Staff
Review and
Development
Scheme.
SRDS for Early Career Researchers
The purpose of SRDS is to provide an annual opportunity for reflection and feedback
on the previous year and planning for the following year. This form has been
modified so that it specifically supports conversations for early career researchers.
Along with the general guidelines on the University’s SRDS process available via the
SRDS webpages (www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/guidance/srds) the following documents will also
be of use when completing the review process:
 The departmental objectives and research strategy for department and faculty you
work in
 Grade profiles
 Faculty vision statements (for early career researchers and principal investigators of
ECRs)
 Questions to support reflection for completion of this Researcher SRDS form
Information about the reviewee:
Name:
Job title:
Department:
Date of this review:
Date of previous review:
End of contract date (if applicable):
Information about the reviewer:
Name:
Job title:
Department:
SECTION A: TO BE COMPLETED BY REVIEWEE
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS YEAR: (Identification of both highs and lows, and progress
made towards objectives and requirements of the job)
Please use ‘Questions to support reflection for completion of a researcher SRDS
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form’ circulated with this form to support you in completing this section. Some
elements of this section may not be relevant to every researcher and have been
included to help aid your reflection and in the identification of developmental
opportunities.
Research:
Include information here on research achievements, techniques and methodology
developments, scholarly communication, income generation, research impact and
collaboration.
Teaching and Supervision: (where appropriate)
Include both formal and informal activities as well as any Mentoring/Coaching activities.
Administration: (where appropriate)
This relates to committee involvement, seminar organisation, budget management.
Leadership: (where appropriate)
If you manage or supervise others, how have you contributed to the career
development of researchers both within and outside of your group since your last
review?
Continued Professional Development:
Identify any CPD activity you have engaged in since your last SRDS review if not covered
in previous sections.
For Early Career
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 Secure another Postdoc position
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Researchers (including
 Fellowships
technicians where
 Lectureships at the University of Sheffield or elsewhere
relevant): What are your
 Teaching positions
potential career aims?
 Experimental Officer
(tick all that you are
 Industrial research track
considering)
 Research management / administration / professional
services
 Patenting / IP / knowledge transfer /
commercialisation
 Operational research
e.g. Civil Service / market research / consultancy
 Communication / medical writing / scientific editing /
journalism / outreach
 Re-enter study - please give details below
 Considering options
 Other - please give details below
Describe your short-term career aims, indicating a timeline
What are your longer-term career aims?
SECTION B: TO BE COMPLETED BY REVIEWER
FEEDBACK (WITH EVIDENCE)
Some elements of this section may not be relevant to every researcher and have been
included to help aid reflection and in the identification of developmental opportunities.
Research:
Include feedback here on research achievements, techniques and methodology
developments, scholarly communication, income generation, research impact and
collaboration.
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Teaching and Supervision: (where appropriate)
Include feedback on both formal and informal activities as well as any
Mentoring/Coaching activities.
Administration: (where appropriate)
This relates to committee involvement, seminar organisation, budget management.
Leadership: (where appropriate)
Include feedback on the reviewee’s line manager/supervisor role and their
development of others’ careers.
Continued Professional Development:
SECTION C: TO BE PROPOSED BY REVIEWEE AND APPROVED BY REVIEWER
OBJECTIVES (SMART) These should be in line with your departmental research
strategy and be kept under review and revisited where possible at a mid-year review.
Research
Teaching and Supervision (where appropriate)
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Administration (where appropriate)
Continued Professional Development
Sample: Participate in at least one Think Ahead programme and/or alternative CPD activities before the next
SRDS review in order to…..
IDENTIFICATION OF SUPPORT REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES
List here the support that is required by the reviewee from others (e.g. PI, colleagues,
department) in order to achieve the objectives identified.
SECTION D: TO BE PROPOSED BY REVIEWEE AND APPROVED BY REVIEWER
DEVELOPMENT NEEDS
What training, experience or responsibilities do you now need to achieve your career
goal? Please outline a plan, with milestones below including where you can get the
skills you require and who will take responsibility to take this forward)
WHAT:
HOW WILL THE NEED BE
WHO:
SKILLS/ KNOWLEDGE
MET: (e.g. course, e-
Responsibility
REQUIRED
learning, mentoring,
to take
reading)
forward
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BY WHEN:
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Professional development programmes available at the University:
Development Everywhere
www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/sld
Professional development in Learning and Teaching www.sheffield.ac.uk/lets/cpd
Date:
Signature of Reviewer:
Signature of Reviewee:
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