Early career research

By Anonymous (not verified), 6 October, 2021

Professional advice for early career researchers (ECRs) - from PhD students to postdocs and those vying for early faculty roles – alongside tips for those who manage ECRs. Find insight to support academic career development and protect well-being from higher education peers around the world. Our contributors provide guides on writing, presenting, getting published, time management, mental health, networking and much more.

By Laura.Duckett, 30 June, 2025

The unexpected benefits of academic blogging

Hands typing on a laptop keyboard
Academic blogging can open doors to collaboration and career growth. Discover its benefits, and learn how to build a culture that supports it.
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 24 June, 2025

When a scientist becomes an inventor

Illustration of female scientist in a lab
A novel scientific discovery can catapult a researcher from the bench to being an entrepreneur. Here, Greta Faccio shares considerations for next steps in commercialising an invention
Reading time
3minutes
By miranda.prynne, 24 June, 2025

Is your academic career cleared for take off?

Image of a person taking off in a hang glider
Academic career advice to help you reach new heights in higher education, from crafting the perfect CV to navigating teaching and research pathways
Reading time
7minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 20 June, 2025

How to write even when the words won’t come

Detail statue in Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy
Books, articles and grant proposals do not arrive in a single stroke. They are created, like sculptures, through a thousand small movements. Here, Catherine De Vries explains how to develop ‘skill power’
By kiera.obrien, 11 June, 2025

How to promote your book with confidence

An author looks at a delivery of books
Promoting your book or research paper requires different skills from those needed to produce it. Here’s everything you need to know
Reading time
5minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 6 June, 2025

How I use social media as a research tool

An academic conducting research on her laptop
Drawing from her autoethnographic experiences, Bhawana Shrestha discusses how she uses social media platforms to deepen collaboration, enrich methodology and widen participation in research
By Eliza.Compton, 30 April, 2025

Supporting pathways for nurses into clinical research

Nurse entering information into computer
Organisational support for clinician researchers is an effective way to ensure that healthcare research is translated into clinical practice. Here’s how a partnership between an Australian university and a local health service aims to amplify impact
Reading time
4minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 11 April, 2025

Preparing for a research-active career during your PhD

Spinning plates
How can you balance the demands of your PhD thesis with publishing other work to support your academic career goals? This article offers practical strategies for managing both
Reading time
4minutes
By kiera.obrien, 25 March, 2025

How to communicate your research to anyone

A lectern with two microphones in front of a crowded audience
Presenting research to a non-academic audience requires a different set of skills compared with speaking to your peers. Follow these techniques to get your point across to the layman
Reading time
5minutes
By kiera.obrien, 21 March, 2025

Seven steps to dual publication

A close up of a hand working on a document
The dual publication model for research involves creating two versions of a research paper: one for fellow academics, and one for practitioners. Juggle the two with these seven steps
Reading time
3minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 17 March, 2025

How to make extra money in academia

A jar with coins spilling uot of it
How to find and make the most of dissertation supervision, extra marking and public speaking opportunities to supplement your income
Reading time
5minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 19 February, 2025

Beyond the classroom: from PhD preparation to leadership

Pathway from PhD to healthcare leadership
A foundational pathway that nurtures future leaders in healthcare and scientific innovation produces students who are not only ready for their PhD journey but emerge as skilled professionals and researchers, write Zoltán Benyó and Attila Szijártó
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 31 January, 2025

‘Academic writing equals chaos’

Man sitting among piles of papers
If you are stalled in your latest writing project, Glenn Fosbraey shares three tips for breaking through blocks, getting organised and finishing the final draft
Reading time
3minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 23 January, 2025

An academic’s guide to Bluesky

A woman on her phone posting to social media
With many HE professionals making the switch to Bluesky, here are the steps you need to take to get started
Reading time
4minutes
By kiera.obrien, 23 January, 2025

The pros and cons of peer reviewing

An academic edits a research paper with a red pen
Weighing up whether to take on the role of peer reviewer? Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experience to outline the upsides and downsides
Reading time
3minutes
By kiera.obrien, 22 January, 2025

A practical guide to better public speaking: part one

A speaker stands at a lectern with a microphone
Getting through long, not-so-interesting talks is a common experience in academia. But if we all agree it can be done better, how can we start delivering better presentations?
Reading time
5minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 14 January, 2025

‘Researchers have a responsibility to publish’

Pile of journals
Without publication, advancements in knowledge will be stifled or even halted altogether, writes Walid Saad. Here he explains the many benefits to publishing for established scholars and students alike
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 9 January, 2025

Trying to decide what, where and when to publish research?

Traffic light sequence from green to red
It’s a strategic balancing act, writes Walid Saad. While academic researchers often know why it’s important to publish their work, the timing, location and medium can be less evident. These tips are geared to sharing research for maximum effectiveness
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 8 January, 2025

A practical guide to writing a literature review

Middle Eastern male millennial researcher
From organising key search terms to checking citations, this video offers simple, practical tips to crafting a literature review that will lay a sound foundation for your academic paper
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 5 December, 2024

Time to write is a necessity, not a nice-to-have

Hands of black woman typing on laptop
How a project for academics to carve out writing time has grown from ‘power hours’ to writing retreats, community, increased well-being and higher-quality papers
Reading time
4minutes
By Laura.Duckett, 3 December, 2024

Here’s how we can support long-term research staff

A researcher in a lab looking at her computer
Language use and reskilling are just two of the considerations for higher education institutions when it comes to supporting staff who don’t fit into the early career researcher category
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 28 November, 2024

Implementing a ‘research buddy’ scheme

Sports science students
A novel volunteer programme has been giving students hands-on sports research experience and maintaining high standards of health safety. Here’s how it works
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 1 November, 2024

A space where ideas can take shape in the creative arts

Creative writing concept
Out of writer’s block and research into the artistic process have grown a tool and a community to foster new work. Novelist Sue Woolfe describes how an international creativity bar works
Reading time
5minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 15 October, 2024

How to preserve academic credibility when engaging with social media

woman typing on laptop, social media
As political expression on social media can harm public perception of scientists, strategies such as sharing research, separating personal and professional identities, and engaging objectively are ways that academics can use it effectively while preserving credibility
Reading time
4minutes
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