Second year review planning your career Prof Jon

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Second year review: planning your career Prof Jon Higgins Deputy Dean of Research and

Second year review: planning your career Prof Jon Higgins Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation

Future career: never too soon to start planning

Future career: never too soon to start planning

http: //ascb. org/where-will-a-biology-phd-take-you/

http: //ascb. org/where-will-a-biology-phd-take-you/

Assuming at this point you want a career in academia… … goes without saying

Assuming at this point you want a career in academia… … goes without saying that you need to be working towards completing your thesis work

Publish Ø First author papers Ø Middle author papers Ø A review/methods paper Ø

Publish Ø First author papers Ø Middle author papers Ø A review/methods paper Ø Most prominent journals possible

Think about your “skills portfolio” Ø Project specific Ø Generic (writing, presentation skills, statistics

Think about your “skills portfolio” Ø Project specific Ø Generic (writing, presentation skills, statistics etc) Ø Teaching/supervision Ø Admin, safety Ø Entrepreneurship Ø Outreach activities Ø The university has a lot on offer

Attend talks and meetings Ø Broaden your horizons Ø Talk to people Ø Make

Attend talks and meetings Ø Broaden your horizons Ø Talk to people Ø Make contacts Ø What really interests you? Where do you want to be? Who do you want to work with?

Visit other labs Ø Ø Ø Learn new skills Experience new environment Work with

Visit other labs Ø Ø Ø Learn new skills Experience new environment Work with different people Is this a good place to do a postdoc? Take new skills back

Getting that post doc Ø Plan well ahead (now!) Ø Identify the field you

Getting that post doc Ø Plan well ahead (now!) Ø Identify the field you want to work in Ø Identify a few (3 -5) researchers who you would like to work with Ø Update your CV Ø Contact them (probably about start of your final year) Ø Show specific interest!! Ø Discuss opportunities – fellowships, writing grants for you, funded positions etc. Ø Do not underestimate your appeal Ø Be proactive

How to decide? Ø Build on your Ph. D, but don’t just do more

How to decide? Ø Build on your Ph. D, but don’t just do more of the same Ø Change field or model system/approach, perhaps not both Ø Think about what you want from a supervisor Ø Consider future fundability Ø If at all possible, visit the lab and talk to researchers as well as the PI

RCDG - strategic goal: Build a strong research base of early career researchers within

RCDG - strategic goal: Build a strong research base of early career researchers within the FMS that will go on to become the research leaders of the future Representatives from each Institute who can provide advice http: //www. ncl. ac. uk/medicalsciences/research/c areer-development/

External Fellowship Schemes BBSRC Anniversary Future Leader Fellowship BHF 3 (+1) years Most likely

External Fellowship Schemes BBSRC Anniversary Future Leader Fellowship BHF 3 (+1) years Most likely award time Duration of Award 5 years David Phillips/ECR Fellowships 3 years Snr Research Fellowship 4 (+1) years Int Basic Sci Res Fell Immediate Postdoc Basic Science Research Fellowship CRUK 5 (+5) years 6 years Snr Non-Clinical Fell 6 years Career Development Fellowship Kay Kendall Int Res Fellowship Jnr Research Fellowship 3 years International Outgoing Marie Curie 3 years 2 years International Incoming/Intra-European MRC 4 years New Investigator Research Grant (NIRG) Snr Non-Clinical Fell Career Dev Awards 5 years David Sainsbury Fellowship NC 3 Rs 3 years University Research Fellowship Royal Society Wellcome Trust 1 3+ years 7 years 5 years Senior Research Fellowship 5 (+3) years Sir Henry Dale Fellowship Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship 4 years 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5+ years 10 11 12

FMS Fellowship Schemes Open ended contract Most likely award time Running time Senior/NIRG/project grants

FMS Fellowship Schemes Open ended contract Most likely award time Running time Senior/NIRG/project grants EXTERNAL SCHEMES Career development/NIRG* Junior 5 year fixed term-NURF* Ph. D Y 3 Ph. D Faculty Fellowship 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 * Equivalent status – subject to review at 18 mo before end to assess likely career progression

FMS Fellowships within 0 -2 years of Ph. D award • Evidence that many

FMS Fellowships within 0 -2 years of Ph. D award • Evidence that many successful applicants at more senior levels held “junior” fellowships • Ideally identify prior to Ph. D completion • Internal and external • Short-term funding (akin to bridging) in order to make application • Mentoring and other support Criteria: excellent publication record during Ph. D; potential for external fellowship One competition per year, in spring

Upcoming events • Applying for Fellowships: 18 th April – https: //workshops. ncl. ac.

