalised overview of conference attendance. It is difficult to provide specific advice due to the huge range of conferences available and the large variety of students taking this course. However, some things are common to all conferences and the authors have tried to distil these. There are short quizzes for you to check your progress.

After finishing the course, you will be able to:

• understand why it is important to attend conferences
• select a conference that is appropriate for you
• get the most out of your conference attendance
• make the most of your presentation (if you are making one)
• answer tricky questions and ask probing ones
• establish and maintain useful professional (and social) contacts
• reflect on your experience and be better equipped, organised and prepared for your next conference.

web: moodle.ucl.ac.uk/mod/scorm/view.php?id=74825

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