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Women's Leadership Academy
Supporting and empowering early career researchers (ECRs) to carve out a research career that fits their own needs
Women ECRs: are you struggling to find a work/life balance in a research system that doesn't seem to meet your needs?
Do you want to build confidence, shift your mindset, and develop the skills you need to further your career?
If so, the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Women's Leadership Academy is for you.
Applications open Monday 24 February - 12 noon Monday 10 March 2025
About the academy
The ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Women's Leadership Academy is a new programme that will empower early-career academics - inclusive of all women and minority genders - to carve out a research career that works for them.
Sessions are active and participant-led, answering the questions you raise - it's about collaboration, peer support and peer learning, identifying your own leadership style and working out how to do it your way.
Running between late March and June 2025, it will include:
- Two one-day coaching workshops with Fiona Reith, a Designing Your Life coach.
- Weekly online seminars focusing on common barriers and more practical skills, including time management, collaborating and communicating, research grants, and promotion.
- Smaller book groups providing space for peer mentoring and support, and building community. This year's set text is Playing Big by Tara Mohr.
The academy will help address the gender gap in ECR applications for promotion that has been identified at the University. This issue was discussed at the Research with Impact Forum in November.
The initiative is led by , Associate Professor of Engineering, and , the Director for ECRs, and supported by the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Researcher School and Research Culture.
Benefits of joining the academy
- Grow in confidence and develop your leadership skills.
- Learn how to manage your time and stress more effectively.
- Connect with other ECRs, and start to build your networks.
- Build a community of support.
- Identify a career pathway based on your own personal circumstances and objectives.
Who can apply?
The academy is designed to support researchers who are in the early years of their career, who may be facing barriers to taking the next step, particularly those commonly faced by women. All women and minority genders are invited to apply.
To be eligible, you must be:
- employed by the ßÏßÏÊÓƵ for the full period of the programme, up to 30 June.
- undertaking research as a substantial part of your role, on either a research-only or teaching and research contract.
- available to attend all workshops and seminars (see dates below).
The academy aims to help early career researchers, which at ßÏßÏÊÓƵ is defined as researchers at grades 6-8, broadly encompassing research assistants, postdoctoral researchers and research fellows.
However, it is understood that women may face barriers to progression beyond this level, or may be returning to research after a career break. If you are in a different research role but consider yourself early career, you are welcome to apply.
How to apply
Applications will open on Monday 24 February. If you are interested in joining the 2025 Academy, you will be asked to consider two key questions:
- Why do you want to take part in the academy? What do you hope to get from it?
- What challenges or barriers are you currently facing that are holding you back from progressing in your career?
The deadline for applications is Monday 10 March, at 12 noon.
Selection process
Selection will take place after the deadline, and will be based on how well applicants have considered the benefits of taking part - including identifying any challenges or barriers - and have a clear idea of where they’d like their career to progress next. There are 18 places on the 2025 programme. Selection will not be based on career stage.
Membership of the selection panel includes women in academic roles from Sciences and Social Sciences, and at different career stages:
- (Engineering and Informatics)
- (Life Sciences)
- (Law, Politics and Sociology)
- (ßÏßÏÊÓƵ Researcher School)
Applicants will be told if they have a place on the academy by Friday 14 March.
Programme structure
| Applications open | Monday 24 February |
| International Women's Day launch event | Wednesday 5 March |
| Deadline for applications | Monday 10 March |
| Places allocated | By Friday 14 March |
| One-day coaching workshop: Introduction to the Academy | Monday 24 March |
| Book groups begin | w/c 24 March |
| Seminar #1 | w/c 28 April |
| Seminar #2 | w/c 5 May |
| Seminar #3 | w/c 12 May |
| Seminar #4 | w/c 19 May |
| Seminar #5 | w/c 26 May |
| One-day coaching workshop: Round-up and reflections | w/c 2 June |
| Summer of Research showcase event | Wednesday 11 June tbc |