The Researcher Development Team

The Researcher Development Team is responsible for the design and delivery of research-informed professional development initiatives for research staff and students at all levels. The team supports the development of professional research skills through a combination of workshops, digital resources, activity based learning, peer mentoring, and 1-2-1 support.

Our provision for researchers at all levels is informed by Coventry University’s 2030 Research Strategy. It also reflects the institution’s commitment to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers: an agreement between universities, research institutes and funders to support the career development of researchers in the UK.

The way in which the principles of the Concordat have been embedded was praised as Coventry University retained its HR Excellence in Research Award in 2025, following its 10-year review.

The successful development of researchers plays a key role in delivering the University’s ambition to develop and nurture the next generation of researchers, increase our capability and capacity for research, and continue to build an ambitious, supportive, and inclusive environment in which researchers can excel.

The Researcher Development Team play a pivotal role in advancing this ambition and the quality of the University’s research environment, by delivering high-quality professional development opportunities for all researchers, from PGR to Professor:

Our Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme supports our doctoral candidates from their first day through to graduation and beyond, through a mix of seminars, workshops, events and activities.
For our research staff, a range of development opportunities is offered with the aim of enabling colleagues to develop their research practice and profile effectively. This is achieved by offering a blend of bespoke provision for staff at specific career stages (e.g. early- or mid-career) as well as activities that are open to all.
Staff involved in research supervision have access to Coventry’s Doctoral Supervision Programme (DSP): a suite of courses designed to develop supervisory skills and competencies that will help them to support postgraduate researchers in their research degree programme and facilitate their growth as independent researchers.

To contact the Researcher Development Team, please email recap@coventry.ac.uk.

Research Development Online

The University offers a range of online developmental modules for researchers at all stages of their career, including modules on: career planning, managing your doctorate, communication skills, research ethics and integrity, research methods, and research supervision.

Developmental Pathways in Research

Aligned to Vitae's Researcher Development Framework, a suggested series of developmental pathways have been created to assist researchers in selecting training and development opportunities most relevant to their career stage and research portfolio. This is accompanied by an application-based processes that supports researchers in thinking through their developmental needs.

We recommend focusing on a single developmental strand at one time, encouraging researchers to take a “slow” approach to their professional development. This ensures researchers have the necessary time and headspace to critically reflect on their practice and to test new ways of working. All our development opportunities are cohort-based and intensive, with opportunities for interdisciplinary and disciplinary discussions.