Academic career advice

Tips and resources to help you build a successful career in academia. From skills development during your PhD to preparing for a role in university administration, 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 Eliza.Compton, 12 September, 2023

An academic’s advice for navigating risk

Illustration of penguin ballooning over sharks, risk and uncertainty concept
From publication to grant applications, the rites of academia come with unfavourable odds. Yet researchers are rarely taught how to deal with uncertainty. Here, Yaniv Hanoch offers mitigation strategies
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 4 September, 2023

Six lessons from facilitating a formalised mentoring programme

Mentoring session
An institutional formalised mentoring scheme can offer invaluable career guidance for early- and mid-career academics. Here, based on 15 years of managing a programme for academic staff, Karen Mather offers her key takeaways
By Eliza.Compton, 30 August, 2023

Pathways to prosperity in casual academia

Person on a tightrope
The journey from adjunct to permanent requires adaptability, foresight and self-awareness. Here, Andrew Stapleton offers tips – such as diversifying skills, strategic branding and mobility – to enhance an academic career
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 23 August, 2023

Online teachers need professional development, too

Student taking an online class
Teacher presence significantly influences students’ engagement, satisfaction and learning. So educators need professional development focused on adjusting their classroom teaching skills to online learning environments
Reading time
4minutes
By Eliza.Compton, 9 August, 2023

Illuminating the shadowy path to success in academia

railway lit up at sunset
Postdocs and early career researchers, do not believe the myths about the route to a stellar academic career, says Andrew Stapleton. Here are better directions to get you and your work noticed
Reading time
4minutes
By Miranda Prynne, 30 June, 2023

Six steps to overcoming setbacks and rejection

A young woman expressing disappointment over her work
Rejection is an inevitable part of being an academic, so it is vital to develop strategies to cope with and learn from setbacks in order to succeed in the longer term. Paul A. Walcott shares six such strategies
Reading time
4minutes
Academic career advice