The GYA At-Risk Scholars Initiative held an Academic Interdisciplinary Research Leadership Workshop, hosted by Wolfson College, University of Oxford, from 5-7 September.
The workshop aimed to empower outstanding at-risk or displaced researchers to excel in their new higher education environments, by imparting practical skills, and addressing opportunities within and outside of academia. Over 20 UK-based early-career researchers from several countries participated. During the workshop, participants took part in CV and interview training, discussed effective networking and the UK Research Excellence Framework. The GYA collaborated with the Young Academy of Scotland, Cara, the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, AuthorAid, and facilitators from Inclusive Innovation.
The workshop resonated well with participants, who appreciated the time to address practical career considerations and to ask questions about academic culture and norms in the UK. Participants also valued the chance to hear from colleagues who have overcome obstacles to continue their research careers, and to expand their professional network through the workshop itself. As the first of six annual GYA-organised workshops for at-risk scholars at Wolfson College, feedback from participants was particularly helpful with a view to conceptualising similar meetings in the coming years.
A previous skills training workshop for early-career at-risk scientists and scholars in the context of the GYA At-Risk Scholars Initiative was held in collaboration with the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) in April 2019, in Ispra, Italy. Read more about this workshop here.
