Should I give up on academic research?

[Liveafr]

Hello all, here is my dilemna: I'm in my late 30's, about to go on maternity leave with my first child, and I feel a bit stuck and dissatisfied in my career as a researcher in public health and wondering if I should give it up or not. My main problem is that my profile is too atypical (been working other roles than a researcher) and I've been changing fields too drastically and as a result my academic career is laging behind and I lack recognition. Here's a bit of background in a nutshell:
I've worked for 13 years in the public health field, I've done my PhD while employed in a hospital (Most of my work was related to my PhD, I was affiliated to a research lab, but only went there twice a month). I've also worked as a project manager and had a very hands-on role, while doing much less research. I've also changed drastically twice (always in public health research but on very different fields). As a result my career as a researcher has not really taken off. I've been in my current job for 18 months and I'm quite dissatisfied. I'm not doing any project management, I'm not given very interesting projects, I don't really use the skills and knowledge I've developed and I don't feel very valued and I'm often treated like a junior. I've tried to bridge the gap between my previous job and this one by proposing new research ideas but they were all rejected. I can't help feeling that it's because I've changed field too drastically and in academia, the people that are valued are those that have worked in the same field most of their working lives and those that have mainly done research or research and teaching. I fear those like me that have moved in different fields or who have done project management as well as research cannot really break through. I'm wondering if the best move for me would be:

• To persevere at my current work and hope to climb the ladder, even though I will have a child soon and probably have less time to do additional training, so I might get stuck where I am
• Or go back to a research team that is closest to what I used to do, even if I risk starting at the bottom again, maybe lose some privileges that I currently have in my current job
• Or forget about academia and work in the private sector (like consultancy or clinical research). I'm thinking that in those industries, there is less emphasis on being an expert in a field, and having knowledge of different fields might be an asset.

Any ideas or thought?

Which parts of your job do you enjoy most?

@RJnomore1 I enjoy the general intellectual satisfaction of working as a researcher, I'm interested in the field I'm working on (even though my actual job is boring) and I like my colleagues (with the exception of one obnoxious colleague that I'm having troubles with). My lab is relatively flexible and family friendly, which might come useful when I have DC.

I don't think the field changes are a genuine issue especially within PH - by comparison, i ve changed field 4 times (3 times by the time i had DC1). Everytime, i used a specific skill from one field to hop onto the other - from A to D, this is quite a switch, e.g physics to medicine.

When i recruit, i look for field hopper, because it brings an extra edge. Project management experience really sought after where i am.

you say your ideas are rejected - is this grant applications?

i am not sure based on your description what type of role you have - if it is a postdoc or a clinical research fellowship type of role. Are you on a project grant?

@Marasme Thanks for your encouraging perspective. It's good to know that some people are open to the idea of hiring field hoppers. Those last few years I've decided to highlight it as a positive thing in my applications.
My job is paid as part of a public-private convention on research and teaching (3-years contract) paid by a private company (a medical insurance firm). My job is researcher. I have ideas; that I'm sure that will win a grant, but they are rejected by my boss, saying that they will not be of interest to our private partner.

I know I posted this thread earlier this month, but here's a bump in case anyone had any other input 😊

Maybe there's a fellowship scheme in your field(s) intended for researchers with atypical careers, or who have faced difficulties, etc.? I know of the Daphne Jackson Fellowships, for people who have had to take a career break for caring duties, and others in my field privilege academics who have been prevented from engaging in research in a sustained way. This could be a chance to develop research you are passionate about and establish your profile?

I'm a bit of a field hopper and I think it helps my research to have had that 'real world' hands on experience. I'd have thought it would be attractive to employers?

Either way, it doesn't sound like you particularly like this job, so maybe it's a good opportunity to find another one?

I didn't know about the Daphne Jackson trust Fellowship. I will look into that, thanks. I might still be eligible for "young researchers" grants.

That's a dilemna. There are lots of good things about my current job, it's not all black. Anyway I'm on mat leave until 1st may so I won't be looking for a new job right now, just some thoughts on long-term plans.

I am a professor of Public health and happy to have a chat with you sometime if you PM me