This UKRI guidance explains the different roles that can be included in funding applications submitted through the UKRI Funding Service, including role descriptions, responsibilities, eligibility, and costings guidance. It is particularly useful in a UK Higher Education context because it helps researchers match the design of their project team to the formal expectations of a major funder, rather than relying on inherited assumptions about who should be included and in what capacity. For established researchers who are increasingly shaping bids rather than simply contributing to them, it provides a practical framework for thinking about who needs to be named, how responsibilities should be framed, and how contributions can be recognised appropriately. “Research is a team sport. Be clear whether your greatest contribution is as the ‘star striker’ or the ‘coach,’ and align your role accordingly.” Nick Plant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, University of Leeds What will you take forward? One thing to consider: Does the way you are currently framing your project team reflect the real contribution of each person, and how well would it stand up to UKRI scrutiny?
Learn from real stories of external engagement and impact
The Research Adventure Podcast shares interviews with university researchers and research-adjacent professionals who have turned research into real-world outcomes through routes such as industry partnerships, spinouts, licensing, and social enterprise. It’s useful as “on-demand mentoring”: short, concrete stories that surface what works (and what doesn’t) when collaborating beyond the university. The podcast is helpful because it: “Networking with others has helped me find a sense of belonging and camaraderie.” Saniya Rabbani, Lecturer and Talking Therapies Clinical Tutor, University of Sheffield. Read more from Saniya. What will you take forward? One thing to consider: Which single capability do you most need to strengthen right now, and which episode will you use to explore one small change in your approach?
Avoid Overwhelm: Plan and review in waves
To prevent feeling overwhelmed, approach your planning in ‘waves’ or ‘horizons’, breaking down strategies and long-term activities into manageable phases. Planning too far ahead in intricate detail often leads to unrealistic expectations and potential setbacks and setting yourself up to feel a failure. An approach to consider: Rolling wave planning is used for projects where there are unknowns or risks, and so is very appropriate for research projects where all the data isn’t immediately available. You can learn more about the technique in the project management blog. This dynamic approach keeps your plans flexible, realistic, and aligned with evolving circumstances. ‘Stock-take’ to review progress Being strategic requires us to be honest with ourselves about where we are, what we have achieved, what’s working and what is getting in the way. In this video, you are guided through a structured process to review your career (have a pen and paper at the ready!). The same technique can also be used to review progress of a project, a relationship or collaboration, or a PhD student you are supervising. You can also download a Stock take – progress review (pdf) worksheet to use separately from the video or share with colleagues, students or collaborators. What …
Stand in the future and look back
When planning for the future, adopt the perspective of standing in the future and looking back, rather than remaining in the present and looking forward. This approach fosters a positive mindset, shifting from “How on earth do I get there?” to “I made this happen—how did I do it?”. As a reflective exercise, imagine visiting yourself two or three years from now. Spend five minutes free-writing a vivid description of this future version of yourself. Consider: For each key element of your vision, trace your path backwards in time. Identify the steps you took to reach that point and consider the milestones along the way. For further guidance, refer to the first section of the FLF Being strategic blog or watch the strategy videos linked to in ‘Strategic planning – envision and plan into the future.’ What will you take forward? Which part of your future self’s story feels most energising, and what is the first small practical step you can take now, to move in their direction?
Planning multiple activity/ year strands: use a Work Breakdown Structure approach
At an established career stage, work rarely comes in neat, single-track projects. Most established researchers are holding multiple strands at once: long-running research programmes, teaching and supervision, leadership or departmental roles, external commitments, and opportunities that arrive mid-cycle. These strands sit on different timescales, are owned by different people, and often come with expectations that are only partly explicit. Individually, each strand may feel manageable. Collectively, they can create a persistent sense of overload, uncertainty, or even stress and anxiety. One experienced academic described their solution simply: “Every year or so, I need to see everything in one place.” Their approach was deliberately practical. They started by mapping all current and anticipated tasks and activities on a single large whiteboard, often beginning with a loose mind map. The map would soon reveal themes or work strands. For each strand, they identified the person who ultimately defined success (not necessarily themselves!). This might be a programme director, head of department, collaborator, or mentor. Naming this authority helped replace assumptions that could lead to overwhelm with conversations. Each strand was then built out to include: They also added a final layer: purpose. Why does this matter? What does it contribute to career …
Strategic planning – envision and plan into the future
This two-part video series from the Imperial Academic’s Success Guide, helps you to start developing a career strategy. It gives you prompts and ways of thinking to turn vague and aspirational ideas into something more actionable that you can share with others. You can use the prompts to envision your career strategy in general, or to apply to a specific research idea or funding proposal. It may also help you to put together a strategy to present to a probation review panel, a funder or your research group. Whilst it is focussed on research leadership strategy, you can easily apply the questions to other leadership roles in education, outreach, commercialisation, etc. Being Strategic part 1 In this video, you are prompted to explore the big picture and envision the future – this can help you to get the important ‘headlines’ in place. Being Strategic part 2 In this video for Part 2 you will look at practical ways to turn the big picture in to a plan with a coherent narrative. You can also download the horizon scanning questions and a PESTLE Analysis (doc) that is referred to in this video. What will you take forward? One thing to consider: What is …
Explore tailored research leadership resources
Established researchers express a wide range of leadership and management needs such as recruitment, performance conversations, delegation, effective meetings, coaching and mentoring skills etc. There is an overwhelming amount of advice out there: some relevant to established researchers, some less so. Rather than re-create it all here, we recommend and connect you directly to open access resources that are tailored to research and academic leaders: What will you take forward? One thing to consider: What is one leadership challenge you’re dealing with at the moment? Which single external resource could you engage with this week to move forward?