Written by Emily Godwin, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol Business School
On 18th September, I attended the British Academy’s National Postdoctoral Conference at its headquarters in Carlton House Terrace, just off The Mall in central London. The day brought together researchers from across SHAPE (and STEM) disciplines, with sessions covering fellowship applications and career development pathways, all designed specifically with the realities facing Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in mind. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the key insights from the day that I hope will be useful for other ECRs.
The reality facing Early Career Researchers
Indeed, the realities facing ECRs were acknowledged from the outset. With mounting funding pressures and widespread restructuring across the sector, universities are navigating various financial challenges – creating uncertainty for ECRs about job security, funding opportunities and career progression. The British Academy was refreshingly candid about this, having established its own ECR network specifically to support researchers working through these difficulties, alongside initiatives like the ‘Confessions of an Early Career Researcher’ podcast. Yet rather than dwelling on the challenges, the day was packed with practical advice.
Postdoctoral fellowships
Of course, one significant opportunity for ECRs is postdoctoral fellowships. Postdoctoral fellowships are funded positions that allow you to develop an independent research project while building your academic profile and experience beyond your PhD. They offer dedicated time to focus on your own research without the pressures of heavy teaching loads or administrative responsibilities, giving you the space to develop publications, build your networks and establish yourself as an independent scholar in your field.
While applications for the British Academy’s own postdoctoral fellowship have closed for this year, the approach outlined and tips given by Dr Ken Emond (Head of Research Funding at the British Academy), Professor Charles Tripp (Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Studies at SOAS and Fellow of the British Academy) and Dr Alex Lewis apply to fellowships across the board. They emphasised that one of the most crucial things is how you frame your project. You should start by identifying a puzzle or social process you want to understand and then describe how you’ll bring empirical evidence in to address it. For instance, avoid leading with “I have this archive” or “I collected this data” – the puzzle or process must be the key. You should also write this in a straightforward manner, avoiding jargon and unnecessary complexity. You don’t need to use up every word of the limit.
When it comes to the proposed project’s relationship to your doctorate, there’s seemingly a delicate balance to strike. If it’s too close to your PhD topic, it will look like you’re just doing it again; too far away, and it will seem like you’re tackling a whole new field without experience. This is because the project shouldn’t reproduce your doctorate to get it published; it needs to go beyond it while clearly drawing on it, since that’s the most significant and most fundamental piece of research you’ve done. They suggested using the “future research directions” section of your thesis, or suggestions made by your examiners, as a springboard. In other words, all those vast areas of questioning you couldn’t explore because you’d never finish are exactly what could come in now. Moreover, suppose you want to engage with another discipline. In that case, you’ll need to effectively convince the panel you’re well-versed in this new territory, and the discipline proposed should seem integral to the intellectual puzzle or social process.
They also emphasised that fellowship applications need to look beyond the intellectual contribution alone. Public engagement, social impact and opportunities for collaboration and co-creation are fundamental. Your proposal needs to demonstrate how it could give something to others – that it has a social cause or broader relevance beyond your own academic advancement.
This might involve demonstrating how your work can inform policy debates or create opportunities for community engagement and partnerships.
Career development
The career development session, led by Dr Fiona McBride and Dr Stefania Silvestri from Prosper at the University of Liverpool, offered a refreshing perspective on thinking beyond traditional academic pathways. The session began with a practical exercise: we paired up and spent four minutes each describing a recent project we’d worked on, while our partner ticked off transferable skills as they heard them. It was eye-opening to see how many skills emerged from what we often think of as purely academic work – project management, communication, problem-solving, collaboration and more. Recognising these skills matters because understanding what we bring to the table opens up possibilities we might not have considered, giving us confidence in our value wherever we choose to apply it.
The session then shifted to a broader perspective, drawing on the concept of ikigai – a Japanese framework for finding purpose that sits at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. Drawing on this understanding, Prosper had us work through a “Wheel of Life” exercise, mapping out different dimensions of our lives, including health and wellbeing, physical environment, relationships, personal growth and career/work. When we’re deep in the pressures of trying to secure the next position or publish the next paper, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the latter is just one part of a fulfilling life. The wheel encouraged us to step back and consider what balance looks like, and how career decisions fit within that broader picture.
General tips
Beyond the specific advice on fellowships and careers, some of the most valuable insights were about sustainable daily practices. One practical writing tip that resonated was to sometimes stop writing when you still have things to say, especially when you’re not in the middle of wrestling with a complex idea. That way, the next day you know exactly where to start and can build momentum immediately. Also, the importance of learning to say no was emphasised. As ECRs, we’re constantly asked to take on additional responsibilities and build our profiles, but we can’t do everything well. Being strategic about what we say yes to means directing our energy where it matters most. Another important point addressed the hesitancy that ECRs sometimes feel about submitting their work. While striving for the highest quality research is vital, it’s through submission, peer review and feedback that we actually improve our work and increase the chances of successful outcomes.
Ultimately, the day was a reminder that while the challenges facing ECRs are real, so too are the opportunities and possibilities. If you’re an ECR navigating this landscape, I hope some of these insights and resources prove helpful.