Developing yourself as a Developing yourself as a researcher:researcher:

Looking beyond the PhDLooking beyond the PhD

Associate Professor Bruce Johnson

Dean: Research Education

Division Research Skills Day – 9th March 2007

OverviewOverview

The Doctorate and career developmentThe Doctorate and career development Emergent thinkingEmergent thinking Developing generic skills, attributes and Developing generic skills, attributes and

dispositionsdispositions Policy drivers – RQF & generational changePolicy drivers – RQF & generational change Barriers to career developmentBarriers to career development Getting practical – what can you do?Getting practical – what can you do?

Imagining the futureImagining the future

How many of you have thought about life How many of you have thought about life after your Doctorate?after your Doctorate?– New role? (writer, university teacher and New role? (writer, university teacher and

researcher, professional researcher, post-doc researcher, professional researcher, post-doc fellow, public intellectual)fellow, public intellectual)

– New identity? (confident, self satisfied, New identity? (confident, self satisfied, ambitious)ambitious)

– Enhancing your options and choicesEnhancing your options and choices

Imagining the futureImagining the future

How many of you have thought about what How many of you have thought about what you could do NOW to prepare for life after you could do NOW to prepare for life after the Doctorate?the Doctorate?

Imagining the futureImagining the future

How many of you have thought about what How many of you have thought about what you could do NOW to prepare for life after you could do NOW to prepare for life after the Doctorate?the Doctorate?– Investing in a self development processInvesting in a self development process– Getting help but not being helplessGetting help but not being helpless– Taking responsibility for your careerTaking responsibility for your career

Emergent ThinkingEmergent Thinking

‘‘In Doctoral programs we should be more In Doctoral programs we should be more concerned about the development of concerned about the development of researchers than the production of theses’.researchers than the production of theses’.

Emergent ThinkingEmergent Thinking

‘‘In Doctoral programs we should be more In Doctoral programs we should be more concerned about the development of concerned about the development of researchers that the production of theses’.researchers that the production of theses’.

‘‘Doctoral researchers should articulate, Doctoral researchers should articulate, verbalise and document what they learn verbalise and document what they learn during their candidature’.during their candidature’.

Emergent ThinkingEmergent Thinking

‘‘In Doctoral programs we should be more In Doctoral programs we should be more concerned about the development of concerned about the development of researchers that the production of theses’.researchers that the production of theses’.

‘‘Doctoral researchers should articulate, Doctoral researchers should articulate, verbalise and document what they learn verbalise and document what they learn during their candidature’.during their candidature’.

‘‘Doctoral programs are becoming more Doctoral programs are becoming more diverse, flexible, and focussed on career diverse, flexible, and focussed on career development’.development’.

What did I get out my PhD?What did I get out my PhD?

International linksInternational links ConfidenceConfidence How to apply for and win research grantsHow to apply for and win research grants Project management skills (time management; Project management skills (time management;

working with others; itemising tasks; etc)working with others; itemising tasks; etc) Advanced writing skillsAdvanced writing skills Negotiation skillsNegotiation skills Specialist knowledgeSpecialist knowledge

What have you learnt so far?What have you learnt so far?

What has the RQF got to do with this?What has the RQF got to do with this?

What counts?What counts? HDRs and the RQFHDRs and the RQF Keeping track of research performance – Keeping track of research performance –

Individual Research PortfoliosIndividual Research Portfolios

Maintaining an up-to-date CVMaintaining an up-to-date CV

Current positionsCurrent positions Academic qualificationsAcademic qualifications Career summaryCareer summary Membership of professional organisationsMembership of professional organisations TeachingTeaching SupervisionSupervision Research grants and consultancyResearch grants and consultancy PublicationsPublications

What gets in the way of career What gets in the way of career development?development?

People are complacentPeople are complacent People are too proud, too shy, or too scared People are too proud, too shy, or too scared

to ask for help to ask for help Experienced, senior people don’t do their Experienced, senior people don’t do their

jobjob The university doesn’t accept that it has a The university doesn’t accept that it has a

role in career developmentrole in career development ‘‘Bad’ behaviour by those seeking helpBad’ behaviour by those seeking help

What can you do?What can you do?

Get serious about career developmentGet serious about career development Get a mentorGet a mentor Use the RoP to articulate needsUse the RoP to articulate needs Use research training and travel opportunitiesUse research training and travel opportunities Participate in research centre activitiesParticipate in research centre activities Actively networkActively network Use academic friendshipsUse academic friendships Anything else??Anything else??

ConclusionsConclusions

Re-thinking the Doctoral experienceRe-thinking the Doctoral experience Developing generic skills, attributes and Developing generic skills, attributes and

dispositionsdispositions Understanding policy driversUnderstanding policy drivers Taking advantage of career development Taking advantage of career development

opportunitiesopportunities