Background

Background to the Research Staff Network

There used to be a Research Staff Association in the past in the University, however, this went dormant with Research Staff leaving, and missed continuity. The Researcher Development Centre did a survey in 2019 and found that approx. 90% of respondents were in favour of setting up a Research Staff Network. A subsequent report from University of Galway Academic Council Working Group on Research Staff included the creation of the RSN as one of the 22 recommended actions.

Recommendation 14: “The establishment of a Research Staff Network is recommended, with institutional support (e.g access to secretariat, meeting facilities) to support the ongoing inclusion of the Research Staff community at University of Galway”

The Research Staff Network Organising Committee (Dr Mikey Creane, Dr Merve Suzan Zeden, Dr Sandra Galvin, Dr Gustavo Sambrano, Dr Nikita Burke, Dr Noreen Brennan, Dr Petek Eylül Taneri, Aoibhín Keighron and Dr Margaret O’Neill) was formed in July 2023 and met twice per month until the establishment of the network. The organising committee wrote the constitution for RSN and gathered letters of support from colleagues. They identified the funding source of RSN, and submitted an application to the Strategic Research Fund in December 2023. This funding was approved by VP for Research and Innovation in January 2024. This committee also organised the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of RSN and elected the executive committee in May 2024.