A Word to the Wise

I set out here some career advice addressed to post-doctoral researchers. Before I venture this advice, I would ask you to pay attention to the following caveats: my comments are the product of my background as an engineer and computer scientist, they stem from my experience in a particular university system and may not have currency beyond it. With this in mind, the following pointers may be useful.

The path leading from the start of a doctorate to a secure academic position in a leading research-intensive university is an extremely uncertain one. Safely navigating it depends on a number of factors of which academic ability and good fortune are but two. Academic positions are in short supply (at least in Europe, there are expanding opportunities in Asia) and therefore particular attention needs to be paid to career planning.

As a starting point - why do you want to be an academic? Don't get me wrong, it is a fantastic career. It combines intellectual excitement with a real freedom to explore and express ideas. It is is highly competitive and meritocratic while managing simultaneously to be collegial and collaborative. It entails engagement with talented colleagues and students. It contributes to a compelling social mission. It supports entrepreneurial activity both in the academic setting and through industrial engagement. It involves travel and great variety. Oh yes, it is secure, modestly well paid, and socially respected. I would recommend it most highly, just not to everyone. So who might it not suit?

It will not suit those who like well defined frameworks within which to work and who want clarity on exactly what constitutes success. It will not suit those who do not have a strong competitive streak or have an ego that is easily bruised. It will not suit those who do not like intellectual risk. It will not suit those who do not have a passion for teaching and enjoy the company of young people. It will not suit people who do not like to work in complex, highly dynamic, 'political' work settings or do not have the suppleness that this requires. It will not suit people who cannot 'context shift' quickly, that is move from deep concentration on research to handling an administrative matter and back again repeatedly.

Not possessing these characteristics does not make you any less clever, nor any less bound for personal success, but it does mean that you are unlikely to find an academic career in a research intensive university an easy one. There are obviously exceptions, but they are few and far between. As a guide take a look at the successful academics around you. Ask yourself, do you want to be like them? Obviously I don't mean their sharp sense of fashion and carefree air. Rather, is the work and lifestyle you see them enjoy one that you would yourself regard as desirable? Can you see yourself in their position? This question may, perhaps, prompt some grounded reflection.

Let us assume you do, after this reflection, indeed want to be an academic. What else needs to be taken into account? Though my advice addresses post-doctoral researchers, if this is the first thought you have given to your academic career you may have a problem. Your choice of topic and supervisor are of the utmost importance. In my own field the number of opportunities for those with a broad systems or engineering orientation far exceeds that for those with a theory background. Though, obviously, you should choose a topic that interests you, it makes sense to direct your work to the sort of areas where there will be lasting demands: broad, un-faddy topics that feature on the basic curriculum are a good bet. If in doubt remember that in engineering particular technologies have a fashionable currency but a short shelf life. Problems however tend to hang around much longer, it is better to orient your career around them. A strong supervisor will have eased your transition into post-doctoral work and will leverage their extensive network to support your career. They will have unselfishly directed opportunities your way, committees, organisational roles, seminars and invited papers (these may not have looked attractive at the time) that will beef-up your CV and help you stand out from the crowd.

If your supervisor has not already given you some teaching opportunities you should find some. Remember, even in the most research oriented institutions teaching is an important part of the academic role. You will need as part of any academic selection process to demonstrate knowledge of, experience in and commitment to, teaching.

Similarly, research, in science and technology at least, requires funding. You should, early in your post-doctoral period have obtained experience in writing and submitting a research proposal, ideally in combination with others and in response to a funding call, thus demonstrating your ability to interpret your research in a different context. I guess it goes without saying that you are a particularly attractive employment prospect if you have a track record in attracting your own funding or if you are able to bring a grant or personal fellowship with you to an employer. In fact, though I probably should not say so, obtaining independent funding should be a spur to either shopping around for an assurance of a permanent academic position or capitalising on your position locally.

Moving from a post-doctoral position on a grant held by somebody else to an independent post-doctoral fellowship, where you hold the finance and set the research agenda, is an important step. It is however easy to be seduced by life as a post-doc! Yes, you may be able to build up a track record of publications but you will not have a chance to build up the balanced portfolio of teaching, service, leadership and knowledge transfer that are an important part of the criteria for onward promotion. It is thus possible to accelerate your early career but disadvantage your career as a whole. Five to six years is a reasonable target. Risk management suggests that if the opportunity of an established position emerges earlier you should pitch for it. In fact, from your PhD onwards you should probably apply for positions to obtain experience and signal your intent. This may well entail hardening yourself to some failures, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Do not however, apply for posts you would not take if you are successful, the academic community is a small one.

You should, of course, have wide horizons. If you are in a research intensive institution remember that there are interesting and enjoyable careers to be made in more teaching-oriented institutions. It is easy to become fixated on research if you have completed all your studies in a research intensive setting. Careers that have a much larger component of teaching and academic management can be worthwhile, enjoyable and successful. There are also in many universities, with a lesser standing, 'islands of excellence' where the standards or research are internationally competitive. Similarly, Europe and the USA are not the only place where an outstanding research career can be built. Asian and South American countries are investing in their universities and have a deep pool of talented students to draw on. In many cases the national development mission is a particularly important place for academics to contribute. The scope for making a difference may be greatest here.

Very few people are so naturally gifted that they can compete for academic positions at leading research universities on the basis of their talent alone. All the early career academics I know work exceptionally hard. They have put in many hours beyond the requirements of their post-doctoral and current positions in order to get where they are and move beyond it. Dedication is called for and there are few substitutes. This is the price of global competitiveness. There are consequences for those with young families, regardless of the progressive policies adopted by many institutions. If you are in this situation it is possible to enjoy early career success but it takes a strong and mutually supportive partnership and exceptional organisational skills to juggle work and domestic responsibilities. In short, if you want to be a successful academic your spouse or partner must want it too.

Wherever you see your career going you will need a strong network of friends, mentors and informants. They will advise you on opportunities, ease you into positions and provide references and informal recommendations. You need to build this network consciously so that when you apply for posts and promotions you can call on strong international letters from the best institutions and from globally well reputed figures. Remember again, academia is a small community. If you show generosity of spirit, by for instance acknowledging assistance on papers and giving co-author credits freely, this will be returned to you. Helping with organisational tasks, reviewing papers well (demonstrating mature judgment) and rapidly, providing pointers to others and giving updates on your work all are good ways of making friends.

I will not enter into a discussion of how to present yourself at interview except to observe that as an aspiring post-doc you are always on show. Your potential employers, or their informants, will have seen you at the conference and in the bar afterwards. You may well have won or lost the post long before you sent in your CV.

There is more, but I might tip over from sage advice to common room bore, perhaps I already have. So I will leave with this advice - make yourself the colleague that you would want to have and universities will be falling over themselves to recruit you.