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OH BRC Reciprocal Mentoring Scheme Starting 15.09.2025 until 15.09.2026

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OH BRC Reciprocal Mentoring Scheme Starting 15.09.2025 until 15.09.2026

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Apply here

OH BRC Reciprocal Mentoring Scheme

1. Why Reciprocal Mentoring

The NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC) is committed to supporting the development of all OH BRC supported staff.

Reciprocal Mentoring, where both parties play a mentoring role, is a great way for colleagues to share their lived and working experiences to support one another’s learning and progression objectives. Reciprocal Mentoring recognises the value in what both parties can bring to one another.

The aims of this scheme are to:

Provide an early career / emerging member of the OH BRC with an ‘Established Mentor’ to guide and advise on them on their career development.

Provide a more experienced / established member of the OH BRC with an ‘Emerging Mentor’ to increase their awareness of the challenges and potential barriers for those in the earlier stages of their career.

2. How does it work and who can take part

The scheme is delivered jointly by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team and the Training & Career Development Team at the OH BRC. With this in mind, we welcome all applications, from both academic and professional services staff, and particularly encourage staff from under-represented groups or who may have experienced disadvantage (for example those from ethnically diverse backgrounds, carers, LGBTQ+ or those with disabilities) to apply. We would additionally be keen to see interest from those who have not typically taken part in such schemes or committees previously.

To apply you must be in a role supported by the OH BRC up to 31 March 2026. Please contact Lizzie Carline or Andreia Costa if you wish to discuss whether you may be eligible to apply.

Once paired, the Mentors will meet initially to get to know one another and agree a way of working together, for example set a frequency and structure of meetings and agree any learning or development objectives.

The pair will work together over a period of 11 months, October 2025 to September 2026 after which time the Emerging Mentor, with input from the Established Mentor, will submit a report on the outcomes.

The pair can access up to £1000 in total to spend on development-related activities. We would expect at least 50% of this funding to be spent on the Emerging Mentor to support their career progression. It could be used to attend a conference or training for example. The funding must be spent by 31 March 2026, further guidance on this will be provided.

This is a pilot scheme with up to three pairs in this first cohort. We will likely arrange an opportunity for the pairs, as well as the core staff involved, to get together to share their experiences and feedback.

3. How to apply and how Mentors will be paired

Interested candidates will complete an application form, sharing some information about their lived and/or work experiences, objectives and what they feel they could bring to a mentor relationship.

We will also take a proactive approach once we have received the applications and personally reach out to appropriate colleagues on this basis. Interested candidates may also suggest up to 3 potential mentors on their application that they feel might be a suitable match for them.

As this is a pilot scheme, we are supporting three Mentor pairs only in this cohort. Candidates will be selected based on their application, and the availability of suitable pairs that could meet one another’s objectives.

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Career Development Training 04.12.2025 9:30-12:30 Online

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Career Development Training 04.12.2025 9:30-12:30 Online

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Available to all

Register here

Oxford researchers follow diverse career paths—this workshop series, led by Dr. Susan Black (Careers Adviser for Researchers), helps you plan yours with confidence.

Sessions include:

Understanding Research Funding – Learn how to find and apply for fellowships and grants, with tools and support tailored to your career stage.

Portfolio Careers – Discover how to combine academic and non-academic roles for a flexible, fulfilling career.

Research & Policy – Learn how to engage with policymakers and use your research to influence public policy.

Narrative CVs – Get practical advice on writing narrative CVs for funding applications, including UKRI’s R4RI format.

Presenter:
Dr. Susan Black
Careers Adviser for Researchers, University of Oxford

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Socio-economic deprivation inclusion  08.12.2025 10.30 - 12:00 Online

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Socio-economic deprivation inclusion  08.12.2025 10.30 - 12:00 Online

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Register here

Session date: 8 December 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Hosted by Cambridge BRC

We’re delighted to invite you to an informative session (online) on practical tools for socio-economic disadvantage inclusion in health research. This event is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your approach to including people and communities from diverse ethnicities in your research.

Speakers:

·       Dr Heidi Green is a Health Equity and Patient Involvement Specialist and a Creative Qualitative Researcher who co-developed the NIHR INCLUDE Socio-economic disadvantage framework, which has been designed to aid researchers, who are designing clinical trials, to consider barriers to including patients from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in their trial. The framework can also help researchers to develop strategies to attempt to address such barriers in order to improve the design and conduct of clinical research.

With over a decade of experience leading the design and delivery of innovative and award-winning projects, Heidi is an experienced health equity specialist, creative qualitative researcher, and lived experience advocate. Her mission is to embed accessibility and inclusivity into all of the projects she’s involved in, driving change for those that stand to benefit most.

