Career Development for Early Career Researchers (Roundtable 8)

Abstract

An OECD (2023) report identified a number of factors influencing the career choices of early career researchers. The report offered eight recommendations for supporting the careers of post docs. Recommendation 4 emphasised the importance of mentoring. The purpose of this round table is to address mentoring and to enable early career researchers to discuss career progress and development with experienced researchers and academics. Career development inside and outside academia will be discussed. There will be five presenters: Hairenik Aramayo, Dr Nina Vandermeulen, Professor Liana Konstantinidou, Professor Nicolaj Elf, Associate Professor Emeritus Karl-Heinz Pogner. Each presenter will talk for ten minutes about how they developed or followed their career trajectory inside or outside academia. The skills and abilities which facilitated successful career development will be a focus. The talks will be followed by forty minutes allowed for questions and discussion. The importance of publishing and the rigours of getting an article published will be considered. The value of participating in a variety of research opportunities will be addressed. The importance of tertiary teaching experience and developing supervision expertise will be discussed. Presenters will talk about engaging in voluntary opportunities on committees, organising conferences or research groups to enhance employability. The presenters will advise about careful networking. The advisability of conference attendance will be discussed. The skills and knowledge developed in the PhD which are transferable to settings outside academia and are also valuable in academia will be a focus. Early career researchers should find this session most beneficial in deciding and developing their career trajectories and realising multiple options which are available to them.