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Original poster

Career crossroads?

15 replies

Indecisive2023 · 08/03/2023 10:02

I’m looking for some advice, am 8 years post PhD and have worked in industry and done two postdocs. I am currently still in academia but in a project management type role and I have a young child. I really miss doing my own research but can’t seem to find this compatible with having a young family (especially as I currently have the flexibility to WFH but if I was back in the lab obviously this wouldn’t be an option).I am feeling a bit stuck and disillusioned. There’s another academic field (completely separate to my primary research area) which I have taken up as a hobby, however I really love and could see a future here, but the issue is I have no idea how to get into this field without doing another PhD. Has anyone had experience of changing fields and if so any advice on how to do this without having to do further (expensive) qualifications! Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Indecisive2023 · 09/03/2023 12:35

Anyone?!

OP posts:
Impostersyndrome · 09/03/2023 20:16

Ok, I'll have a go, having done quite a bit interdisciplinary work, though I haven't moved fields as such. I assume there must be some affinity between your original and your second field. Could you start by working up a bit of research that bridges between the two, then presenting it a one its conferences? Are there networking funds at your university that might support you in running a workshop that bridges between your fields? That way you could find likeminded people who want to make similar links. Essentially I'm suggesting that rather than ditch your first discipline, that you slowly transition to the second, retaining a foothold in the first, offering yourself as a bit

Impostersyndrome · 09/03/2023 20:18

Sent before I finished...

Offering yourself as a bridge between the two.

This might not make any sense for what you're asking, but hopefully something will be relevant.

CleverKnot · 09/03/2023 21:00

Tell us what your current PhD was in & what the field is you want to move to.

Original poster
Indecisive2023 · 09/03/2023 22:03

@Impostersyndrome thanks so much this is really helpful. I haven’t looked at funding but this is something I can start exploring.

@CleverKnot my PhD and subsequent work have been in the biological sciences, I’m interested in moving to the philosophy of science field (specifically questions surround meta research (what underpins our research, bias in research etc). I do still love my primary research area but I can’t see a way forward. I’ve worked so hard and just feel very stuck now!

OP posts:
parietal · 09/03/2023 22:17

Have you looked at Daphne Jackson fellowships which are for returning to academia after a break?

A lot of meta science work is online and seems to be organised on twitter & mastodon. Have you joined these to tap into the right networks and conferences? Can you do a small project to get a foot in the door?

parietal · 09/03/2023 22:20

Also, in my field, someone who studies snails (not my topic) and someone who studies the meta science of snail-studies would be in the same dept with the same type of undergrad teaching etc. the metasci person would not be in a separate philosophy dept because their teaching expertise still aligns with core snail-studies.

Of course, there aren't many jobs in snail meta science, but if you are going for lectureships you can still make that your theme within a regular snail dept.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 09/03/2023 22:24

OP can you reach out to people in HPS [history and philosophy of science] depts? Have you got anything you might collaborate on?

Original poster
Indecisive2023 · 09/03/2023 22:47

@parietal thanks, this is really helpful. I hadn’t even heard of mastodon! Just had a quick google. Think I definitely need to explore and expand my networks. I’d love to do a small project, but not sure how to get my foot in the door. Also I am struggling with confidence as this isn’t my primary field (I have done some online studying and short courses but nothing ‘substantial’). I feel I need to take a leap into it, but it’s just figuring out a way forward. Currently based in a research institute rather than a department but I could explore meta research type roles within the institute (I don’t think they exist currently)

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff I have spoken to one or two people in HPS but only in passing really.. again it’s a confidence thing, not sure where to start with collaborations and am filled with self doubt. Maybe I should just jump in and start writing some research questions and approaching people? Do you think that would be the best approach?

Thanks so much by the way… it’s clear I need to be more proactive and less anxious about jumping in!

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murmuration · 10/03/2023 16:12

I know someone who did the opposite transition - his PhD was in philosophy of science, but it turned out so few people were doing the type of science he wanted to study the philosophy behind, he decided he'd go do it instead. He did this via a postdoc in biology. I think there are less funding opportunities in the other direction, but I wonder perhaps if working up a fellowship might be possible?

aridapricot · 11/03/2023 22:21

I am not a great fan of online conferences and lecture series but they can be a low-stakes way (in the sense that you don't need to invest lots of time or money to attend) of getting into the field, finding out what kinds of questions scholars in the field are thinking about right now and how they go about it. Maybe you can think of a 20-minute conference paper as your first project in the new field and take it from there.

Flockameanie · 13/03/2023 20:46

I think what @aridapricot suggests is a good idea. I'm in the humanities, but someone who is now in my field got into it by first coming to our key conference and doing a lot of networking and presenting an (excellent) paper. At the same time, he responded to several CFPs to contribute book chapters on his new research topic, including one I was editing. So, at that conference he introduced himself to me in person, and therefore I went to see his presentation, etc etc.

Flockameanie · 13/03/2023 20:47

Oh, also, and this is probably obvious and you've already done it, but find and join any email 'listservs' (email groups/ jisc groups) for your destination discipline and join any relevant society/ies or scholarly organisation - i.e. there's a society for the history and philosophy of science (or similar), I'm sure. That society/ association may very well have 'SIGs' (special interest groups) that are aligned to your new research interest, that you can join, etc

Original poster
Indecisive2023 · 14/03/2023 21:44

Thanks so much everyone, this has been so helpful and supportive (my first time starting a thread, so wasn’t sure if anyone would even reply)

Very much appreciated.

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