News
You will miss out on opportunities if you don't know what is going on. Have a browse below of the different information and news streams available to postdocs and research staff at Queen's (and beyond), in order to stay informed and ensure you don't miss out on any important opportunities.
PDC Update emails
Information relevant to you
The PDC sends regular emails (usually once per week) to all research staff, featuring upcoming internal and external opportunities relevant to the postdoctoral career stage. The emails are structured to be quick to scan through for recipients, with opportunities organised by category e.g. Courses & Events, Job/Funding opportunities, Networking and Community, Wellbeing etc. Each opportunity is provided as a short bullet point with a clear title, and a link for more information.
Staff who aren't listed as Research Staff on the HR system but feel they would benefit from receiving these emails (e.g. Lecturers in Education on temporary position) should contact the PDC (pdc@qub.ac.uk) to be added to a sign-up list.
Don't hesitate to send us information and opportunities you feel other postdocs in the university would benefit from; we'll include them.
Information beyond the PDC
In addition to the PDC communications, we encourage you to keep an eye on other Queen's communications, as well as wider information from your field of research and the Higher Education sector.
Queen's information for all staff
News and information for all staff are coordinated by the internal communications team.
- Emails: Important information, including communications from the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar
- Staff Round-up: the Round-up is available online and sent to all staff every Monday. It includes up-coming events and information for all. You can have a piece featured in the Round-up, for example if you are organising an event yourself or would like to recruit participants for a study or survey.
- Staff Gateway: the Staff Gateway is a series of pages dedicated to Queen's staff. It includes University News, Staff Networks, Initiatives for Staff etc.
Queen's-Specialised Information
Information relevant to your direct local environment or some of your more specific interests are likely to be provided via specific newsletters that you should look into (examples below).
- Your Faculty and School newsletters
- Funding newsletters: the Research Development team collects information on research funding including the Weekly Funding Newsletter
- Research and Innovation News: This newsletter provides researchers and academics with information on the latest news, announcements and events related to their researcher journey at Queen's.
The Higher Education Sector and your Field of Research
Maintaining awareness of developments within your research field is important. In addition, understanding broader developments across the higher education sector can be extremely valuable, especially for those considering an academic career.
The following sources may be helpful:
- School Board Meetings: Many Schools at Queen’s make School Board meetings open to staff. Attending these meetings provides insight into current priorities, initiatives, and strategic plans beyond immediate research activity. Understanding institutional governance and decision-making processes can be valuable preparation for an academic career.
- Professional Societies: Professional societies relevant to your field frequently circulate newsletters and updates. Subscribing to these communications can help you stay informed about research developments, specialist events, funding calls, and training opportunities.
- Times Higher Education (THE): Times Higher Education provides analysis and commentary on sector developments, including teaching, research, funding, and university policy. It also publishes a regular newsletter and podcast.
- Wonkhe: Wonkhe provides analysis and commentary on higher education policy and sector developments in the UK. It publishes regular briefings and opinion pieces on topics such as research funding, governance, regulation, and sector strategy. Engaging with this content can help researchers develop a broader understanding of the higher education landscape.
Social media
Following the right social media accounts can help you stay aware of the latest news while enabling you to connect with people.
Here are some accounts on LinkedIn which may be of interest: