Training & Development

Trusted Research

‘Trusted Research’ (TR) is a term used by the UK research and innovation sector to describe how we support the integrity of international research collaboration and ensure that research is kept safe and secure.

The Trusted Research agenda:

• Outlines the potential risks to UK research and innovation
• Helps researchers, UK universities and industry partners to have confidence in international collaboration and make informed decisions around those risks
• Explains how to protect research and staff from potential theft, misuse or exploitation

It is particularly relevant to researchers in STEM subjects, dual-use technologies, emerging technologies and commercially sensitive research areas.

Why is TR important?

Whilst the benefits of international research collaboration are recognised, collaboration also creates potential for national security interests to be breached. It is therefore critical that researchers understand the possible risks. All researchers have a responsibility to protect their research and should take appropriate steps to do so through due diligence, IT security, careful information management and understanding the relevant legislation (including export controls). The measures put in place should be proportionate to the risk.

Export Controls

To protect national interests, governments control the export of some materials, technologies and information. These export control measures apply to research, and describe how exports (including knowledge, data, IP or intellectual assets) are to be controlled and the risks mitigated.

How can I learn more about TR? (essential prior to international collaboration)

• Watch this short introduction to Trusted Research (2 mins).
• Familiarise yourself with the NPSA Trusted Research Guidance for Academia.
• Complete our Trusted Research (TR) online learning, available via LearnUpon. This consists of an introductory module (mandatory), plus a further advanced module that delves deeper into the core principles that underpin TR. You can self-enrol for both these modules.
• Complete this specific elearning for more on Export Controls: Training Login - HEECA (please contact rgp@hud.ac.uk for a login).

You might also find it helpful to:

• Use this Trusted Research collaboration checklist to help you evaluate research proposals and assess the risk of a collaboration .
• Review the UKRI Trusted Research and Innovation Principles to ensure due diligence.

 

Research Mentoring

Researcher mentoring is part of building a positive, inclusive research culture and brings benefits to both mentors and mentees. Various opportunities are available:

 

Pathways to Progression: mentoring for academic promotion

Championing women's academic progress!

This new scheme is targeted at female academics who are currently at GR8 or GR9 and aspiring for promotion. It will directly support the 2026 round of academic promotions.

How will it work?

• We’ll share ‘bios’ of participating internal mentors (coming soon!) and invite expressions of interest
• Mentor-mentee matching (January 2026)
• 1-1 mentoring February-April 2026

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please fill out the Expression of Interest form and we will be in touch.

 

Early Career Researcher (ECR) Mentoring

Empowering and supporting colleagues to navigate the research environment and their early research career!

We piloted a new ECR mentoring programme during the academic year 2023-2024 (14 mentoring pairs), This ran again during 2024-25 with 6 mentoring pairs. These programmes matched Early Career Researchers with an internal mentor from a different School, providing a safe space for reflection, development and considering different perspectives.

We are currently evaluating the latest programme and considering future plans. If this is of interest to you, please contact Alison Monkhouse.

 

Mid Career Researcher Mentoring

Bridging the gap – supporting mid-career development and challenges!

This cross-institutional scheme matches Mid Career Researchers with a mentor from another participating university. It works through a reciprocal arrangement, meaning that the number of mentee places available to each institution is dependent on the number of mentors who apply from that university. We encourage experienced colleagues to apply to be a mentor as this maximises the number of mid-career colleagues able to access and benefit from this scheme.

Further details will be shared here once applications for the 2025-26 scheme open. In the meantime, you can contact Alison Monkhouse for more information.

 

Coaching and mentoring (all university staff)

All staff researchers can also apply to be matched with a qualified coach or experienced mentor through the university -wide scheme – visit Coaching and Mentoring to find out more.

 

Opportunities available externally

 

British Academy Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network

The British Academy ECR Network is an inclusive, researcher-led network for UK-based early career researchers working in the arts,  humanities and social sciences. This is now a UK-wide network after being expanded to include Yorkshire & Humber in September 2025. The aim is to provide opportunities to develop skills and offer additional experiences to enhance career development, whether inside or outside of academia.

Some of the benefits of (free) membership of the network include training, networking events, mentoring schemes and other development opportunities, plus access to an online community platform. Travel to attend network events is covered, and travel grants are available to attend other events and conferences. As a network member, you are also eligible to apply for British Academy seed-funding.

Interested? You can find out more and sign up to join the network on the ECRN page on the The British Academy website.

 

Prosper

Calling all postdocs and early career researchers! Did you know you can access career development tools and resources via the Prosper Portal? It’s a self-service online portal, so available whenever best suits you. Prosper is completely free to use and you don’t need to register – but if you do (still free!) you can access further functionality.

How might I use it? 

• If you are a postdoc or Early Career Researcher (ECR), you might find the Prosper portal useful for building self-awareness, figuring out what you want from your career, developing skills and action planning. Prosper resources are categorised as Reflect, Explore and Act.
• The Career Development Navigator provides a guide to help you navigate through key steps on the journey towards successful career development. 
• If you are a manager of researchers or Principal Investigator (PI), you might find the Prosper portal useful for supporting the development of others within your team. You can also join the Prosper PI Network, a community of practice open to PIs and managers of researchers across the UK.
• If you need any help navigating Prosper portal or would like to know more about  how it could be used, please contact Alison Monkhouse.