RisingWISE

You can apply for RisingWISE as a University of Cambridge woman postdoc in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM) in academia.

The places on the programme are fully funded and cover all costs associated with the programme including any travel and accommodation for the residential components.

We are aware that weekend participation can create challenges for those with caring responsibilities. As such (and although the programme is run on a limited budget), we welcome input and feedback regarding how we can support families and help facilitate your attendance on the programme. Please contact Louisa at mpls.enterprise@mpls.ox.ac.uk to explore potential arrangements.

The programme runs from 7 November 2026 – 6 March 2027. It runs in a blended format, mostly online with one in-person residential on 5-6 March 2027.

Please check your availability on the dates below before applying.

• Day 1: Saturday 7 November 2026, London.
• Day 2: Saturday 21 November 2026, 09:00-15:45, Online.
• Day 3: Saturday 5 December 2026, 09:00-15:45, Online.
• Day 4: Saturday 16 January 2027, 09:00-15:45, Online.
• Day 5: Saturday 6 February 2027, 09:00-15:45, Online.
• Day 6 and 7: Friday 5 March - Saturday 6 March 2027, Cranfield University.

For the two-day residential at Cranfield University, coach transport and accommodation will be provided for all participants.

Our highly practical, immersive and collaborative programme is divided into six key themes:

1. Personal values: What’s most important to you? What competencies do you bring to your work?
2. Networking: Who can help you discover new opportunities? How can you find those collaborators? How can you communicate your story?
3. Value propositions: What do you offer? What do others need? Where do these intersect?
4. Leadership: What makes a compelling leader? What kind of leader are you?
5. Negotiation: When can you push for more? Where might you decide to compromise in the pursuit of shared aims?
6. Communicating your ideas: What do you want to do? How can you convince others to do it with you?
7. Collaboration: How can you work as a team to come up with an idea and pitch it effectively?

The places on the programme are fully funded and cover all costs associated with the programme including any travel and accommodation for the residential components.

Successful applicants will be required to pay a refundable £100 deposit to confirm their place. If this will be a problem, please contact us in confidence.

All deposits will be returned on completion of the programme in full (April 2027).

Oxford Team

Louisa Trevail

Louisa is the Programme Manager for RisingWISE and the Enterprising Women programme of activities at the University of Oxford. A trained professional coach, she facilitates and presents on a range of leadership and development programmes, including Leadership in Action, where she delivers coaching skills training for leaders. Her coaching and facilitation are underpinned by an extensive background in education, communication, and event management: she is a qualified teacher with experience in Oxfordshire and London schools, and has previously worked as a Conference Manager at Oxfam GB and in commercial events and consumer PR with clients such as Samsung and Sky. Louisa holds a degree in Sociology and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE).

Sally Charles

Sally is the divisional lead for Enterprise Training and Events curated for the Researcher community within MPLS. She has responsibility for the running and strategic development of a portfolio of programmes and initiatives that support the growth of mindsets and skillsets for Innovation, Impact, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

Cambridge Team

Helen Alexander

Helen is the Manager for IE Cambridge, the University of Cambridge’s entrepreneurship hub. Her career started in broadcast news, working as a business journalist and producer for CNBC in London and Mumbai. This was followed by freelancing as a print journalist, writing for publications such as the Times, the New Statesman, Marie Claire and the Hindustan Times. She then worked as a content producer, advising global clients on their communication strategies and creating content from videos to thought leadership articles. She also worked with clients on events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos and EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Katia Smith-Litiere

Katia joined the Postdoc Academy, University of Cambridge in 2017 as a development consultant with a passion for bringing entrepreneurial spirit, know-how and skills training into professional development for postdoctoral researchers. Katia manages the international Postdocs to Innovators (p2i) Network. She has over 15 years’ experience in life sciences and healthcare sectors, initially as an postdoctoral researcher at Cambridge and subsequently as a technology and innovation consultant for healthcare organisations and government. Prior to joining Cambridge, Katia co-founded and was Director of Programmes and Partnerships of the Cambridge Science Centre, an interactive science learning space. Katia is a former Director of Makespace and Biomakespace Cambridge.