Imperial-led consortium to nurture careers of research technicians

Imperial will lead a new London programme to boost the training, careers, and recognition available to digital research technical professionals (RTPs)

The work of RTPs is at the heart of world-class research. The new £2m consortium, which is called A Strategic TEchnical Platform for University technical Professionals (STEP-UP) and funded by UKRI, aims to plug gaps in their recruitment and nurture retention.  

These highly-skilled, specialist staff lend their expertise to a variety of roles within research. Their responsibilities include developing technologies and running experiments, writing software, and managing data, logistics and operations. 

Although RTPs are increasingly significant in solving real-world problems through research, they experience limited career development opportunities and recognition, together with a lack of access to structured training. These factors have compounded a skills shortage affecting institutions that strive to recruit people with the necessary technical professional skills and experience. 

STEP-UP, the London-wide consortium led by Imperial College London and including UCL, King’s College London and University of Westminster, aims to ensure that digital RTPs have the skills to keep up with the rapid pace of vital developments in research computing, data and AI. 

STEP-UP lead Dr Jeremy Cohen, from Imperial College London’s Department of Computing, said: “RTPs represent the beating heart of research in many domains and without them, universities will be increasingly unable to sustain their outputs and impact as research evolves. 

“In an era of ‘team science’, where much research is the product of large, multidisciplinary teams and where computation plays such a huge role, it’s important that we have the infrastructure in place to support and provide the career pathways, training opportunities and professional communities that our RTPs need.” 

Researchers in all fields increasingly use software, and expertise in coding and artificial intelligence is becoming ever more important for researchers and RTPs alike.  

The consortium will focus on developing the infrastructure for ‘digital RTPs’ - colleagues whose work focuses on software, data and computing infrastructure - to thrive. This builds on work over the last decade to develop Research Software Engineering (RSE) as a recognised profession. 

It will run a programme of technical training for digital RTPs across a range of skill levels, set up cross-institution secondment opportunities, and develop and run a mentoring scheme. This will work to create a ‘people infrastructure’ of expert technical talent – along with career opportunities to support them. 

Co-investigator Professor Michael Bearpark, from Imperial College London’s Department of Chemistry, said: “STEP-UP will develop new capabilities in this space and enhance existing resources to support these skilled professionals. 

“This way, we can ensure our vital colleagues are properly recognised, make RTP careers more attractive to skilled and talented individuals, and help to ensure the quality, sustainability and reproducibility of our research outputs both now and in the future.” 

The regional nature of the programme will enable the consortium to develop and pilot a range of ideas on a practical scale, with a view to sharing and scaling up their outputs to more institutions. This, the researchers say, represents a great opportunity for Imperial and its partners to lead nationally on a shift in the way we support and recognise RTPs. 

Robotics and autonomous systems 

Imperial is also part of the new UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Strategic Technical Platform (UKRAS STEPS), led by Professor Robert Richardson at University of Leeds, which received £2m funding from UKRI. 

UKRAS STEPS aims to elevate the technical knowledge, skills, and career development of RTPs in the field of robotics and autonomous systems.  

It will do this through community-driven activities such as networking, shared knowledge initiatives, promoting achievements, fostering international collaborations, and advocating at the national level. 

The nationwide consortium also includes University of Birmingham and the National Robotarium at Heriot Watt University.  

Imperial lead Dr Salzitsa Anastasova-Ivanova, from Imperial College London’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery at Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation, said: “RTPs contribute to high-quality impact through their dedication to excellence, innovative thinking, collaborative spirit, commitment to knowledge dissemination, mentorship efforts, and the real-world relevance of their research outcomes. By pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, RTPs make significant contributions to their fields and the broader community. 

“The funding provided to UKRAS STEPS offers us the opportunity to establish a framework for an empowered and productive technology-centric community, serving as an example for future generations that showcases passion and presents an esteemed career pathway worth aspiring to.” 

Professor Richardson said: “This initiative aims to create a roadmap for career advancement, mitigate recruitment issues, and foster succession planning while introducing new skills. Additionally, the platform seeks to enhance equality and diversity within the research technician workforce of universities in the UK through active engagement across the academic landscape.” 

UKRAS STEPS is set to coordinate a diverse array of activities including networking and strategic roadmap events, such as the UK Technicians' Festival, symposia, focused workshops, public engagement initiatives, and training courses.

The platform is geared towards enhancing collaboration with the industry by fostering interdisciplinary mobility, facilitating industrial secondment, and promoting mentorship schemes. Through collaboration with the community, UKRAS STEPS will identify countries of strategic significance with world-leading expertise and will organise international visits to strengthen global connections.   

The consortia are two of 11 new projects funded by a new £16 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) investment.  

Jane Nicholson, Research Base Director at EPSRC said: “Through these 11 new projects, the Strategic Technical Platform funding will help cultivate a thriving, dynamic, and vibrant community of research technicians. This community will not only support and elevate cutting-edge research in the UK, but also foster a sizeable, highly skilled and esteemed research technician network. 

“The UK is a world leader in high-tech research and development and it's essential that we fully support the full breadth of skills needed for the workforce that deliver this innovation.” 

This article was first published on 18 March by Imperial College London.