·       A Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre researcher (TBC) will present on how they have included socially disadvantaged communities in their research.

There will be lots of opportunities for you to ask questions from experienced and knowledgeable speakers to support your research.

These sessions are for:

·       Research staff affiliated with the following Biomedical Research Centres: Barts, Birmingham, Cambridge, Moorfields, Oxford and Oxford Health

Limited spaces available – RESERVE YOUR SPOT and register now.

Privacy Notice: We adhere to the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/data-protection-and-the-eu-in-detail/the-uk-gdpr/. Any data collected is used to improve services.

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Reaching Beyond the Usual: Inclusive approaches to research with a focus on intersectionality 17.11.2025 10:00-11:30 Online

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Reaching Beyond the Usual: Inclusive approaches to research with a focus on intersectionality 17.11.2025 10:00-11:30 Online

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Register here

As part of our three-part webinar series Reaching Beyond the Usual: Inclusive Approaches to Recruitment and Retention, we’re delighted to invite you to a live, interactive online session on practical tools to plan and deliver inclusive health research.

Title: How well do you really know your target population?

About the session
In health research, understanding your target population is critical. This workshop will show you how to:

Understand the concept of intersectionality

Recognise how multiple characteristics intersect to create unique experiences and potential barriers for research participants

Apply segmentation principles to define and reach key population groups

Identify various segmentation variables relevant to research (e.g., demographic, geographic, psychographic, behavioural)

Translate these insights into practical recruitment and retention strategies.

Trainer
Cherish Boxall, founder of Engage Intelligently, draws on behavioural science and 14 years’ experience setting up and delivering clinical trials and securing competitive research funding, including two NIHR fellowships. She specialises in turning evidence on inclusion and participant behaviour into practical strategies that work. Expect real-world examples, actionable tools, and time throughout the session for your questions.

These sessions are for:

·       Research staff affiliated with the following Biomedical Research Centres: Barts, Birmingham, Cambridge, Moorfields, Oxford and Oxford Health

Limited spaces available – RESERVE YOUR SPOT and register now.

Privacy Notice: We adhere to the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/data-protection-and-the-eu-in-detail/the-uk-gdpr/. Any data collected is used to improve services.

Privacy Statement NIHR - https://www.nihr.ac.uk/nihr-privacy-policy

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Ethnicity Inclusion in Research 24.11.2025 10:30-12:00 Online 

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Ethnicity Inclusion in Research 24.11.2025 10:30-12:00 Online 

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Register here

Session date: 24 Nov 2025 10.30 am -12:00 pm

Hosted by Oxford BRC

We’re delighted to invite you to an informative online session on practical tools for ethnicity inclusion in health research. As a researcher or research clinician, this event is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your approach to including people and communities from diverse ethnicities in your research.

Speakers:

·       Professor Shaun Treweek) who developed the NIHR INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework. Having initially trained as a physicist, Shaun is active in the field of efficient trial design, particularly pragmatic trial design, improved recruitment and retention interventions for trials, the design of complex interventions and the effective presentation of research evidence.

·       An Oxford Biomedical Research Centre researcher (TBC) will present on how they have included ethnically diverse communities in their research.

There will be lots of opportunities for you to ask questions from experienced and knowledgeable speakers to support your research.

These sessions are for:

·       Research staff affiliated with the following Biomedical Research Centres: Barts, Birmingham, Cambridge, Moorfields, Oxford and Oxford Health

Limited spaces available – RESERVE YOUR SPOT and register now.

Privacy Notice: We adhere to the UK’s Data Protection Act 2018- https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-and-the-eu/data-protection-and-the-eu-in-detail/the-uk-gdpr/. Any data collected is used to improve services.

Privacy Statement NIHR - https://www.nihr.ac.uk/nihr-privacy-policy

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Planning and running group PPIE activities 25.11.2025 10:00-15:00 In-Person Location to be confirmed

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Planning and running group PPIE activities 25.11.2025 10:00-15:00 In-Person Location to be confirmed

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Registration open only to those who received invitation by email

This session, co-designed with researchers and delivered by Polly Kerr, Emily Tammam and Angeli Vaid, will be a chance to learn more about and build confidence in facilitating in different settings, both online and in-person. It is open to anyone who facilitates patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) activities.

The training will offer practical tools for designing successful events and address common concerns such as maintaining focus and ensuring all voices are heard. Although it will focus on PPIE situations, the content is applicable to facilitation activities more broadly.

The training is free but places are limited to 20 people – please sign up here. Email polly.kerr@phc.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions.

