THIS MONTH:
- Keynote speakers announced for #VitaeCon2026 – book your place to hear their insights
- The updated RDF Planner, aligned with RDF 2025, is now live
- Researcher bursaries available for #VitaeCon2026
Vitae Events
Keynotes announced for #VitaeCon2026 – book your place and join us in Edinburgh
We’re excited to announce our two keynote speakers – Dr Alicia Greated FIET FRSE and Dr Rory Duncan FRSE.
Alicia joined CaSE, Campaign for Science and Engineering, in April 2024, prior to which she was the CEO of the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). Additionally, her career has included working for the UK Research Councils.
Dr Rory Duncan FRSE is a Researcher, Policy and Strategy Advisor and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was the UKRI Director of Talent and Skills, where he designed and delivered the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships.
Hear our keynotes speak at the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2026, which will take place in-person Tuesday 8 – Wednesday 9 September 2026 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh and online on Thursday 1 October 2026. This year the online element of the conference is free to those at Vitae member organisations.
Researcher Bursaries available for #VitaeCon2026
Apply now for a researcher bursary to attend the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2026. There are multiple bursaries available generously sponsored by UKRI and Wellcome. Please view the eligibility criteria before applying and apply by the deadline of Friday 7 August 2026 at 12 noon (GMT+1).
#VitaeCon2026 Researcher Bursaries
Vitae Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®)
The Vitae 3MT® Competition is well underway – thank you to all institutions who submitted their finalist videos and quarter-finalist registration forms.
We’re delighted that over 50 entrants have entered the competition. The quarter-final judging is now in process; the Vitae 3MT® 2026 host will be announced soon, so register for updates below to discover who this will be.
The Vitae 3MT® final will be shown during the online element of the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2026 on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Register your interest to receive updates about the Vitae 3MT® final
Vitae Updates
The updated RDF Planner, aligned with RDF 2025, is now live
Newly mapped to the Vitae RDF 2025, the refreshed Vitae RDF Planner provides a structured, practical and reflective approach for researchers to take control of their professional and career development – enabling them to recognise strengths, prioritise development needs, and build a clear, ongoing ‘living record’ of their skills and experience.
Ask your institution if you have an institutional subscription, if not you can subscribe as an individual (£24 per year).
Looking to introduce the Vitae RDF Planner at your institution?
Email learning.development@vitae.ac.uk to discuss access, subscription options and implementation support, or to arrange a short demo of the Planner.
Subscribe to the Vitae RDF Planner
Vitae Peer Mentoring Circles – register for 2026-2027
Registrations are now open for the Vitae Peer Mentoring Circles 2026-2027.
The scheme is open to anyone in an active role developing researchers (research students and/or research staff) at a Vitae member institution.
The initiative offers the opportunity to connect with peers from across the sector, enabling you to build professional networks beyond your institution.
Each Circle consists of 5-7 individuals who meet using action learning set principles to discuss the challenges they face. Sessions run online for 1 to 1 and ½ hours.
For more information and to sign up please visit this Vitae webpage.
Register for the Vitae Peer Mentoring Circles 2026-2027
CRAC – Research and Evaluation Manager vacancy
The Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC), the charity which manages the Vitae programme, is seeking a Research and Evaluation Manager.
This role involves leading the delivery of research and evaluation projects across CRAC Vitae, including managing discrete workstreams and smaller projects. You will contribute to quantitative and mixed methods research, support survey design and analysis, and work closely with clients, funders, and partners to produce high quality evidence on researcher careers, professional development, and research environments.
Full details are available on the CRAC website. Please submit your application by Monday 13 July 2026 at 10am (GMT+1).
Apply now – Research and Evaluation Manager
University of Oxford and Vitae – Leadership in Action – final call
Applications are closing soon for the University of Oxford and Vitae’s Leadership in Action programme.
This three-day, in-person leadership development course is designed for early career academics, fellows, and research staff, and will help you to:
- Build confidence in leading others
- Develop a leadership style tailored to research environments
- Strengthen skills in communication, delegation, collaboration, and influence
- Practise leadership through experiential, activity-based learning
The programme will take place in Oxford from 22–24 September 2026. Apply by Monday 13 July 2026 at 5pm (GMT+1).
Apply now to secure your place
What are European institutions learning about sustainable research careers?
What does it take to build research careers that are sustainable, attractive, and fit for the future?
Through the Sustainable Careers for Research Empowerment (SECURE2) project, Vitae is working with partners across Europe to explore this question. Early findings highlight common challenges around career stability, mobility and creating clearer career pathways for researchers, while consultations with researchers themselves have reinforced the importance of transparent progression routes, supportive management, fair reward structures, and stronger connections between academic and non-academic careers.
These themes will resonate with many institutions across the UK and reflect key conversations about research culture and researcher careers. Read our latest blog to discover what institutions across Europe are learning and how these insights could help shape future researcher development practice.
Sector News
NAM and KEMRI Advance Women’s Health Leadership across Africa
In May 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya, the inaugural cohort of the Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health Fellowship (LEA-WH) gathered for an Immersion Week. The LEA-WH Fellowship gathers emerging leaders who are working on advancing women’s health through research, systems transformation, innovation and policy, from across Africa.
The LEA-WH Fellowship is a collaboration between the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), with support from the Gates Foundation. Working collaboratively with KEMRI, Vitae is delivering a series of development sessions helping to equip researchers and research leaders with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to lead impactful research. The partnership between KEMRI and Vitae has also enabled valuable mutual learning, helping to inform Vitae’s broader international work.
Read more about the LEA-WH Fellowships
The SPRE NERDS discussion forum
Lizzie Gadd and Katie Wheat have launched the SPRE NERDS discussion forum to support colleagues working on the Strategy, People and Research Environment (SPRE) statements for REF.
Join the forum if you’d like to exchange ideas, seek support, or contribute your experience.
Do you support researchers? Become an organisational member of Vitae
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