University Alliance’s Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA)
DTA is a structured PhD training programme run across 19 Alliance universities and partner institutions; one of the largest nationwide doctoral training initiatives across the UK. Building on the research strengths and industry-focus of our universities, the DTA is focused on
producing independent, highly-employable researchers with expertise and skills in strategically important research areas. DTA supports three interdisciplinary research programmes in Applied Biosciences for Health, Energy and Social Policy, and receives co-funding through the European Commission. As well as financial support, DTA researchers benefit from an inclusive and collaborative support community, enhanced employer co-designed training programme and access to expertise and facilities from across the network; helping equip our students with key skills for future employment.
UWE Bristol Early Career Researcher (ECR) awards
UWE, Bristol has invested more than £2m since 2008 in Vice-Chancellor’s Early Career Researcher
(ECR) Awards to promising staff. These one-year awards are worth up to £20,000 to support projects designed to accelerate their research trajectory and position them to bid for significant external funds. Projects are expected to
involve external collaborators, lead to peer reviewed publications and are assigned a senior researcher to
oversee progress. As a result of the scheme many staff have gone on to successful research careers
at UWE and elsewhere, securing major grants, gaining promotion to Associate Professor and even Professor.
University of Brighton ECR ambassadors
Since 2014, the University of Brighton have established a university-wide Early Career Researcher ambassador role.
The ECR ambassador has a dedicated 1day/week workload for this role, reports directly to the PVC Research and
Enterprise. They liaise closely with ECR representatives in each of the school and meet regularly as a group. The ECR
ambassador is a member of the University’s Research and Enterprise Committee and provides a report at each meeting and raises any issues identified by the ECRs. ECR ambassador also provides peer support and organises bespoke training and networking events. Future’s Bright Conference: This event held every other year is a conference organised by ECRs for ECRs. They are supported through a central budget and cover aspects which is important to career progression of the ECRs. The feedback from these events has always been very positive.
