Coproducing an Academic Career Development Programme to Train Future Leaders in Environment
Health research with a focus on research culture and equality, diversity and inclusion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v12i3.1833Keywords:
training, partnership, multidisciplinary, involvement, impactAbstract
With the emergence of new capabilities such as artificial intelligence, alongside remote working and the cost-of-living crisis, the needs of early career researcher (ECR) training are fast evolving. PhD students and ECRs increasingly face mental health challenges, driven by isolation and career uncertainty. This paper offers a critical reflection on the creation of a joint academic career development programme (JACDP) between multiple partners, which offers additional, tailored opportunities to support young researchers in universities and governmental public health institutions.
Our experience suggests that the success of a multi-institutional programme requires a deliberate collaborative and co-productive approach at all levels. In addition to sharing the different expertise in each institution to build a varied training programme, involving young researchers in planning and delivering the training and social activities, tends to increase relevance and peer participation, and to help them develop leadership and time management skills. It is important to continually review the activities, engagement and future events provided, to embed clearer evaluation within the programme, and to reflect on the accessibility of the training provided.
Our programme contributes to a positive research culture by providing relevant tailored and diverse academic and research training to develop future public health leaders while aiming to maximize inclusivity and recognising the value that PhD students and ECRs can bring to multi-partner research collaborations.
Funding Acknowledgement
This work is part funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Environment and Health and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Units in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, and in Environmental Exposures and Health, which are partnerships between the UK Health Security Agency and Imperial College London.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Kerry A. Broom, Dimitris Evangelopoulos, Stephanie Wright, Anastasia Ioakeimidou, Ruthie Parsons, Helena Rapp-Wright, Rose Tweedie, Angela Lewis, Kirsti Hornigold, Matthew D. Wright, Liz Ainsbury, Frédéric B. Piel
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