ReachSci Global Senior Research Champion Programme  

Join our global virtual intensive research capacity-building programme to become an outstanding researcher.

Meet the Programme Designing Team

Mohammed Alawami

ReachSci President, PhD student

University of Cambridge

Elena Gaura

Professor of Pervasive Computing

Coventry University

James Brusey 

Professor of Computer Science

Coventry University

‘‘

Our team has been working hard to design a team-based research training programme to build the global research capacity to enable PhD students and early career researchers to develop their skills to become outstanding researchers.

We invite from all around the globe PhD students, early career researchers, and senior researchers to be part of our programme.

Each participating team need to consist of:

  • A senior researcher who will act as a mentor for the participants

  • A combination of PhD students and early career researchers who will form the core participants.

With this programme we aim to increase equality, diversity, and inclusion in research around the globe and improve research outcome in underrepresented backgrounds.

Please find details about the programme below.

We really look forward to working with you.

’’

Programme Structure

The programme consists of two Parts:

Part I: individual-based focusing on individual development

Part (II): team-based focusing on team and project development. It is required to pass Part I to enroll in Part 2.

First Part Breakdown

Week 1: Writing abstracts.

Week 2: Presenting your research: 3-minute thesis presentations.

Week 3: Peer review and assessment of research.

Second Part Breakdown

Week 1: Personal and professional skills development.

Week 2: Designing research: research questions and methods.

Week 3: Original research and impact.

Week 4: Writing for publication in STEM: data analysis and statistics.

Week 5:  Writing for publication in STEM: methods and results.

Week 6:  Writing for publication in STEM: discussion and conclusions.

Week 7: Presenting team-based research projects.

In the second part of the programme the team members under the supervision of their mentor will work together on designing and executing the research project - with guidance from the ReachSci team.

Project Requirements

Each research project needs to take into consideration the following criteria:

  • Be multidisciplinary in nature by combining different fields and expertise and considering national strategies towards ONE of the eligible SDGs listed below.

  • Be feasible and tractable by the team/place/timeline (considering their interests, specialisms, equipment, access to labs and literature, and timeline).

  • Be directly related to one of the four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) themes below.

Research themes for 2023 programme 

Research topics should be focused on the following SDG themes: 

- Good Health and Well-being.

- Clean Water and Sanitation.

- Affordable and Clean Energy.

- Sustainable Cities and Communities (with a focus on Future Cities).

Each team must have a senior researcher to act as their mentor.

INFO FOR MENTORS

Who is the programme for?

A faculty member with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related background, ideally with a senior or professorship position,  at their university. 

Why joining our programme?

  • Publish an original research paper with the participants;

  • Receive the Cambridge University ReachSci Society Research Access Champion badge and certificate;

  • Access all our events, workshops, and future opportunities;

  • Join the ReachSci global community and network with researchers around the world.

Expectations and duties

  • Disseminate the programme at their university.

  • Select the most qualified participants from their own university who will join the programme (2-6 members). The team should be multidisciplinary. All team members must be PhD students, post-docs, or early career researchers, ideally a mix among them.

  • Help set up the programme at their university.

  • Support the participants throughout the programme with feedback and resources.

  • Supervise the participants and ensure they are doing well.

  • Help in writing the manuscript and publishing the results.

  • We expect a weekly commitment from Sep 5th of at least 1-2 hours per week for the duration of the programme until the manuscript is submitted. Monthly commitment is also expected during selecting of the participants and setting up of the programme ahead of the start. 

Mentoring certificate

Gain ReachSci Research Access Champion Badge and certificate to recognize your impact.

Each team must have 2-6 core participating team members.

INFO FOR PARTICIPANTS

Who is the programme for?

Any PhD student or Early Career Researcher worldwide carrying out research in  STEM. 

Why joining our programme?

  • Develop key research, transferable and personal skills to improve your research outcomes and quality.

  • Conduct an exciting original research project with a team of highly motivated researchers, supported by excellent mentors and international experts

  • Join our global network of research champions and build international collaborations

  • Develop your collaborative research skills

  • Work with leading academics to enhance your approach to research communication skills

  • Present your work at the ReachSci global conference in Cambridge, UK .

Expectations and duties

Must be able to participate in the programme from January 15th to March 29th, 2023 (the time of the weekly sessions will be decided based on the final participants selected to choose a time that fits all to accommodate for time zone differences). The programme will consist of weekly online sessions, weekly assignments, peer-review feedback sessions, in-person team and supervision meetings, and experiments in their own university.

The programme consists of two parts. To qualify for the certificate, both parts must be passed. Below are more details about what are the expectations for each part:

Part One:

  • This part is individual-based.

  • Full mastery of the taught materials. 

  • Full participation in the workshops and peer-review assignments.

  • Submit an abstract and deliver a 3-minute thesis oral presentation. 

Part Two

  • The project is teamwork-based and needs to be collaboratively created by team members.

  • Active engagement with the team and participation during the course is required.

  • Fair contribution to the project by each member to all the weekly assignments and papers. 

  • Submit all the weekly assignments, and present the progress in the weekly feedback session.

  • We focus mainly on achievements and not the completion of the programme.

  • We expect very high-quality work and professionalism. 

  • Participants are advised to spend 2-3 hours per day on their project and to have regular team meetings.

  • Mastering the skills (academic and personal) thought is required to pass the course.

  • The participants are expected to plan their self-learning.

  • Submission of a Q1 Journal level manuscript to a Scopus Indexed Journal. 

Participating certificate

Gain a ReachSci Research Champion Badge and certificate (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) for your achievements.

Application is submitted as a team

Please apply submit an application for the whole team together in one application.

Deadline: Nov 30th, 23:59 PM (UK time)

Timeline

July-November

  • Local mentors are selected by us (if you are interested to mentor please contact us).

  • Local mentor selects 2-6 participants.

November 30th

Deadline to confirm the selected participants and for the team to submit the application.

December 30th

ReachSci confirms with the selected participants.

January 15th

Individual development programme starts.

February 5th - 9th

Selection of participants for the second phase.

February 12th

The second team-based phase starts.

March 29th

Training ends

Submission of the paper manuscript draft to the ReachSci team.

Within a year from the start of the progamme

Submit a manuscript to a good journal within a year.

Present at a conference, other than the ReachSci conference.