This article reports the development, application and results of a baseline
investigation of contract research staff in 2007 in the Medical School at the
University of Sheffield which was carried out in order to develop a specifically
tailored training and career development programme and allow for future impact
evaluation of the scheme. Postdoctoral researchers reported on their perceived skill
levels, academic achievements, career motivations and the current research
environment. Results indicated that transferable skills related to communication and
awareness of the process of research (i.e. the process of acquisition of funding,
commercialisation of research outputs) were lacking. Furthermore, these skills were
associated with higher publication outputs, and improved with mobility between
institutions at postdoctoral level. This paper also describes how the findings from the
baseline evaluation were used to develop a programme to address the lower ranking
skills and evaluate the impact of the programme
