The Vice Chancellor, Prof Dame Julia
Goodfellow, launched the University’s Early Career Researcher Network last
week by reiterating how important new academics were to the long term health of
a research intensive university. In front of a packed room the VC stated that the
University was keen to support ECRs as they developed their careers and started
to take on leadership responsibilities. Kent
already provided a range of formal training courses, but this Network was the
opportunity for ECRs to share their experiences, to focus on common issues, and
to discuss with and learn from senior colleagues.
Prof Darren
Griffin and Jenny
Billings then looked at planning a personal research strategy. Their
contrasting careers demonstrated that it was difficult to generalise about this,
but there were common themes. Darren had had a very ‘traditional’ academic
progression, from PhD, to RA, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor.
Jenny, on the other hand, had had a career outside of academia, and was now
working in a self-funded research centre.
ECRs needed to think about how they would be judged by their
peers, and to plan for this. As Darren put it, ‘perception is reality’. If you
are seen as the leading expert in your field, or a successful grant getter, or
someone with great impact, then a virtuous circle is formed, and perceived
success leads to further success. He outlined ’10 commandments for getting
ahead in research’, which included taking opportunities when they presented
themselves (including adapting your research interests slightly to fit with
current priorities), building good relationships and allowing team members to
shine, and using both failures and successes to build future research.
The group then opened up to discuss their experiences. The
issue of time management was common, and Jenny made it clear that ECRs needed
to be both flexible and assertive, and be willing to negotiate with others.
Developing an academic career was hard work, particularly at the beginning, but
being positive and persistent did pay dividends. Both Jenny and Darren
encouraged ECRs to remain firm; for instance if a senior colleague said that
they didn’t have much time to talk, ask them how much time they did have,
and work with that. Knock on doors, and don’t be afraid of rejection.
Slides from the session are available on the Grants
Factory SharePoint site, and this will be added to over time. The next ECR
Network meeting will take place on 17 October, and will focus on ‘Getting
Published in Journals’. It is being led by KLS, but all are welcome. If you
want to come along, drop me a line.
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