Established Researchers Hub

This hub brings together curated resources to support established and mid career researchers navigating the evolving responsibilities and expectations that emerge beyond early career stages.

Resources are organised around established researcher personas and informed by researchers’ career experiences, helping you engage with content that reflects how you work and lead. Peer discussion guides support shared reflection and learning with colleagues and career stories offer honest, grounded reflections from established researchers on their own pathways.

Personas

Our research-informed personas offer a distinctive way to explore the hub. They group resources around different experiences of research careers, helping you recognise your situation, reflect on priorities, and focus on support that fits how you work and lead.

Peer discussion guides

Our light-touch peer discussion guides help established researchers reflect with colleagues, share experiences, and develop practical next steps. Designed for small groups and flexible use.

Career stories

Learn from the career experiences of established and senior researchers. These honest reflections share real decisions, challenges, and turning points - offering practical insight and perspective on navigating mid-career academic life.

These resources were developed through a White Rose research project exploring the experiences and support needs of established researchers. The collection will continue to grow, with new materials added over time.

Dip in briefly, focus on a specific issue, or return as your role evolves.

Something to add?We'd love to hear from you if you'd like to suggest an addition to this resource. Click here to email us.

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Learn approaches to setting up and managing a research lab

Make better early decisions about space, hiring, and ways of working that shape the long-term success and culture of your research group.

Plan and manage your research group budget

Understand how to run your research group as a sustainable organisation, making informed financial decisions that support long-term strategy.

Build a research group culture that is open, collaborative, and intellectually rigorous

Learn practical, research-informed heuristics for shaping a strong, collaborative culture as your team grows.

From fair trade chocolate to food systems leadership: building impact through collaboration, systems thinking and strategic career moves

Leading an institutional move with a research team, navigating what cannot be controlled, and prioritising the success of others over my own agenda

From over-ambitious projects to clear lab vision: learning patience, focus and the power of hiring the right people. 

Becoming a Head of School and a father on the same day: rethinking research, leadership and asking for help. 

Let things go: you’re fishing from a river, not a pond

Learn how to let go of good opportunities to make space for the right ones at this stage of your career.

Getting feedback from others and becoming more self-aware

Use feedback to uncover hidden strengths and build confidence for more strategic leadership roles.

Mapping contributions against institutional strategies

Understand how your work aligns with institutional and departmental strategy and what that means for your next career steps.

Why and how to move into a senior leadership role in HE

Explore senior leadership pathways through real stories, not abstract models or job descriptions.

Learn from your career timeline

Learn from the highs, lows, and turning points in your career to shape how you lead now.

Planning multiple activity/ year strands: use a Work Breakdown Structure approach

See everything you’re carrying in one place, so you can make better decisions about scope, timing, and capacity.

Explore tailored research leadership resources

A gateway to high-quality HE specific leadership resources, so you don’t have to sift through irrelevant advice.

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