Researcher development

Development opportunities

The Agile Researcher

Victoria University has introduced The Agile Researcher program for all graduate researchers.

Designed to assist graduate researchers navigate through their studies with a range of practical tools and life skills for mental health and well-being.

The six week program, co-designed with Victoria University graduate researchers:

• is comprised of 16 short (10–15 minute) self-paced online modules focusing on cognitive and behavioural strategies for confidence and resilience
• provides an opportunity to participate in weekly peer-to-peer sessions to share and discuss application of strategies.

Recent participants were asked what they thought of the program and what they got out of completing it. Here’s what some of them had to say:

• “Encourages a growth mindset through self-care and embracing a higher purpose.”
• “It helped to reframe my mindset and break down tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.”
• “I liked that the sessions were short and focused. The weekly peer group discussion sessions were a highlight and helped to consolidate the concepts.”
• “Short, sharp and engaging.”

To register your interest in the next intake or find out more email  [email protected] .

Research fundamentals

VU has a range of researcher development opportunities that focus on the fundamentals of research. They are targeted primarily at the graduate researcher but may also be relevant to academic staff new to VU or new to research.

Within the research fundamentals category we run sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• getting you started as a graduate researcher at VU, including the graduate researcher induction, library induction, and scholarship rights and responsibilities
• starting on your PhD, including preparing your literature review, first considerations, conceptualising your research project and how to present at conferences
• getting started as a ‘New to VU’ researcher, including the new researcher, research supervisor and library inductions
• managing research information, including how to use referencing tools such as Endnote
• preparing for thesis examination, including how to format your thesis and what examiners look for
• research data – what data you need to worry about, how to manage it and where to store it
• research writing, including writing bootcamps, retreats and the ‘Demystify your Thesis’ program.

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

Consultations & drop-in sessions

• Research Ambassadors provide assistance with research related queries by appointment or drop-in session.
• Learning Hubs provide study advice and career guidance.

Research mentoring program

Our VU Research Mentoring program for early and mid-career researchers is designed to assist you to find a mentor to work with on your research career goals and advance your research career. It will enable you to leverage your knowledge and skills with mentoring tailored to your goals. Both mentors and mentees undertake training to ensure a successful mentoring relationship.

Watch our introduction video on YouTube

Experienced researchers are available as mentors on a range of topics including:

• Actively managing your research career
• Applying for promotion
• Shaping positive research cultures
• Leading a research team
• Applying for a VU Research Fellowship
• Collaboration
• Impact and engagement
• Funding your research
• Research leadership.

Early and mid-career researchers interested in participating in this program must submit an Expression of Interest.

Find out more about our available mentors on our Meet Our Mentors site (login required).

Development sessions

VU Research runs sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• Advancing Your Research Career, an online and self-paced program for early and mid-career researchers consisting of ten engaging and interactive modules:
  • Actively managing your research career
  • Shaping positive research cultures
  • The value of mentoring to your research career
  • Accelerating the impact of research through engagement
  • Funding your research
  • Leadership for successful project management
  • Collaboration
  • Managing a research team
  • Communicating your research
  • Reflective practice and career development
• understanding VU's Measure of Research Activity (MoRA) Measure
• applying for a VU Research Fellowship
• how to find a research mentor
• grants and funding
• HDR Career Development workshops series (in conjunction with VU Employ)

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

To register for Advancing Your Research Career, see VU Develop.

Ethics, biosafety & research integrity

VU has a range of researcher development opportunities that focus on research ethics, biosafety and integrity.

These researcher development resources are provided by the ethics and biosafety team and cover key information researchers require when conducting research in relation to animal research ethics, human research ethics, biosafety and research integrity.

Within the ethics, biosafety and research integrity category we run sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• human research ethics at VU, including process and principles, working with children and young people, and considerations for ethics application submission
• ethical research design
• animal ethics and welfare at VU, including adverse events, compliance and noncompliance
• anaesthesia and analgesia for laboratory animals
• biostatistics
• academic authorship and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
• biosafety events and training in October each year as part of VU Biosafety Week.

For more information about scheduled sessions, including how to register, see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

For more information about these programs or if you would like to enquire about additional sessions for a specific audience, contact the ethics and biosafety team.

