Research Peer Support Groups

Your network of peers can help support and guide you in dealing with the challenges of being a research leader.

Feedback from those involved in peer support groups indicates they value hearing about the experiences of others in leading research and that their participation has led to research collaborations, influenced the design and management of research projects, acted as a catalyst for raising research culture challenges and influenced the way research support is organised.

The first meeting will give the group the opportunity to get to know each other and to identify challenges people in the group face as research leaders. Topics for future meetings will be decided on by the group and informed by the challenges identified. Topics can include but are not limited to: managing project risks, managing international projects, working with non-academic partners, developing proposals for larger research projects, post award support for research grants, research impact, building partnerships.

Groups will meet for up to two hours every 2 months for a year and will be supported by a facilitator.

The aim is to form peer groups of between 6 and 12 people who have similar amounts of research experience and have similar ambitions as a research leader. Within this the intention is to have a wide range of academic disciplines represented to provide a broad range of views on research practice. The makeup of groups will depend on the numbers expressing an interest, their experience and capacity to facilitate groups.

If you are interested in forming a research support group please contact Jim Baxter.