Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Any of the academics around - need some advice

26 replies

nikos · 07/04/2010 22:19

Have a science PhD and have been looking to move into asd research. Have 3 dc and youngest has asd. Recently applied for job at local university in autism field and thought might have a chance as had a lot of the splinter skills they were looking for - used to networking, organising conferences, managing complex data and setting strategies.

Just found out haven't even got an interview and am gutted. Want to know if there is anthing I can do next. Have been out of academia for a few years so don't know the etiquette. Would it be ok to email and ask if I could have feedback on why I didn't get an interview. Was also wondering about asking to see someone to talk about updating my skills to go into autism research.
Am also in my 40s so am wondering if age could be against me as well, maybe I'm being unrealistic.
Any advice welcome

OP posts:

SMacK · 07/04/2010 22:25

Often these places are looking for a person with a big publication record in a relevant subject. It is also likely that you are up against internal candidates. Nothing like universities for employing their own. Finally, in an economic downturn people flood to academic/public sector jobs for the security.

Does this answer some of your questions?

Definately ask for feedback though. You should be entitled to it and it will help you tailor future applications.

Sorry you are gutted. It isn't the best climate for getting any job so don't take it to heart.

Original poster

nikos · 07/04/2010 22:33

Thanks smack, reassuring what you say. Justmade me really down about things in general, not getting an interview. I know I'd be really good at it, but don't know if I can get others to see that.

OP posts:

takemesomewheresunny · 07/04/2010 23:40

there are grants to get women back into science, really cannot remember the details but may help getting you back in.

takemesomewheresunny · 07/04/2010 23:45

try:
www.daphnejackson.org/main_menu/Fellowship/Scheme.php?session_key=

snowmash · 08/04/2010 00:12

It is very tough...even for phDs you hear of people applying to many I hope you find something...sometimes they only interview 3-5 people out of lots.

cory · 08/04/2010 07:46

Agree with SMacK that it's likely to be about your publication record: these days there is a lot of pressure on universities to publish, publish, publish.

niminypiminy · 08/04/2010 08:18

I think it might depend on what kind of job you applied for: was it a postdoc or a lectureship?

It's very unusual in the sciences for someone with a Phd to go straight to a lectureship without having several postdocs under their belt first. Postdocs are still very competitive but there is more chance of getting one without a very strong publication record than a lectureship.

I don't know, SMacK and others, that universities do preferentially employ their own, and I say that having been on several appointing committees, but I would say that the competition is really fierce -- the last job I was involved in there were 80 applicants for 2 jobs (and that was after we had weeded out all the ones who weren't qualified). Also there is a huge funding squeeze in universities at the moment so there aren't many jobs about, and there are lots of Phds around wanting to get jobs (although most people with science phds don't go on to become academics).

What I would say is definitely ask for feedback and say you would like feedback on what you could do to make your application successful in the future. It's hard without membership of an academic library to keep up with publications in your area but it would be a good idea to try and do this. At least you know what's going on in your field then. And if there are grants for women getting back into science definitely go for one.

One of the huge problems (as I understand it, I'm an arts academic) for women in science is you need to go through years of short-term postdocs to get a permanent job and women tend to leave in order to have children and then can't get back in again. Or the lab they work in isn't supportive about flexible working (all the science postdocs I've ever met seem to spend their whole lives in the lab).

hth

Original poster

nikos · 08/04/2010 08:54

Thank you so much for your replies - they are really cheering me up and giving something I can do. I'm going to email today for feedback and then look into the daphne jackson awards. That looks just the thing but they only award 10 a year I think . Do you think most universities would want to support these fellowships? Can't see why not as it doesn't cost them anything and they get someone completing a research project for them.

OP posts:

cyberseraphim · 08/04/2010 08:58

I would definitely email for honest feedback - However ime, jobs in academia are sometimes earmarked for a particular internal candidate and the advertising is only done as it is required that the post be advertised and they will not tell you that. What was the post ? Lecturing ? Research Assistant or Other ? Having someone in mind already is very common with research assistant posts.

Original poster

nikos · 08/04/2010 09:20

It was a research assistant post. Have emailed this morning. Definitely think this fellowship thing might be a way forward. It would help me to retrain in areas where I need it i.e. organising research on humans rather than test tubes!!!

OP posts:

niminypiminy · 08/04/2010 09:26

Nikos I can't think of any department or research group that wouldn't support someone for a fellowship like this it's free money to them and they get to count the research outcomes for the next REF. The only thing to check would be whether they would need to contribute anything even if it is just a desk or mentoring.

As for only 10 a year -- please do go for it. Someone's got to get them and it might as well be you. And having said in my last that it's a hard time for the university sector, that's not so much the case for science/medicine research, which is currently being supported by the government very strongly (unlike the arts), so in some ways it's a very good time to be getting into it.

