Researcher societies

Research staff and postdoc societies can help you to:

• meet other researchers
• access local information relevant to your School, College or discipline
• find opportunities for discussion and collaboration
• attend talks and seminars linked to your work and career development
• take part in social and networking activities

Societies can also play an important role in School and College life by helping to:

• integrate research staff more fully into local communities, including where teams are spread across multiple buildings or sites
• support researchers who are new to Edinburgh or working independently
• improve communication between research staff and Schools, Colleges and the wider University
• raise the visibility of research staff within local structures
• encourage the exchange of ideas, collaboration and peer support

A strong and active society can support both social and professional networks. This aligns with the University’s commitment, as a signatory to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, to provide a healthy working environment and opportunities for development.

Before setting up a new society, check whether there is already an established group in your School or College that you could join.

If there is not, the following steps may help.

Explore existing examples

Take a look at other societies on the Research Staff Hub and contact them for advice and ideas.

Current research staff / postdoc societies

Find interested colleagues

Identify other researchers who may be interested in helping to organise and run the society. Early conversations will help you understand what people would like the society to offer.

Agree your purpose

Develop a short statement that sets out what the society aims to achieve, including its purpose, priorities and how it will operate.

Seek local support

Speak with colleagues and relevant staff in your School or College to gather support and understand local needs.

The College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine supports societies through its Research Staff Committee, and the College of Science and Engineering offers support through its PDRA Forum.

Connect with local champions and representatives

Research Staff/Postdoc Champions and Early Career Researcher Representatives can help you establish and sustain local networks, including societies.

Research staff / postdoc / ECR champions

There are several ways to stay in touch with the Researcher Development team and with members of other research staff and postdoc societies across the University.

UoE Postdoc Society Organisers Microsoft Teams site

The Teams site is for research staff involved in societies. It is used to share news and updates, examples of good practice and information about activity across the University.

If you would like to join the Teams site, please email researcher.development@ed.ac.uk

Networking meetings

The Researcher Development team holds networking meetings for society members twice a year. These meetings provide an opportunity to share updates, plans and examples of practice, discuss issues that are timely or important for societies, including Postdoc Appreciation Week, hear about relevant developments from the Researcher Development team and connect with members of other societies across the University.

Details of forthcoming meetings are shared on the Teams site.

If your society would like to run a career-themed event, or include career development activity in an existing programme, the Research Staff Careers Consultants can help. The careers consultants can attend local campuses where societies are based and deliver training sessions, information talks or quick queries.

If you would like to find out more or request support for your society, please complete the careers support request form.

Careers support request form