Welcome to the CEA

Welcome to the CEA. This page itemizes tasks you should probably attend to on your first day here, or at least as soon as is practicable.

• The first day here

  Hopefully you have already been talking to people before you have shown up, however since something will get forgotten, here there is a useful check list. In order to avoid complications, it is highly recommended to follow it in order when you arrive.
  1. Report your arrival to one of the astronomy secretaries: Lindsay Borrero, Dorothy Jenkins or Sabine Schindler.
  2. Get your campus card from the Computing and Information Services. If you are a non EU citizen you might have an appointment with the Student Immigration and Financial Support Office, which is in the same building as the CIS.
  3. Once you have your CIS account, you can get access to the local network by talking with Alan Lotts.
  4. Fill in the online departmental registration form with your details; this is necessary for enrolement on the Physics Database System and will automatically send a key request for your office. You will then be contacted by the departmental safety coordinator who will issue your key. You will also be contacted by the Physics Communications Office, who will arrange an appointment with you to set up your University web profile. Note that there is special external link to the Physics database for when you are outside durham.
  5. Once you have your campus card, fill in the out of hours access form - SHOULD NOW BE HANDLED VIA YOUR DATABASE REGISTRATION.
  6. Pass the health and safety test.
  7. Get the key to your office from the Departmental Safety Coordinator (be aware that a deposit of £ 15 is needed) - SHOULD NOW HAPPEN VIA THE DATABASE REGISTRATION.
  8. If you are a PhD student you need to enroll (be aware that you need to do this every year).

• Other stuff you need to do

  1. For members of staff only, as soon as practical you must complete the University's on-line data protection training - see https://www.dur.ac.uk/data.protection/local/trainingmodule/ . Failure to do this could result in your CIS access being blocked.
  2. There is a requirement for new PDRAs to complete a “probationary agreement” within two weeks of starting and a “personal development plan” in the first year.
  3. If you are intending to drive to work please be aware that parking on the Science Site is quite limited and by permit only (this is strictly enforced by an outside company). See Car Parking and Travel for how to apply for a permit.
  4. Finally, you might want to think about joining one of Durham colleges or one of the student societies to meet people outside the department or practice some activity besides physics. Ask around to get more information on how colleges and societies work.
  
  If you are coming to the UK from abroad, you can find practical information at the International web pages. During the first days after your arrival make sure to:
  • Open a UK bank account, such that you get paid in time, as this process might take some time.
  • Make an appointment to get your National Insurance number, as you need it to work in the UK.
  • Register with a medical doctor.
  • Depending on your visa you might need to register with the local police.