The PFDC Awards and Celebration 2023

The PFDC Awards and Celebration will take place on 9 June 2023, 12.30-16.30, at 170 Queen's Gate. The aim of the event is to celebrate the achievements of research staff (postdocs and fellows) and recognise the fantastic contribution they make to ensure that Imperial is a leading research and educational institution.

Registrations for the event are now open. Everyone who is a researcher or works closely with researchers is invited to attend. Please register from Eventbrite: PFDC Awards and Celebration registration form. 

The event will consist of an award ceremony between 13.30 and 14.30, with opportunities for networking, food and drinks before and after. You can join the networking sessions as and when you wish, but please ensure you are on time and present for the whole duration of the award ceremony. 

Nominations for the PFDC Awards are open until 23.59 on Sunday 21 May. You can submit a nomination from this form: PFDC Awards and Celebration nominations form. Please continue to read about the nominations process and award categories below. 

In line with the Imperial People Strategy 2022+, the award categories for the 2022-23 PFDC Research Staff Awards are:

Award categories

Creating a positive research environment

Many research staff members at Imperial are actively involved in creating and maintaining a supportive, fair, and inclusive research environment. Examples include: 

  • organising seminar series for researchers of all levels to showcase their work; 
  • contributing to policy development aimed at improving the research environment; 
  • coordinating networking and development events; 
  • contributing to and organising activities that help to promote an environment that allows researchers to thrive in their careers. 

All research staff can be nominated for this category, including members of the PFDC Reps Network. Nominations can be received from anyone who works closely with the nominee, regardless of the role. 

Nominations must be submitted by 23.59 on Sunday 21 May. Please fill in the PFDC Awards form to submit your nomination. 

Supporting research staff and students

Being a supportive colleague, particularly to new researchers and students, can help to retain outstanding talent within the research sector.  

Research staff regularly set time aside to support other researchers and students through activities such as: 

  • formal and informal mentoring; 
  • providing wellbeing advice and support; 
  • providing guidance on navigating Higher Education to students; 
  • helping others to progress in their careers and enhance their wellbeing. 

All research staff can be nominated for this category, including members of the PFDC Reps Network. Nominations can be received from anyone who works closely with the nominee, regardless of the role.   

Nominations must be submitted by 23.59 on Sunday 21 May. Please fill in the PFDC Awards form to submit your nomination. 

The PFDC Reps Team Award

To qualify for the PFDC Team Award, the team must achieve the following over the academic year:

  • Make an outstanding contribution to postdoc/fellows life as a result of teamwork
  • Establish an engaged community within their department as a result of teamwork

Teams are invited to submit self-nominations for the PFDC Team Award. In addition to addressing the criteria and including evidence of the impact of their activities, the nomination should also include a brief supporting statement from their departmental Postdoc Champion, seconded by the Head of Department.

Nominations must be submitted by 23.59 on Sunday 21 May. Please submit a self-nomination before this date. 

The winners of each category will receive a prize of £250 and a certificate. The certificates will be handed out by the Provost Professor Ian Walmsley during the PFDC Awards ceremony.