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During your time at university your primary focus will be the successful completion of an original piece of research and the production of a thesis. However, the Research Councils, other sponsors and employers alike are now expecting PhD graduates to be able to demonstrate that they have also developed generic and transferable skills to a high level.

Researcher Development Framework

The Researcher Development Framework was launched in September 2010 and is a professional development framework for planning and supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers. It articulates the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers and encourages them to aspire to excellence through achieving higher levels of development. It was developed by and for researchers, in consultation with academic and non-academic employers.

The Researcher Development Framework is structured in four main domains, each including three sub-domains and further detailed descriptors. These are the four main domains of the framework.

• Domain A:  Knowledge and intellectual abilities
• Domain B:  Personal effectiveness
• Domain C:  Research organisation and governance
• Domain D:  Communication, influence and impact

The full Researcher Development Framework and further details on using the framework as a researcher..

Vitae and the London Hub

Vitae is the UK organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of researchers in higher education institutions and research institutes. Vitae is dedicated to providing support to help researchers complete their PhD and make the successful transition from doctoral studies to a future career.

Vitae provides a range of activities to support postgraduate researchers, including publications, online resources and events.

There are eight Vitae Regional Hubs that support universities in their region to deliver high quality needs-based personal and professional development for researchers. More information on the London Hub.

What Do Researchers Do?

Vitae published a series of publications on destination statistics of PhD graduates in the UK. What do researchers do? publications provides information about what a PhD is, who undertakes a PhD, where PhD graduates work and what skills they can offer employers, including case studies from a variety of different disciplines. Further resources and publications.