Original poster

nikos · 08/04/2010 09:30

Thank you niminy - encouragement means a lot to me at the moment. The university does have to provide mentoring and retraining as the aim is to get you back into the job market but you do complete a research project over 2 years part time, so this would be a boon to them. Especially in autism research I would have thought as it is so fast moving at the moment.

OP posts:

Original poster

nikos · 08/04/2010 11:51

Had a nice reply from prof involved. Reading between the lines my lack of experience in autism research has gone against me. It has been suggested to do some voluntary research with current autism researchers.
In terms of applying for a fellowship does anyone know what my next step should be. Would it be too cocky to approach the university now to ask about the possibilities?Thinking I would be fresh in their mind at the moment.

OP posts:

niminypiminy · 08/04/2010 17:01

When are the closing dates for the fellowship? If they are near then you need to be approaching a host department fairly soon. If your local university has a research group on autism you would want to work with and since you've already been in touch with them, I should get in touch and ask to discuss it. I think the suggestion of doing some voluntary work on autism research is also a good one as it gives you some current stuff you can refer to. Where I work we do quite often have people approaching us to ask if they can take fellowships and grants at our place and I can't remember when we last said no!

Original poster

nikos · 08/04/2010 21:03

Thanks niminy,have left a message with the fellowship as was aware there would probably be a cyclical nature to them. The only hassle for the university Ican see is that they would have to mentor me.

OP posts:

saintlydamemrsturnip · 09/04/2010 19:51

I think it's hard without the experience.

I have a PhD in Biology but did a Psychology MSc and am now doing a second (funded) PhD in autism. I'm not sure I'll be able to stay in though as getting funding is so hard and I'm not sure the jobs on offer will be flexible enough.

AngryWasp · 10/04/2010 20:51

I'm sorry for the hijack, but could someone please help me deal with this Social Services core assessment problem?

1st report said DH (a university lecturer) couldn't help with the childcare in the summer holidays because he was doing research, so I wrote to her to point out that that was his job, not hobby and she should take it out.

2nd report said same thing but had a box at the end saying that parent says that it should be deleted because DH has research targets that need to be met in the hols that make it difficult for him to help in the daytime during the summer holidays.

I phone again and say 'take it out completely'. Why do we have to mention the summer holidays at all. DH works a normal ANNUAL year like everyone else. They agree to ammend the report.

I get 3rd copy which says, DH, a University lecturer is unable to help during the daytime in the summer because of his job.

What do I do now?

I feel like suggesting if she doesn't understand how to delete, could she please just add the 3 missing seasons i.e. not able to help during the daytime in the summer, winter, autumn and spring because of his job. Why her obsession with the summer?

Grrrr. Please someone tell me how I can get through to her!

sugarcandymountain · 11/04/2010 00:24

Daft woman (SW, not you). Can you use the DPA to insist that it's correct? Put your request in writing, not over the phone. Personal data should be accurate and up to date. Would it help at all to show your DH's contract, if it says anything about a normal working week?

Are you supposed to get a report after getting an SS core assessment then? Ours was done last December and the SW has done home visits but I've not seen any paperwork.

AngryWasp · 11/04/2010 00:32

DH can't find his contract but in any case I shouldn't be proving they are lying, they should be using evidence for their claims.

Also, it was giving them information in the first place that led to this whole mess that we are in with them anyway. I have learnt not to offer any additional information by choice. His salary for example might be on there.

They have also put somewhere else that DH is unable to help in the university holidays because he is doing research.

FFS. University holidays are for STUDENTS (and not even all of them) not staff.

I'm beginning to suspect that this information is key in their decision for why they are giving us zilch support, which is why they are insisting it stays in despite me explaining many times to them.

Grrrrr

Original poster

nikos · 22/04/2010 17:23

Just thought I'd update you all as you were all so encouraging. I've now had a meeting with 2 of the professors in the department and am going in one day a week to do some voluntary work. they are going to give me some stand alone projects so I can get experience and I'll have access to the university library (autism reading heaven ). They were very encouraging and think this might be a good lead in to applying for the fellowship.
Exciting days!!

OP posts:

catinthehat2 · 22/04/2010 17:35

Well done!

Original poster

nikos · 22/04/2010 19:37

Thanks!!Now need to find my brain somewhere.

OP posts:

niminypiminy · 22/04/2010 20:08

Nikos that's excellent news, crossed fingers for you and the fellowship and hope you enjoy being back in the lab!

Original poster

nikos · 22/04/2010 21:05

Thanks niminy and thanks for your encouragement on this thread. It really did help to keep me plowing on and thinking it could be possible.

OP posts:

debs40 · 22/04/2010 22:08

That's very encouraging!! I am trying to write up my PhD while knee deep in the SEN process, the diagnostic process, micromanaging school .....oh and of course the two kids! I can't even begin to think of afterwards so it's nice to hear positive stories

Flip

1 2