Thanks to sponsorship from UKRI, Wellcome, and the British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network, we were pleased to be able to offer an expanded number of bursaries for researchers to attend the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2024.
Here, some of the researchers reflect on what they are taking away from their experiences of the conference.
Creating community
The researchers highlighted that The Vitae International Researcher Development Conference was a brilliant opportunity to connect with the research community – forging connections and sharing news. The event helped to foster belonging, which was also one of the themes for this year’s conference.
‘Thank you for the opportunity to attend the Vitae conference. I found it to be a really engaging and informative few days as well as a positive and friendly community of delegates. I’ve learnt a lot that I can take back to my role supporting PGRs and colleagues at Leeds Beckett University.’
Dr Laura Davies, Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University
‘As a UKRI bursary recipient, this opportunity has significantly enriched my perspective on academia. The conference provided not only knowledge but also encouragement to push forward in my academic journey. It was an eye-opening experience to see how academia is continually evolving and to connect with scholars from various disciplines. On a more personal note, it was wonderful to meet and connect with fellow attendees, who made the experience even more enjoyable. I appreciated the conversations we had, and I wish them all the best in their careers.
Overall, #VitaeCon2024 was an insightful and impactful event, delivering powerful messages on fostering research culture, leadership, and belonging. I look forward to applying the lessons learned and continuing to build upon the connections I made.’
Hoang Nguyen Vu Huy, PhD student in Education at University of Languages and International Studies
‘Ever since I started representing postdocs, the large divide in mentality and culture between researchers and employees in non-research roles has surprised me. This conference was eye-opening, in the sense that it allowed me to realise that, despite different viewpoints in many areas, many of the challenges researchers are seeing are understood and shared by the community. Knowing that these are shared concerns will make it a little bit easier trying to solve them in the future.’
Ander Movilla-Miangolarra, Postdoctoral Researcher at the John Innes Centre
Fostering belonging, diversity and inclusion
Alongside this year’s conference themes of recognition, leadership, and belonging, diversity and inclusion were paramount. The two conference panels, ‘Belonging through allyship’ and ‘Recognition in academia’ highlighted the importance of this.
‘The #VitaeCon2024 conference, centered around the themes of “Recognition, Leadership, and Belonging,” was an inspiring event that provided a rich platform for discussion on pressing issues in academia. Kicking off with an opening speech by Professor David Oswell of Goldsmiths, the conference set the stage for a series of thought-provoking sessions focusing on how these core themes shape the research landscape. His speech on the importance of recognizing individual and collective contributions in academia, fostering leadership at all levels, and cultivating a sense of belonging resonated strongly throughout the conference.’
Hoang Nguyen Vu Huy, PhD student in Education at University of Languages and International Studies
‘The Vitae 2024 Conference has been a great learning space with lots of opportunities to engage in workshops covering a variety of themes and diverse skills. I particularly enjoyed learning about inclusion and diversity in research development and I took away transferable knowledge that I can also apply in my work as a researcher. Thank you for the opportunity to attend.’
Adina Maglan, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Media and Communication/Humanities and Law, Bournemouth University
‘As institutions increasingly recognise the evolving outlook, journey, and career expectations of researchers, it is crucial to support them not only from an academic and professional development perspective but also from a mental health standpoint.
I deeply appreciate and value the work that Vitae is doing to support the research community through events like the Researcher Development Conference and their recommendations for career frameworks. If you are looking for new ways to grow in your career and engage in stimulating conversations about the future of research, I highly recommend attending .’
Uhuru Lambert, Research Assistant, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL
Different ways of engaging
The in-person element to the Vitae conference for 2024 took place at the Millennium Point venue in Birmingham, UK. For those who could not attend this, the online element at the beginning of September ensured an accessible, international platform to foster community.
‘I was lucky to receive a bursary from UKRI to attend the online portion of the conference, and as a PhD researcher, I found that so much of the content was directly relatable to my experience. I felt inspired to hear about all of the amazing projects and developments that are being undertaken across the researcher developer space. Attending as a researcher, the opportunities that are on the horizon are really inspiring.
Although it was online, I felt the atmosphere of the conference really translated into the online space – the interactive elements and networking opportunities were brilliant and have inspired connections and discussions well after the conference has finished! I was a little unsure, as a PhD researcher, about what I would have the opportunity to contribute – but found that I could add value to discussions and learn a lot from other attendees. I’ve been able to connect with new people and existing colleagues to discuss ideas from the conference – I’ve met with colleagues who also attended the physical conference to get updates on the sessions!
The structure of the conference was great – it was clear to see the agenda for each day and easy to log on and being able to access recordings and slides after the conference is excellent and useful.’
Sal Crossland, PhD Researcher in Psychology, University of Huddersfield
‘The hybrid format—three days online followed by a two-day in-person event – ensured a wide range of participation from researchers globally, allowing for diverse perspectives on emerging trends. Topics such as artificial intelligence, equality, teaching, and research in higher education were explored in depth, sending powerful messages on the future of academic practice and recognition. Notably, there was considerable focus on how researchers can navigate failures and challenges in their careers, creating a supportive atmosphere for early and mid-career researchers (ECRs and MCRs).’
Hoang Nguyen Vu Huy, PhD student in Education at University of Languages and International Studies
‘One of the highlights of the conference was the use of breakout rooms, where we discussed a variety of topics ranging from training ideas for early career researchers (ECRs) to mental health and wellbeing. These sessions provided a forum to share ideas and solutions, and we were updated on recent projects and strategies addressing issues such as maintaining motivation and inspiration among ECRs and avoiding the ‘mid-career plateau.’ Discussions also covered changes in the research and academic landscape, from funding challenges to the concept of ‘toxic productivity,’ and how to build resilience as a researcher. These conversations were not only enriching for my personal career development but also reassuring, as they highlighted that I am not alone in facing these challenges.’
Uhuru Lambert, Research Assistant, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL
The Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
Currently undergoing a period of revision, and transition, to the updated Vitae RDF, sessions at both the online and in-person elements of the conference featured news from the Vitae RDF working group and gathered feedback about the changes.
‘One of the standout sessions for me was the discussion on the refreshing of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), which I found particularly helpful. The discussions around reshaping the RDF to better suit researchers’ evolving needs emphasized the importance of holistic researcher development. The insights offered in this session felt relevant not only for professional growth but also in creating a more inclusive research culture that acknowledges different pathways to success.’
Hoang Nguyen Vu Huy, PhD student in Education at University of Languages and International Studies
Read about Jasmine’s experience of attending the online conference.
Learn more about the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2025.