Going back to academia?

[Goldnick]

I worked in a Research Council lab for 10 years (completed PhD in this time), then for a company/other government organisations for another 4 years, all doing an environmental science type of research. Then we moved to a different part of the country and I had 4 years completely off with kids (as dh worked abroad a lot), then did law studies part-time. My thinking with this originally was that there were no science jobs to be found in this area of the country and I was interested in environmental law. Realised too late that there aren't many jobs in that outside of London and Cambridge.... so 4 years ago I tried hard to find any law job I could (training contract would have been nice I thought). Got one in Information Governance (omg boring does not begin to describe it), and after 2 years moved on to another in University Governance.

So that's where I am, and it's not the right job for me, but my employer is great. And I am so excited to be surrounded by science again. I keep having thoughts of going back to it. Is this possible? My science knowledge is so out of date... and my University is starting up a new department that would be relevant to my past experience, but I have no confidence in my abilities (but I'm desperate to be doing technical stuff, not just words). I don't even know where to start with thinking about it... get my skills/knowledge up somehow? Talk to people? Could I look at going back in on PDRA level or do I need to drop down? Would love to keep the level of salary I have now, but to be honest, I'd rather be happy in what i was doing. I'm just about back up to the salary of my last science job though... There are Women in Science fellowships that would pay a little for a year or two. There are teaching roles nowadays too, but I don't think I'd be up to that, not yet.

Any musings welcome... I'm just at the rolling it round my head stage just now, not even mentioned it to dh. Thank you.

My Uni has career advisors for academic staff; I gather you work for a Uni now, do they have career advisors for academics?

Sorry I'm thick -- does 10 yrs working for a research council mean you worked in a university before or some other kind of research institute?

Do you have publications, how many, how many are you 1st author on, do you like writing research reports or policy assessments, year of your last publication?

You mentioned env. law... so would you find a job in the hard or soft side of env. science? Do you actually have any law qualifications?

Is it L'Oreal Women in Sci award you looked at, are you "exceptional", Do you have less than 10 yrs FTE research experience since your PhD was awarded?

Universities are very bad places to be at the moment, and getting worse. Read some of the blogs and articles about workload, stress, management overload in the THES, read the UCU website and their report on workplace stress. Try not to read it in that 'oh, yes, I'm sure it's bad in some places, but it wouldn't be for me/for my university/my department' sort of way, but really try and imagine whether you yourself would flourish under those sorts of conditions. Ask your peers who stayed on the academic track how they're finding things. Look ahead at the kinds of things that the TEF will force universities to start doing. Think carefully and strategically, and be careful what you wish for!

Most people are looking to head in the opposite direction.

There are returner fellowships for those who have had career breaks but they are generally very competitive, as there isn't that much funding around. Getting a long-term position or a series of short-term positions is typically not easy, although it does very by field.

I'm a senior academic who loves research. I'm leaving the country and if I couldn't leave the country I would be looking to move out of academia because of the continually increasing workload, TEF, lack of administrative support etc.

Ah thank you, some food for thought there.

Worked in other research institutes, though one was shared/hosted by Univ with all new staff on Univ contracts. Last publication 2000, about 20 publications earlier. Various quality. Well versed in REF and TEF and current job involves lots of policy and other writing. I have LPC and LLB in terms of law qualifications but really not that keen on sticking with law now, want to get back to data. PhD was done part-time while working in same field so post-doc time not quite clear (I.e. Most of my publications came from other work concurrent).

I have seen a short-contract fellowship that my cv would have been ideal for in 2004.... I may just ring them for a chat.

Never heard of L'Oreal fellowship - doesn't sound like my field. My current Univ has its own Back to science fellowships as do some others. I do take your points about the competitiveness for these and the pressure to write/earn. I do see it around. My peers are all flourishing and love their work, really. Climate change - funding is around. I may have to have some conversations there though of people who knew my work.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Listen to a podcast on life scientific with carol robinson- totally inspiring! An 8 year career break and now an Oxford professor!

This link went around my dept this morning about WiS fellowships. Sponsored by L'Oreal. Would need a recent portfolio of pubs, I think. www.womeninscience.co.uk

None of my colleagues say they are desperate to leave, either. Do you want to be a lecturer or a researcher? 90% of our researchers have little concern for REF and certainly none for TEF. I act as a kind of Research PA & come back from briefings to tell Faculty what (better not say what I really think) version of REF we might next get, but I'm not directly affected otherwise. Colleague said in a seminar recently "I don't care in slightest about REF because I'm not submitted but I do care about good research..." Then he talked about how to do good (qual.) R.

My past was in climate change stuff, too (land use change, carbon accounting). Good luck.

Oh some really interesting thoughts there from all, thank you. I'm going to explore more anyway. Not happy at all with what I'm doing.

I'm on phone so can't check back easily, but whoever asked - research definitely. I had the best job... geography and misplaced ambition for higher earnings got in the way...