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 based on who they apply most to (e.g. non-discipline-specific, or especially relevant to the MHLS, EPS or AHSS Faculty). 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.
- Reflections: this journal, published by the Centre for Educational Development at Queen's is published once per semester and focuses on teaching, learning and assessment in Queen’s and more generally in higher education
The Higher Education sector and your field of research
Keeping up with your research area is essential, and being aware of progress in the sector can also help, especially if your career plan is to become an academic.
- Professional societies: professional societies relevant to your field of research often will have a newsletter you could subscribe to. This enables you to keep up-to-date with progress in your field and know about specialised events, funding and training opportunities
- Times Higher Education (THE): THE provides articles and resources about the sector, including in terms of teaching, research, university policy etc. It also publishes a newsletter and podcast.
- Research Policy Briefings: The Research Strategy and Engagement team at Queen's issues regular short summaries of the latest developments in research and innovation policy and ad hoc briefings on key policy issues.
- Your School board: most Schools at Queen's open their School board meetings to all School staff. Attending these meetings will offer insight to what the School's current priorities, initiatives and plans are beyond direct research. Understanding the administrative dynamics in academia can be highly valuable if you want to become an academic yourself
Social media
Following the right social media accounts, especially on Twitter and LinkedIn, can help you stay aware of the latest news while enabling you to connect with people.
We advise that you follow some of these Queen's accounts:
- Postdoc support at Queen's: PDC (@QUBpostdoc), Postdoc Society (@QUBPostdoc_Soc)
- Your School or Research Centre
- Your Faculty: @MHLSQUB, @QubEps, @QUBResearchAHSS
- Queen's main accounts: @QUBelfast, @QUBstaff
- Queen's senior management: Prof Ian Greer, Vice-Chancellor (@QUBVChancellor)
- Staff support: People and Culture (@QUBPeopleFirst), staff wellbeing (@WellbeingQUB), Equality and Diversity (@QUBEqualDiverse), Queen's Gender Initiative (@QGI_QUB), BAME and international staff network (@QUBiRise), LGBT+ staff network (@QUBLGBTSN)
- Research support: Research Policy (@QUBResearchPol), Research Development (@QUBResDev), MHLS Public Engagement (@QUBEngagemhls_d), Qubis and Tech Transfer (@QubisLtd), Library (@QUBLibrary), Centre for Educational Development (@QUB_CED)
Also look for:
- Funders of interest
- Relevant professional societies
- Industries, companies, voluntary organisations linked to your work or who you'd like to work with
- Relevant research groups and researchers, at Queen's or not
- @PostDocJobsNI, showcasing roles for postdocs in NI