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Early career planning: Managing your academic ‘self’

Early career planning: Managing your academic ‘self’. Graham Crow John Holmwood. Context. Always an issue of transition from doctoral study to first ‘permanent’ job Implications of changing environment of higher education REF 2014 ‘hiatus’

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Early career planning: Managing your academic ‘self’

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  1. Early career planning: Managing your academic ‘self’ Graham Crow John Holmwood

  2. Context • Always an issue of transition from doctoral study to first ‘permanent’ job • Implications of changing environment of higher education • REF 2014 ‘hiatus’ • Uncertainty over future financial position of universities, but not all gloom • Need to think in terms of ‘bridges’ –postdoctoral and other forms of funding (not just in UK – also abroad)

  3. Distribution of HEI incomes in England, 2009/10 (Source: HESA 2011)(Where does the elite, ‘bundled’ university begin? – first cut off, gives us 5, next gives 10, then 16 (with just a further 28 above the mean, providing 44 on the most generous estimate)

  4. Being ‘Ref-able’, some myths • Impact agenda doesn’t disadvantage early career staff. You don’t need it and staff applying from another institution can’t bring it! • You do not need a full set of publications and you frequently have the ‘ideal portfolio’ (research-based monograph plus journal articles).

  5. Being ‘ref-able’, some issues • You must be aware of the issues and constraints. • You should read up on the impact issues – ESRC ‘Pathways to Impact’ and their Impact ‘toolkit’ http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/tools-and-resources/impact-toolkit/index.aspx • Although the Panel will read all items, be ambitious in where you think of placing them – general/specialist journals. • Note: those funded by ESRC/AHRC will be subject to RCUK ‘open access’ policies with effect from • (Rejection is a ‘pathway to success’ )

  6. Although the Panel will read all items, be ambitious in where you think of placing them – general/specialist journals. • (Rejection is a ‘pathway to success’; importance of reviewer feedback ) • Note: those funded by ESRC/AHRC will be subject to RCUK ‘open access’ policies with effect from 1st April 2013. Seek guidance. http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/Pages/outputs.aspx

  7. Build your research capacity • Ensure you build your research methods skills - NCRM. http://www.ncrm.ac.uk • Think of attending Essex Summer School. http://www.essex.ac.uk/summerschool/ • [secondary data analysis; mixed methods are a current ESRC interest]

  8. Beyond the first job… • What is your next big project.... • It should be a ‘gear change’ up from your PhD, but you won’t have the same amount of time and supervision

  9. Some sources of post-doc funding: • ESRC Future Leaders scheme • British Academy • Leverhulme • Nuffield • Individual university schemes (generally advertised on jobs.ac.uk) • Think overseas; India, for example, has many new awards and ESRC is interested in international networks

  10. Applications: dos and don’ts. Do • Familiarise yourself with a funding body’s strategy and ethos • Make sure that you are eligible for the scheme for which you’re applying (and check with them if you’re unsure) • Start the application process in good time (various things can take a long time to get e.g. institutional signatures)

  11. Applications: dos and don’ts. Do • Make the case for your project directly and strongly – why should your project be prioritised (given that it will be in competition with others)? • Set out your research questions and objectives clearly (a research proposal is not a literature review; get right the balance of background and proposal)

  12. Applications: dos and don’ts. Do • Set out your methodology clearly, and flag up where it is cutting edge and interdisciplinary • Remember: appropriate research design is crucial • Ensure that methods address the research questions set out • Acknowledge awareness of possible criticisms of approach chosen • Include a timetable for your activities

  13. Applications: dos and don’ts. Do • Use the bibliography to show up-to-date knowledge of the field • Choose an appropriate and reliable nominated reviewer (and make contact with a first draft) • Engage with potential research users • Address the issue of knowledge exchange • Draw on other people’s expertise (e.g. that of staff in the research office, academic colleagues)

  14. Applications: dos and don’ts. Don’t • Promise to solve all the problems in your field in one project. The research should be specific and do-able • Assume that key points are too obvious to need stating explicitly (referees can comment only on what is before them) • Undersell yourself or your project (the total cost may look dauntingly big, but that is for funding agencies to worry about)

  15. Applications: dos and don’ts. Don’t • Miss the opportunity to spell out how well your project fits the scheme/call • Give up at the first hurdle, or be put off by the odds of success of the average application • Be afraid to ask colleagues to see applications they have made (successful and unsuccessful, with comments)

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