Research Staff Update - Winter 2012 - Cardiff University

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Research Staff Update I completed my undergraduate degree in Physics at Athens University, Greece, and my Master’s degree in Space Physics & Astronomy at Rice University, USA. I arrived in Cardiff in 2000 to carry out my PhD in theoretical star formation, which I finished in 2003, and since then I have been employed at the university as a Research Associate, funded by the Science & Technology Facilities Council. The goal of my research is to explore the physical processes that lead to the formation of stars and planets in the universe. The Cardiff Star Formation Group is among the world leaders in star formation and my stay here has been very exciting. The main focus of my research has been to construct advanced computer models to simulate how interstellar gas collapses to form stars, under the influence of gravity. Moreover, I compare the results of my simulations with observations. This is a very flourishing field and new observations from state-of-the-art telescopes challenge our understanding and initiate the development of new theories. I have presented my work in many international conferences and I co-organised two conferences in Cardiff. Last year I participated in one the “Frontiers of Science” meetings organised by the Royal Society in Brazil, and I was one of only three UK “outstanding early-career” Researcher Profile Dimitris Stamatellos School of Physics and Astronomy 6 astronomers invited. I have established collaborations with other astronomy groups in Germany, France and other European countries. Recently, I received an award to start a collaboration with Beijing University in China. I enjoy travelling, meeting new people, and getting to know new cultures and I feel very lucky that that my chosen career gives me these opportunities. Parallel to my research, in the last three years I have had the opportunity to engage with teaching activities within my department and also to supervise undergraduate students. This has added another dimension to my working life in Cardiff. I hope to secure a permanent academic position either in Cardiff or elsewhere so that I can continue doing what I love. I am also applying for advanced fellowships (from STFC and the EU) that will help me establish an independent research programme. I spend most of my free time playing with my two children and getting amazed by how fast they can learn new things. When they fall asleep I enjoy reading historical novels. I have enjoyed my stay in Cardiff and I am looking forward to more excitement in the coming years!
Research Staff: the UK Community It has been a productive period for Cardiff University RS and the UKRSA since the last RS Update in May. In the last instalment I highlighted the UKRSA ‘communities’ and ‘funding analysis’ projects, which I am pleased to say have made great progress in the interim period. Communities The ‘communities’ project has made great strides forward in Cardiff and in Wales. It aims to encourage research staff to get together to form a cohesive voice for putting their issues, views and ideas across to relevant organisations. I am pleased to report that the School of Psychology has a functioning Research Staff Association with researchers now having representatives recognised by the school. If any other research staff would like help to setup a RSA see the guides on the UKRSA website (ukrsa.org.uk) or contact me. Cardiff University Research Staff Association (CURSA) In the last instalment I reported the intention to form a CURSA for communicating and listening to the University, which had received the full, formal backing of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (PVC) for Staff, Prof Terry Threadgold. There is now an embryonic CURSA across the University. As a result of the email I sent inviting all research staff to form a CURSA, I have had replies from researchers in the schools of Business, Chemistry, Dentistry, History, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Psychology and Social Sciences. In the coming weeks we will hold a meeting to formally establish CURSA: if researchers from other schools are interested in getting involved then please contact me. The (as yet unelected) chair of CURSA would be the ideal person to sit on the newly formed Research Strategy Oversight Group. This group will meet to approve the annual revisions to the implementation plan for the university's Research Strategy. This group will comprise: Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (Professor Graham Hutchings) (chair), 3 x Deputy Pro Vice Chancellors for Research, 2 x Council members, 1 x Dean of Postgraduate Studies, 1 x Research Student member, 1 x Research staff member, 2 x Heads of School and 2 x Directors of Research. Until CURSA is formed I will attend these meetings on behalf of research staff and report back via RS Update. Lee Parry School of Biosciences and UKRSA Representative 7 South West & Wales Research Staff Association (SWW-RSA) In December researchers from our region who attended the Vitae Research Staff Conference held a meeting to discuss the formation of a regional RSA. The researchers there agreed to become a vessel for the research staff at their HEI to bring their ideas and opinions to the chair of the SWW-RSA, who can in turn inform the UKRSA. The Chair of the SWW-RSA will also listen to the views and opinions of any researchers in the region who do not have active RSAs through which they can report. UKRSA & Vitae Research Staff Conference December 2011 This year’s conference was held in the Queens Hotel, Leeds and, as hoped, attracted far more researchers from the north of the UK than in previous years. As may be expected, researchers raised the same issues which are commonly heard at these conferences; such as shorttermism, funding and low pay. All of these issues were also recently summarised in a recent report from the grassroots campaigning organisation Science is Vital. The chair of SiV (scienceisvital.org.uk), the author and scientist Dr Jenny Rohn (www.jennyrohn.com), was the plenary speaker this year and offered some interesting insights into their dealings with Westminster on science funding. Project: Research Funding, Scoping the data I ran a workshop at the Conference on the UKRSA project examining research funding which I have led this year. Briefly, I reported that currently the UK leads the world in research output, therefore if researchers want the funders and policy-makers to change the system then they will have to present a very convincing argument as to how things can be even better. To support such an argument I have been looking at collecting data to support the common complaints that RS have. My conclusions were that solid, irrefutable data to support these complaints do not currently exist; the next step will be to suggest ways for trying to collect these data. If anyone wants more information on any of the items reported here please feel free to contact me on parryl3@cardiff.ac.uk.
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Research Staff Update - Winter 2012 - Cardiff University

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