Crucible
GCU Crucible programme for Early Career Researchers
Crucible applications for 2026 are now closed.
- Are you passionate about communicating your research outside academia and working with partners to make a difference in the world?
- Are you a post-doctoral Early Career Researcher (ECR) at GCU?
We have an exciting career development opportunity for ECRs led by the Research Centre for Health. Crucible aims to develop research leaders of the future. It provides opportunities to meet senior leaders at GCU and training to develop communication skills, understand impact, and foster engagement with partners outside academia with the aim of delivering positive social change. This in-person programme includes input from leading GCU researchers and experts and culminates in a meeting with policymakers at the Scottish Parliament.
2026 Crucible Programme
2024 Crucible programme
Professor Carol Emslie, who leads the Crucible programme, said:
“It was wonderful to kick off the 2024 Crucible Researcher Leaders of the Future programme with such a great cohort of early career researchers – they were brilliant during the media training! For the first time, we have participants from across every School and from the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, which is so important for multi-disciplinary discussions.
"The programme aims to build a network of outstanding Early Career Researchers who are passionate about communicating their research. It also helps to create the aspirational, supportive, and sustainable research culture we strive for at GCU. I’m really grateful to the Deans and ADRs, senior researchers, and communications and impact experts who support the programme”.
Feedback on the 2024 programme
- "I did not anticipate how much I would get from taking part in the Crucible programme. I now feel like I can kickstart my professional aspirations with the focus and confidence that I need."
- "I recently applied for an early post-doctoral fellowship and was successful. So much of what went into my application and the interview came from what I learnt on the (Crucible) course, I don’t think I would have been successful without it."
- "I was blown away by the whole experience and learned so much. I want to express my thanks to Carol and the whole team for organising the training."
- “I am going to take a much more strategic approach to developing my research career. I have taken a number of steps – reaching out to new colleagues, focusing my social media presence and signing up for bulletins for the Parliament and have plans to do much more!”
- “My experience with the GCU Crucible has been incredibly positive. I feel much more confident in my networking skills and I now approach presenting my work with a greater sense of assurance. I truly felt like I was surrounded by some incredible leaders and it’s been fantastic to establish this network for future opportunities.”
- "It has helped me with my confidence speaking about my work and starting to break down imposter syndrome. It also motivated me to think about future directions of my research path and take more risks."
2023 Crucible programme
Feedback on the 2023 programme
"I have always been curious about how the research into policy-making process works and this training clarified these pathways to creating research impact and engaging with policy-makers."
"I loved how Crucible opened up conversations with MSPs and people involved in the policy process - something I'm sure I would never have attempted had I not been involved with Crucible."
“The Crucible Programme has been insightful, inspiring and has provided real-world learning opportunities to develop research leadership, enhanced dissemination, engagement and networking.”
For the final session of Crucible 2023, our cohort visited the Scottish Parliament. They were treated to a guided tour, sat in on First Minister's Questions, and had the chance to speak to MSPs from different parties about turning research into policy.
Crucible cohorts
Find out more about each cohort of the Crucible programme via the links below: