Networking and Peer Engagement

As a member of research staff, you will likely have already had your first taste of networking at academic conferences, events and lectures. This can make some people uncomfortable. Networking is a hard skill to master for some people, for others, it comes naturally. You may not have ever had to network before, or you might have some experience, but how do you do it and do it well?

Peer engagement can enable a collective voice for research staff from all Faculties, Schools and Institutes on matters affecting researchers.

This section will direct you to resources to help you to develop networking skills both in and outside of academia.

Please note that some resources are temporarily unavailable while we work on updating the Roadmap. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

FormatResourceAimed atLength
Panel Decision-making and different career paths for researchers PGRs, ECRs, and Postdocs 1hr
Workshop Promoting yourself and staying on top of current research innovations through event organisation Researchers across all career stages 44mins
Introductory session Introduction to Prosper Postdocs and ECRs 60mins
Talk Update by Professor Georgina Endfield - APVC research environment and postgraduate research Researchers across all career stages 22mins 44s
Keynote Realising your potential – and enjoying your career! By Professor Jonathan Tonge Researchers across all career stages 33mins 30s
Talk Update on the research landscape at the University by Prof Anthony Hollander Researchers across all career stages 27mins 20s
Case study A reflection on the support and opportunities available to researchers Postdocs and ECRs N/A
Blog post Pathfinder: Adventures in researcher land - 3rd edition Researchers across all career stages 1min 36s
Blog post Buddy scheme  Postdocs and ECRs 3mins 3s
Webinar Mid-contract career development check-in Postdocs and ECRs 1hr 34mins
Webpage Early Career Researchers network ECRs N/A
Webpage New Researcher  - Supervisor and PI  PIs N/A
Webpage New starter PI- Research data management PIs N/A
Case study Encouraging autonomy for PostDoctoral Researchers Postdoc 2mins 51s reading time
Webpage New Starters - RSA  Postdocs N/A
Webpage NPAW website Postdocs N/A
Podcast Prosper Project  Postdocs 45mins 2s
Webpage Prosper: Unlocking postdoc career potential Postdocs N/A
Blog Being in the Research Staff Association boosted my CV Postdocs and ECRs 2mins
Case study ECR community involvement contributes to fellowship success Postdocs and ECRs 3mins 19s reading time
Blog National Postdoc Appreciation Week: The impact of COVID-19 on planning and delivering Postdocs and ECRs 1min 28s
Podcast Research communities Postdocs and ECRs 39mins 36s
Talk Researcher Development Concordat Postdocs and ECRs 25mins
Blog Working from home as an ECR: the new norm Postdocs and ECRs 1min 42s
Blog Looking to the future during National Postoc Appreication Week Postdocs, ECRs and PIs  N/A
Blog Networking: Making it work for you Postdocs, ECRs and PIs  N/A
Multiple resources Prosper Postdocs, ECRs and PIs  Varied
Webpage About.com - Although not from an research perspective, this article gives 10 conference networking tips which you may find helpful. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Academia.edu  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Author Aid - a free pioneering global network that provides support, mentoring, resources and training for researchers in low and middle income countries. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Multiple resources Career development resources Researchers across all career stages varied
Recorded interactive session Consultancy: How to use your expertise to generate impact and help raise your profile presented by Sonja Vujovic, Samantha Croker and Susan Kenny Researchers across all career stages 52mins 57s
PDF Distinguishing between Consultancy and Research Researchers across all career stages N/A
Videos Effective Networking Videos - Although aimed at PGRs, the guidance provided is useful for all. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Inside Higher Ed - The Inside Higher Ed website provides guidance on building your network, with specific tips on how to do so. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Article Jobs.ac.uk - ‘How to Develop Successful Networking Skills in Academia’ article aimed primarily at those wanting to develop a career in academia. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage LabSpaces Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog LinkedIn Blog - Although not written for academics, this blog post gives 6 secrets to better networking at conferences. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Methodspace Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage My Science Work Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage myExperiment Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Nature Blog - Although aimed at PGRs, there are a number of helpful tips on networking, along with articles on how researchers network, the importance of informal networks and LinkedIn tips for scientists. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Nature Blog - how researchers network Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Nature Blog - LinkedIn tips for scientists Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Networking as a researcher and importance of self confidence for researchers. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Guides which contains a series of downloadable worksheets with reflective activities  Networking: an online resource for researchers Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage New starter -Induction  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage New starters - Vitae Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage New starters - Vitae Research staff Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage New Starters International Researchers  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage New starters positive research environment  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Ning Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Papers  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Professional Development Review. Whether you plan to stay in academia or not, you should have some idea of where you want your career to go. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Researcher development highlights Researchers across all career stages 2mins
Webpage ResearchGate Researchers across all career stages N/A
Tools Science Careers - A helpful careers section  useful tools & tips, and a regular blog Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blogs Science Careers - careers blog Researchers across all career stages Varied
