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Research staff information


Welcome to the web pages for research-only staff.  The aim of these pages is to give you all the information you will need to be successful in your career as a researcher at St Andrews.

Courses and Events

The University provides a range of general staff development courses and more specialist courses aimed at postdoctoral staff and postgraduates.

Advice and Support

The following section provides guidance for research-only staff, including those new to the University and those arriving from different countries.  It also includes the University’s Code of Practice which sets out the expectations for the employment and management of research-only staff at St Andrews.

If you wish to speak to anyone, key contacts include:

Louise Milne, Human Resources Officer 
Sukhi Bains, Equality & Diversity Officer                                                                                              
Jos Finer, Staff Developer, Postdoctoral Research Development
UCU Trade Union                                         

  • Code of Practice for the Employment and Management of Research Staff at the University of St Andrews
  • Induction Resources for New Staff
  • Website for UK staff moving to UK Universities 
  • Vitae is the UK organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes.
  • Harassment and Bullying at Work and Study Policy 
  • Recourse is a charity providing practical and emotional support to staff in FE and HE.
  • The University's Occupational Health Service enables all staff to get confidential health advice.
  • The University is committed to ensuring that all staff employed on Fixed Term Contracts are treated as favourably as those on open-ended contracts in relation to pay, benefits, training, promotion and career development.  In line with this commitment, and the provisions of the Fixed Term Employee (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002, the University and St Andrews UCU are jointly committed to ensuring good practice is fully implemented and the use of successive fixed term contracts is minimised.
  • Guidance for Conducting Redundancy Consultation Meetings on the Expiry of Fixed Term Contracts.
  • Redundancy Consultation.

Career Development and Management

Researchers on fixed term and open ended contracts are either seeking to develop their careers in higher education or see it as a first step on a path that may take them outside the higher education sector altogether.  Either way, the University and the Principal Investigator, as immediate manager should provide opportunities and encourage researchers to actively develop their careers.

Researchers should recognise that the primary responsibility for managing and pursuing their careers is theirs.  Accordingly, they should identify training needs and actively seek out opportunities for learning and development in order to further that career and take personal responsibility for their choices. (Research Concordat 2008)

  • Q6 Review and Development Scheme aims to provide all University staff the opportunity to have an annual review and provides a framework to help structure a productive review meeting.  Staff are encouraged to review their past performance and plan ahead for their future development.
  • Promotions process for those wishing promotion to grade 8 or above.
  • Grading Review process for grades up to and including grade 7.
  • Cross-institutional mentoring scheme for research staff.  The aim of the scheme is to support early career researchers in managing their careers.
  • Vitae's career page

Research Staff Forum and Other Networks

The Research Staff Forum was set up in 1999 to provide a conduit for research staff views on University policy and decision making and to allow discussion of matters that affect researchers e.g. new legislation.

The Forum is chaired by the Deputy Principal and has a research-only staff representative plus a Principal Investigator for each school with more than 3 research-only staff.  Other relevant staff also sit on the Forum.

Research Gate is a free resource for scientists and researchers across the world that creates the opportunity to collaborate, share work and stay up-to-date.  It allows members to search and download publications, find out about conferences across the world and search for jobs.  With a dedicated research blog and work group, Research Gate creates a professional network for researchers where they can discuss and share their research.

The UK Research Staff Association (UKRSA) is supported by Vitae and continues and extends the work of the National Research Association of the UK.  The UKRSA provides a collective voice for research staff by working closely with Vitae to nurture research staff associations and inform policy.

Vitae Research Staff Blog.

Other Relevant Information for Researchers