Planning your Future (Research/Academic) Career

Transcription

1 Planning your Future (Research/Academic) Career Ineke De Moortel School of Mathematics & Statistics University of St Andrews

2 Introduction Focus on academic (research) careers Contact local careers service/office to get information on non-academic careers

3 Why? Think carefully about your choice. Why are you choosing an academic career? Are you just staying on? For a bit? Do you really want your supervisor s job? Ø Think about researcher vs academic.

4 Why?

5 Typical (UK) Academic Career Path PhD Student PDRA Fellowship Academic Staff 3-4 years 5-8 years

6 Typical (UK) Academic Career Path PhD Student PDRA Fellowship Academic Staff 3-4 years 5-8 years

7 Let s assume you ve decided!

8 Some tips to try and avoid this

9 Building your academic CV Research, research, research! - Aim for about 2-4 papers per year - A substantial number of first author papers - Quality vs quantity Publish & publicise your work - Papers (as first author whenever possible!) - Conference talks (don t opt for the poster-option ) & seminars - Research visits; Networking

10 Building your academic CV Think about the other skills you need to develop. What does an academic job involve? - Lecturing - Supervising (summer students) - Outreach - Refereeing (be critical but constructive) - Committees & panels; Academic Community - Leadership - Ø A very fine line between building your CV and research try and stay on the right side of the line. Ø Be pro-active & develop your independence! (Research ideas, conferences, seminars, training courses, jobs )

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12 Project Funding Generally someone else will be the PI on the project. Mainly evaluated on research idea Many schemes available: STFC, Leverhulme, EU, Applying: CV: concise vs comprehensive (relevance!) Cover letter Skills vs Topic (cover letter!)

13 Project Funding STFC: Leverhulme Research Project Grant: RPG.cfm

14 Personal Fellowships This is YOUR project! (But you will still need the support from an academic/ department.) Assessed on both the research idea and your track record combined. Highly competitive! Again, many schemes available (and all with different eligibility conditions!) STFC, Leverhulme, Royal Society, Returner Fellowships (but also EU, ESA & NASA if you are willing to go abroad)

15 Personal Fellowships The research you propose is worth doing has to be done now and you are the only person who can possibly do it properly Track Record: Excellent research is (almost) taken as a given! Panel are looking for (future) leaders in the field. Demonstrate your independence Emphasise invited talks, prizes, conference organising, funding, participating in (academic/research) community Outreach activities Ø That means your CV should reflect all of the above see building your academic CV! Demonstrate you have thought about your career. (How will this fellowship help you?) PI response: Don t tell the panel they are wrong!!

16 Personal Fellowships Spend time writing your proposals! Try and read some successful proposals from colleagues. Contact the relevant department(s) and people EARLY. Think about quota and financial details (Full Economic Costing - FEC). Proofread, proofread, proofread!! Get help from senior colleagues Reading your proposal (find people outside your specialist area!) Practising interviews (talks + possible questions) Find out the answers you should definitely not give! Ask (put up with ) career advice Find out how committees work possibly who the panel members will be.

17 Equality & Diversity Look at Athena Swan / Juno status Look at demographic (e.g. age & gender distribution) Long working hours vs flexible working hours

18 Discuss! Role Models (PS: You ARE one already!) Networking Yes, that includes FB Peer Support Working Hours Self-management of time Mobility Go abroad if you can!

19 STFC - Ernest Rutherford Fellowships Deadline: Usually late September (25 September 2014) Call: Annual Details: 5 years salary, and minor research costs Link: Leverhulme Research Fellowships Deadline: Usually early November (6 November 2014) Call: Annual Details: 3-24 months duration, up to 45k Link:

20 Royal Society - URF Deadline: Usually mid September (11 September 2014) Call: Annual Details: need 3-8 years post PhD experience. 5+3 years of salary plus research costs Link: RS - Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships Deadline: Usually mid January Call: Annual Details: up to 5 years salary plus research costs; no more than 6 years post PhD experience + Applicants must be able to demonstrate a current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application. Link:

21 Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (IEF) (Horizon2020) Deadline: Usually mid August (14 August 2014) Call: Annual Details: PhD or 4 years research experience (after UG degree). 2 years salary, must move between European countries Link: Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (IOF) (Horizon2020) Deadline: Usually mid August (14 August 2014) Call: Annual Details: PhD or 4 years research experience (after UG degree). 3 years salary, must move outside European countries and then return for one year Link:

22 ERC Starting Grant (Horizon2020) Deadline: February (but variable!) (3 February 2015) Call: Annual Details: needs 2-7 years post-phd experience. Provides 5 years salary and associated costs (including students and PDRA s), upto 1.5M Euro Link: