New online tool to unlock postdoc potential

A government-funded online resource supporting postdoctoral researcher career development is now available to postdocs and managers of researchers at Reading.

The Prosper portal provides free advice for career planning and links to learning opportunities that can be accessed in addition to the University’s UoRLearn platform.

Prosper was funded by UK Research & Innovation funding from Research England and has been rolled out nationwide following a development and trial period involving the Universities of Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester and postdocs from more than 20 institutions.

What’s on Prosper?

The Prosper portal is split into three main audience areas:

• A Postdocs section contains postdoc-facing resources separated into Reflect, Explore and Act and areas. Postdocs can access a range of materials designed to help identify career goals, learn about opportunities beyond academia, and develop career skills.
• A career development navigator tool to assist postdocs in their career development thinking.
• A learning and development section, providing resources including self-coaching guidance.

A Managers of Researchers section contains a range of resources designed to enable PIs and other line managers of researchers to support their postdocs’ career development and foster a positive and inclusive working environment.

Watch a short, animated guide to the portal and its new features.

Prosper Portal Animation from Prosper on Vimeo.

Please contact Sue Glover, Researcher Development Project Officer, with any questions or feedback.

UoRLearn support

The University’s UoRLearn online platform, run by our People Development team, already offers professional development opportunities for all Reading colleagues, including postdocs.

This includes in-person and online programmes that run across several hours or days, as well as free online modules that are immediately available and can be completed at a time that suits you.