Professional Development Opportunities

The Open Research Team, based in the Library, is offering professional development placements for Technicians to spend time learning about the various aspects of Open Research.  These placements are being offered as part of the University’s ongoing commitment to supporting career development for Technicians. Placements also support the Research Cultures agenda and our ambition to make Open Research the new normal. In 2024, we aim to offer three placements and we are inviting expressions of interest from Technicians across the University.  

There is a considerable degree of flexibility as to how these placements will be offered: 

• Between three and six days per month (half-days possible). 

• Over two to four months.  

• Placements will be located in Argyle house and/or Libraries. 

• Placements can support hybrid and flexible working, and be adapted to accommodate other work commitments as necessary. 

You will learn about: 

• Principles of Open Research 

• Putting Open Research into practice 

• The Open Research Roadmap 

• Citizen Science & Participatory Research activities 

• Research Data Management 

• Open Access Publication 

• Research Information Systems 

In turn we hope to learn how Open Research is currently being conducted within your part of the University, and how we can better support that. We hope that you will return to your School or Research Centre with an enthusiasm for Open Research and the tools necessary to help implement good practice locally.  This opportunity is open to all staff who consider themselves Technicians. We are willing to negotiate with managers to secure placements for technicians, and buy-out of time may be available.  

Please contact our Open Research Co-ordinator, Kerry Miller for an informal conversation to discuss how we could tailor a placement to your needs. kerry.miller@ed.ac.uk