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Open Science Lunch & Learn  17.09.2025 12:30-14:00 Common Room, Department of Psychiatry                     

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Open Science Lunch & Learn  17.09.2025 12:30-14:00 Common Room, Department of Psychiatry                     

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Available to all

Register here

Join the OxCIN Open Science Ambassadors for an engaging session designed to introduce researchers at all career stages to the core principles of open science. Whether you're a student, postdoc, PI, or clinician, this session will explore how open science can enhance the transparency, reproducibility, and impact of your research.

We’ll cover essential topics including data sharing, pre-registration, open access publishing, and reproducible workflows. You’ll also gain practical tips on how to integrate open science practices into your daily work—regardless of your discipline or experience level.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this session will demystify open science and provide actionable strategies you can apply right away.

Presenters
Tara Ghafari Postdoc Researcher
Bernd Taschler Senior Postdoc Fellow
Kirralise Hansford Postdoctoral Researcher
Yifan (Vivian) Yang DPhil Student, Experimental Psychology

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Presentation Skills 23.09.2025 9:30-13:00 Gelder Room, Department of Psychiatry

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Presentation Skills 23.09.2025 9:30-13:00 Gelder Room, Department of Psychiatry

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Available to all

Register here

Led by Caroline Finnigan and Claire Bolderson from Engaging Communications, this interactive workshop is designed to help researchers deliver clear, confident, and impactful presentations.

Through real-life examples and group discussion, we’ll explore what makes a presentation work—including clarity, brevity, and tailoring your message to your audience. You’ll learn practical techniques for using slides effectively and structuring your talk with purpose.

Hands-on activities will give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned, receive peer and trainer feedback, and refine your delivery style. We’ll also cover strategies for building confidence, managing nerves, and speaking to time.

Whether you're preparing for a conference, teaching, or sharing your research, this session will equip you with tools to communicate more effectively.

Presenters:
Caroline Finnigan
Claire Bolderson

Engaging Communications

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NIHR Writing Successful Applications 08.10.2025 10:00-11:15 Online

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NIHR Writing Successful Applications 08.10.2025 10:00-11:15 Online

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Available to all

Register here

Led by Sophie Hyndman, PhD, Deputy Director & Senior Research Adviser at the NIHR Research Support Service (University of Southampton & Partners), this session is designed to help you craft compelling research funding applications that resonate with reviewers.

You’ll learn how to tailor your application to your audience, understand what funders are really looking for, and identify the key components of a strong proposal. The session will also highlight some quick wins—simple yet effective strategies to boost your chances of success.

Whether you're new to grant writing or looking to sharpen your approach, this session offers practical insights to help you stand out.

Presenter:
Sophie Hyndman, PhD
Deputy Director & Senior Research Adviser
NIHR Research Support Service hub (University of Southampton & Partners)

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Introduction to Collecting Qualitative Data with Interviews & Focus Groups 04.11.2025 & 05.11.2025 10:00-13:00 Online

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Introduction to Collecting Qualitative Data with Interviews & Focus Groups 04.11.2025 & 05.11.2025 10:00-13:00 Online

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Available to all

Register here

This two half days practical course is ideal for anyone planning to collect qualitative data through interviews. Suitable for beginners and those looking to sharpen their skills, it covers interview design, question development, and the researcher’s role in co-creating data.

You’ll review real interview examples, practice writing and piloting your own questions, and explore key concepts like reflexivity and effective question design. The course also covers practicalities such as equipment and interview procedures.

Tutor:
Dr Charlotte Albury
Qualitative Research Specialist, University of Oxford

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Senior BRC Fellows Masterclass: Practical Media Training 21.10.2025 9:30-16:30 Gelder Room, Department of Psychiatry    

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Senior BRC Fellows Masterclass: Practical Media Training 21.10.2025 9:30-16:30 Gelder Room, Department of Psychiatry    

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Available to Senior BRC Fellows and Future Research Leaders

Registration open only to those who received invitation by email

This full-day, hands-on media training session from La Fevre Media is designed to help you communicate clearly and confidently across radio, TV, podcasts, and print. Whether you're new to media or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll gain practical tools and insights into what the media wants—and how to deliver it effectively.

You’ll learn how to prepare for interviews, simplify complex messages, handle tough questions, and feel confident on camera (including Zoom). The session includes mock interviews and scenario-based exercises tailored to your area of expertise, with expert feedback and playback to help you improve in real time.

Expect a fast-paced, supportive environment that builds your skills and boosts your confidence—equipping you with a media toolkit you’ll return to again and again.

Presenters:
Caroline Le Fevre
Stephen Le Fevre

La Fevre Media