Academic career advice

Tips and resources to help you build a successful career in academia. From skills development during your PhD to securing tenure and preparing for a role in university leadership, all academic career steps are covered here. You will find advice on promoting your work, growing your professional reputation and developing collegiate networks to support your academic career progression - or to help you move into industry.

By dene.mullen , 10 March, 2022

Sessional academics: how to balance the demands of teaching and research

Sessional academics early in their careers should learn how to balance the competing demands of teaching and research

Teaching and research are the pillars of academia, yet these two roles often end up in opposition to one another, says Tara East

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 9 March, 2022

How to become a dean

Academics looking to move up the higher education career ladder might consider becoming a dean

Paul Baines talks through the pros and cons of being a dean, plus the skills you’ll need to display during the recruitment process to get there

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 2 March, 2022

What is peer review and why it is important?

Peer review is the lifeblood of good science. But understanding the process can take time, and gaining review experience can be daunting. Marc Gillett explains the key elements of this critical component of science

By dene.mullen , 28 February, 2022

Fool’s gold: career advice for young, Black academics

Advice for black and minority ethnic academics who are trying to make their way on the higher education career ladder

Freshly minted professor Jason Arday provides tips for aspiring Black and ethnic minority academics on how to safeguard themselves on the hazardous journey to the top

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 24 February, 2022

Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?

Early career researchers not let previously invested time and money impact the decision to leave university and research

Making the decision to move away from research can be daunting, but a big dose of rational thinking can help you make the right choice, says Emma Williams

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 9 February, 2022

Connecting on-campus learning with preparation for careers and life beyond the hedges

IT technician with a laptop computer and black male engineer colleague in data centre

Career preparation begins before graduation. Ellenor Anderbyrne and Daniel Youd describe lessons learned from building a student career-readiness programme from the ground up

By dene.mullen , 8 February, 2022

Five tips for using design thinking to transform your academic practice

Design thinking can be used in universities and by academics to help bring about new approaches to working in teams

Jenny Moffett explains how embracing design thinking may offer ways to combat academic perfectionism and develop vital skills for navigating uncertain paths

By Miranda Prynne , 24 January, 2022

How to systematically improve your teaching using student feedback

A guide to gathering student feedback that can help you refine your teaching

Jochen Wirtz introduces a simple but effective tool for gathering student feedback that will help educators to cement strengths and reduce weaknesses in their teaching

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 24 January, 2022

Are you a researcher who’s ready to move away from the bench? Here’s how

How university researchers can say goodbye to the lab and hello to an admin role

Deciphering job titles, utilising your network and coming to problems with ‘fresh eyes’ are all crucial for those moving from the lab to an admin role

By Miranda Prynne , 19 January, 2022

Applying for an academic position in the US: the basics explained

An explanation of the application process for academic jobs in the US

Considering academic job opportunities in the US? Angela Douglas provides practical advice to help understand the application process and secure the right position

Academic career advice