Webpage Slideshare  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Social networks for scientists Researchers across all career stages N/A
PDF The Career-Wise Researcher  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage The importance of self confidence for researchers Researchers across all career stages N/A
Bitesized video The Making an Impact Series Researchers across all career stages 8mins 2s
Bitesized video The Researcher Hub and RSA resources Researchers across all career stages 2mins 59s
Blog Thesis Whisperer -  useful article on the Top 5 ways to better academic networking. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Blog Thesis Whisperer - This blog article has a crash course on socialising at a scientific conference dinner, which contains a number of helpful tips.  Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage To find out about the University's commitment to and planning around the support and management of research careers, visit the HR Excellence in Research pages. Researchers across all career stages N/A
Webpage Viate researcher booklets Researchers across all career stages N/A
Multiple resources Vitae Research pages Researchers across all career stages Varied
Webpage Zotero - Pr Researchers across all career stages N/A
Talk The current landscape of research staff development at the University of Liverpool Researchers across all career stages 34mins
Catalogues Cambridge themes Researchers across all career stages Varied
Multiple resources Development activity guidance Researchers across all career stages Varied
Visual minutes Making an Impact top tips Researchers across all career stages N/A
Video Researcher development video Researchers across all career stages 1min 53s
Website and PDF Researcher Development Framework Researchers across all career stages Varied
Catalogues Resources mapped to the Vitae RDF Researchers across all career stages Varied
Multiple resources LinkedIn Learning Researchers across all career stages Varied
Blog  From one to three hats – why is it important to engage outside our research? Researchers across all career stages  2min 42s 
Blog   12 days of Researcher Development Researchers across all career stages  1min 46s 
Blog  Behind the Screens: images of research in the time of coronavirus Researchers across all career stages   2min 
Blog Making Sense of Hybrid Practice: Provocations on new ways of working Researchers across all career stages 6min
Seminar The good, the bad and the ugly about getting a Tenure Track Fellowship: A panel session led by junior HLS PIs Dr Kate Baker, Dr Jamie Hall, and Dr Siobhan O’Brien. ECRs and Postdocs 56mins 13s
Seminar Rachel Cox, Engagement and Policy project manager at Vitae: Researchers take charge: your culture, your development, your future. Researchers across all stages 41mins
Blog Making an Impact, the University’s flagship annual researcher development activity – 4 years on and still Making an Impact! Researchers across all career stages 2mins 28s
Blog Pathfinder: Adventures in Researcher land. Launch of Researcher development newsletter, exploring and celebrating our diverse Researcher communities. Researchers across all career stages 1min 32s
PDF Pathfinder: Adventures in Researcher Land - 1st edition Researchers across all career stages N/A
Bitesized video Developing Researchers in a Hybrid environment - Researcher Development Roadmap Researchers across all career stages 11mins 58s
Bitesized video Prosper and supporting our postdocs Researchers across all career stages 6mins 39s
Blog How to prepare for a successful future Researchers across all career stages 1min 41s
Blog Supporting researchers through the Researcher Development Concordat Researchers across all career stages 1min 19s
Bitesized video An ECR's journey from postdoc to Fellowship Success Researchers across all career stages 14mins 59
Blog A sense of community, identity and belonging Researchers across all career stages 1min 31s
Seminar PhD to PI: Applying for and doing ECR research fellowships in HSS Researchers across all career stages 58mins 30s
Seminar UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers: What it actually means for research staff at Liverpool Researchers across all career stages 41mins 22s
Seminar It’s all about you: making your PDR fit with personal & professional goals Researchers across all career stages 56min 15s
Blog Pathfinder: Adventures in researcher land - 2nd edition Researchers across all career stages 1min 30s
Blog New opportunities and support for clinical research staff Researchers across all career stages 2mins 6s
Blog What does it take to pursue science for a woman from a rural background? From 609503 to L69 7ZB Researchers across all career stages 4mins
Seminar A9: Preparing for a successful future Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Seminar B6: Inner Realities: Stronger connections and successful futures Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Seminar B8: UKRI and Researcher Development: Changing culture across research careers Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Seminar C1: Researching the world, leaving no-one behind Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Seminar C7: Releasing Potential - The power of coaching and mentoring Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Seminar C8: UKRI and Researcher Development: Changing culture across research careers Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Talk Keynote: Impact Matters: Responding to COVID-19 Researchers across all career stages 53mins 41s
Talk Keynote: The Road from COP26. How innovation is leading the way Researchers across all career stages 76mins
Talk Keynote: Knowledge Exchange a funders perspective Researchers across all career stages 58mins 28s
Panel discussion From Liverpool to Impact: Panel discussion on business development and Collaboration Researchers across all career stages 61mins
Talk Keynote: Climate Change and how Universities can make a difference. Researchers across all career stages 59mins 18s
Seminar B7: More than "Just About Managing" - Stepping up to project leadership Postdocs and ECRs 45mins
Panel discussion Developing partnerships with external organisations Researchers across all career stages 57mins 15s
Workshop Leveraging LinkedIn for Career Building, Networking & Job Search Researchers across all career stages 81mins
Podcast The joy of networking Researchers across all career stages 35mins 52s
Podcast Mastering complex research projects? How to enthuse your key stakeholders for impact Researchers across all career stages 39mins
Workshop Mastering Research Collaboration: Working Together to Get the Best out Everyone Researchers across all career stages 68mins
Panel discussion Consultancy: how applying your expertise can help generate impact and raise your profile Researchers across all career stages 57mins 19s
Case study Outbreak at Bluedot Festival Postdocs and ECRs N/A