Is anyone else an academic who has not produced enough research while having kids and is now in the s***?

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

There are lots of academics on MN, just wondering if there is anyone else in my position.

Am pg with 3rd dc in 5 years. Have had hyperemesis and other problems in all 3 pgs, which on top of 2 maternity leaves means heaps of time off work. In the meantime I have completely lost research momentum and produced sod all apart from a few book reviews. I was not submitted for RAE (though fortunately my dept did very well without me so none of my colleagues are holding it against me personally.)
Every time I come back it takes me all my time to get back up to speed with teaching and admin, get on top of all the changes in my field etc, and I only ever seem to make baby steps towards producing anything before I am sick or pregnant again.
Just had uncomfortable meeting with (supportive) HoD at which she broke news to me that I am about to get a scary letter from Personnel and a process is going to start which will probably include ritual disembowelling/change to a teaching only contract if I don't get something submitted before baby is due. Which would be fine as long as the foetus behaves and sickness holds off - am only just back at work after 2 months off with HG.

Serves me right for having children, doesn't it?

I don't think anyone would mind if we sent her a link, would they? Very different from sending links to the press!

Hey, let's not only send her a link to this thread, let's ask her to join and come and mentor talk to us

I'm fairly sure there are UK researchers who have done stuff on women in academic life, not sure about parenting...

actually I know a uk woman who did research on women in academic life. she wasn't a mum when I knew her though.

hmm, she doesn't mention it at all in her research interests blurb, though there's a paper or two in her publications. do we name names share references on here?

yeah. otoh, she's got it up there in public view, and popping the reference up is hardly going to out anyone. unless, I guess, one of us goes, "say, I wrote that!"

oops that link didn't work

books.google.co.uk/books?id=w8nH2APfNGMC&dq=line+by+line:+how+to+edit+your+own+writing&printsec=fron tcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=ehlGSuioIYXSjAfVlIRn&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

'Line by line - how to edit your own writing - the one book that shows you how to make what you say as good as what you mean' by Claire Kehrwald

In case your wondering - I haven't read it yet

'Young mothers grant' - just for young mothers??

POrnC go back to the link on the previous page about Mothers in academe and just copy that structure - two or three pages I'd say. 2000 words max

It's just got a classic steructure - take the headings

What you want to do is proove you can write conciesely and also give them the essence of your project and that you have a clear idea of how to actualise it.

These people are usually really busy so they won't read something that will take a long time.

You need to grab their attention - if they get what you are doing (which you want in a sup) they will be able to see where it is going, inc. complexity. And you will be able to discuss this face to face if you meet up.

That's what I would do anyway.

I don't know. I hope someone else comes on and contributes.

You won't appear lightweight at all. All the PhD and post-doc proposals I've seen (from my peers, i'm not a professor) have always been no loinger than 4 pages.

Conciseness and clarity seem to be the oder ofr the day, rather than lengh and complexity.

YOu could send the summary and say you have a longer precis if they are intersted.

nad if your dyslexic like me get someone to proof it for you that isn't!

have a read of this books.google.co.uk/books?id=w8nH2APfNGMC&dq=line+by+line:+how+to+edit+your+own+writing&printsec=fron tcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=DWRHSs30O92fjAeA7pFi&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

You can read it online on that link. Just scroll down