Online integrity training

Online Research Integrity Training is available through VU Develop.

The Research Integrity Training course is tailored with relevant examples for five different discipline areas. Researchers should choose to do the course that relates most closely to their field of research:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Natural and Physical Sciences
• Engineering and Technology
• Social and Behavioural Sciences
• Arts and Humanities

Online biosafety training

It is a requirement that personnel working with genetically modified organisms, quarantine materials, animals, plants or material that contains biological risk group agents, must be appropriately trained before entry into a biological containment laboratory or commencement of any work.

Access biosafety training and other development opportunities

Online animal ethics training

Online VU animal ethics training courses are available through VU Collaborate (under subject SPRT-Animals- Ethics and Facilities).

It is a requirement that Animal Ethics Committee training be completed and assessed prior to the commencement of any teaching or research involving animals or animal tissue.

Access online VU animal ethics training courses

Networking & collaboration

Build up your networking and collaboration skills.

VU has a range of researcher development opportunities that focus on networking and collaboration. They are targeted primarily at the graduate and early career researcher but may also be relevant to academic staff new to VU or new to research.

Within the networking and collaboration category we run sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• networking instruments and practical tips
• speed networking
• building international relationships
• social and networking events.

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

Doctoral industry placements

We support a range of industry experiences for graduate researchers, including industry placements.

The Doctoral Industry Placement Program (DIPP) allows students to engage with industry, apply transferable skills gained as part of their research studies, and develop professional competencies. It is an opportunity to develop professional networks and strengthen future career opportunities.

Researcher funding, IP, contracts & commercialisation

These researcher development opportunities focus on improving skills in the areas of funding, intellectual property, contracts and commercialisation, and include sessions that are about general funds seeking as well as those related to specific grant schemes.

Within this development category VU runs sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• identifying funding opportunities
• using Research Professional
• internal grant schemes
• external grant schemes, including ARC Discovery Project (and Early Career), Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LEIF) and NH&MRC
• entrepreneurship & industry
• IP commercialisation
• understanding research agreements
• managing your research project.

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar

Research impact & dissemination

These researcher development opportunities focus on ensuring your research has an impact, describing that impact well, and disseminating your research in the most impactful ways. From measuring your research impact to impactful use of social media, this section covers a broad range of researcher development topics.

Within this development category we run sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• publishing including where to publish, publishing smarter and techniques for increased citations
• research impact including which metrics you need to worry about and how they inform the bigger picture
• presenting your work including at conferences and on social media.

We also participate in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

Research leadership

As part of the VU Researcher Development Program we offer a New Research Leader Development Program to newly promoted (and appointed) Level D & E academic staff. This invitation-only program has the intention of facilitating the creation of a new wave of Research Leaders for VU.

Workshops comprise a mix of internal and external speakers and cover such topics as:

• research leadership
• external environment and its impact
• current internal environment
• collaboration and building international research partnerships
• leadership and emotional intelligence
• mentoring and coaching
• team culture and managing conflict
• leveraging research for teaching and influencing curriculum
• stress management.

Research methodology & analysis

These researcher development opportunities focus on everything VU researchers need to know to produce high quality research at VU.

Researcher Development opportunities cover both qualitative and quantitative methodology, as well as project design and skilful methodology-related software use.

Within this development category VU runs sessions and programs throughout the year focusing on:

• quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• research methodology tools such as SPSS, NVivo and Qualtrics

For more information about scheduled sessions (including how to register) see the Researcher Development Program calendar.

Consultation & drop-in sessions

In addition to the organised sessions, additional one-on-one support is available by appointment from our Research Design and Statistics Consultant and the Research Ambassadors.

Email us at [email protected] to book an appointment

Online resources

• ACSPRI: VU is a member of ACSPRI, the Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated. As a VU researcher you are entitled to the member discount should you choose to attend any workshops.
• AMSI: VU is a member of AMSI, the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute, entitling VU Honours and graduate researchers to attend AMSI’s schools and workshops where space is available.
• Elsevier Publishing Campus: A free online resource offering lectures, interactive training courses and resources to support academics in publishing, research writing, research funding, networking and getting noticed, benchmarking your research and developing you career and research skills.