Reflecting on Organising the 2023 NIHR Post-Doctoral Career Development Event

Dr Tom Kingstone Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Wellbeing School of Medicine Keele University

As a member of the School of Primary Care Research, I wanted to share a brief reflection on my role in organising the 2023 National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Post-Doctoral Career Development Event.

So, what happened?

I was a member of the organising committee for a NIHR post-doctoral career development event: ‘Successfully Navigating Your Post-Doctoral Research Career’. This one-day hybrid event took place on 6^th November 2023 at The Studio in Birmingham.

Prior to the event, the organising committee designed an online survey to capture training needs within the post-doctoral research community; this was distributed across the NIHR network. Survey results informed the event programme and highlighted learning needs around grant application development, career planning, and leadership.

During the event, NIHR academy and committee leads (Professor Anne-Maree Keenan OBE, Professor Eileen Kaner), NIHR Fellowship applicants (Dr Elizabeth Ford, Dr Sarah Seaton), Patient and Public Involvement representatives (Dr Wanda Russell, Michael Moore), and a blend of research leaders from different professional backgrounds (Professor Maria Stokes, Professor Mike Lewis, Professor Yemisi Takwoingi) shared their insights on grant application development and career progression. The event ended with an inspiring talk from Dr Adam Richie, who described his role in developing the Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The event was fully subscribed with 100 people attending in-person and, at its peak, a further 250 people joining online.

How did I get involved?

I responded to an email inviting expressions of interest in joining the planning committee for an NIHR post-doctoral training event. Based on my previous experience of successfully applying for NIHR funding, organising workshops and conferences, and a general interest in training, I thought I could offer something to this role.

Who did I work with?

I got to work with some fantastic and inspirational early career researchers, from a broad range of professional backgrounds and research interests. Committee members included: Dr Ruta Buivydaite, Dr Deborah Ikhile, Dr Hazel Lote, and Dr Hannah Young. 

What support did I receive?

We were supported throughout the planning process by NIHR colleagues. Chris Doble was our main point of contact. Chris expertly chaired our monthly committee meetings, coordinated the planning process from start to finish, and managed financial aspects.

How much time did it take to plan the event?

Quite a lot in the end. But do not let that put you off! The committee held an introductory call in January 2023 and met monthly thereafter. Time was needed between meetings to comment on the draft programme, to plan and conduct the survey, to visit potential venues, and to agree and contact guest speakers. The workload was evenly distributed between committee members.

How did it all go?

The event was very well attended, and the programme was full of insightful and inspiring talks.  Feedback was very positive too. The time and effort put into the development of the programme seemed to pay off. I was particularly proud of the exceptional PPI session delivered by Keele colleagues, Dr Wanda Russell and Michael Brooks.

Would I do it again?

Yes, absolutely. I would encourage all early career researchers to consider joining NIHR planning committees, such as this one. This experience helped me to learn more about being a committee member and working in collaboration with new colleagues. It also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of NIHR, which has helped me to better signpost colleagues.