Upcoming events • Applying for Fellowships: 18 th April – https: //workshops. ncl. ac. uk/fms/fellowships/ • Future Proofing for the prepared researcher; NIHR BRC Careers Development Workshop: 19 th April – https: //workshops. ncl. ac. uk/nihr/futureproof/ • Writing for Publication and the Publication Process: 25 th May – https: //workshops. ncl. ac. uk/fms/publication/

What if you’re not sure about an academic career? Ø Discuss with your supervisor/colleagues/peers

What if you’re not sure about an academic career? Ø Discuss with your supervisor/colleagues/peers Ø Think about the options – there are many Ø Professional careers advice

Popular alternatives to academia • Pharma/Biotech • Teaching (HE, secondary) • Consulting • Entrepreneurship

Popular alternatives to academia • Pharma/Biotech • Teaching (HE, secondary) • Consulting • Entrepreneurship • Finance • Government • • • Law Public Policy Sales Technology Transfer Venture Capital Writing http: //www. nextscientist. com/alternative -careers-for-phd-students/

Same message, be proactive, start making plans now and start making contacts around start

Same message, be proactive, start making plans now and start making contacts around start of final year

Post Submission Scholarship Scheme – A maximum of 3 months additional stipend • Enterprise

Post Submission Scholarship Scheme – A maximum of 3 months additional stipend • Enterprise Scholarship • Intern Scholarship • Academic Development Scholarship

Expectations • Three months is not a long time! • Scholarships don’t support lab

Expectations • Three months is not a long time! • Scholarships don’t support lab work • Supervisors & Research Group must provide structures to support the scholarship • Applicants must complete agreed milestones which may include a short report

Timescale • Funding will be awarded on thesis submission • Staged funding will apply

Timescale • Funding will be awarded on thesis submission • Staged funding will apply on completion of milestones • Applications can be made at any time but more notice is better • Notification will be given as quickly as possible

Applying • Applications can be made by visiting the website at www. ncl. ac.

Applying • Applications can be made by visiting the website at www. ncl. ac. uk/fms/es

Alternative Funding Options Applicants may find that other funding options are available and appropriate

Alternative Funding Options Applicants may find that other funding options are available and appropriate • Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) • BBSRC Enterprise Fellowships • Research Councils Follow on Fund

What else can you do to build your CV? • Scientific Writing Competitions •

What else can you do to build your CV? • Scientific Writing Competitions • http: //bscb. org/competitions-awardsgrants/science-writingprize/ • https: //www. biochemistry. org/Get. Involved/Science. Communicat ion. Competition. aspx • https: //www. mrc. ac. uk/skills-careers/studentships/for-currentmrc-students/max-perutz-science-writing-award/ • http: //www. ukicrs. org/essay-competition-2018. html

What else can you do to build your CV? • {React} the University Science

What else can you do to build your CV? • {React} the University Science Magazine – https: //blogs. ncl. ac. uk/react/ • BRIGHT CLUB: Presenting the funny bits about your research work in the stand-up style. Next date 15 th May • https: //www. life. org. uk/events/bright-club

 • Three Minute Thesis (3 MT) - Local and national competition for presenting

• Three Minute Thesis (3 MT) - Local and national competition for presenting your research in brief. Launch of Newcastle competition is 3 rd April. https: //www. vitae. ac. uk/events/threeminute-thesis-competition • Biotechnology YES - young entrepreneurs scheme - presenting a business case for the commercialisation of science. Info event will be mid-April – http: //www. yescompetitions. co. uk/ • Brilliant Club - bringing your research and experience to school children from under-represented backgrounds – http: //www. thebrilliantclub. org/

All of these things are important… But not at the expense of a timely

All of these things are important… But not at the expense of a timely Ph. D submission!

Application process and time scale for external fellowships – science -6 m -5 m

Application process and time scale for external fellowships – science -6 m -5 m RA approaches and talks with PI (advisor) about interest in fellowship and possible project Referral to Institute FFG-S representative – discussion about suitability, readiness and possible schemes RA works on CV – primarily publications RA starts to work on application with support from advisor and mentor RA Notifies the faculty for tracking fms-ecr@ncl. ac. uk Contacts Gwen Averley for advice and guidance about specific schemes (gwen. averley@ncl. ac. uk) -4 m -3 m Iterations of application with local peer review and mentor review (may include DOI) Contacts Institute Research Support Officer re. costings -2 m -1 m Signed off by Associate Dean of Research - 7 d -2 d Mentor allocated – meeting arranged Contacts DOI re. commitment as sponsor Checks by RSO and JRO Signed off and submitted by Do. I Notify fms-ecr@ncl. ac. uk of outcome Mock interviews organised by advisor and mentor Debrief with advisor and mentor Pass feedback from application and interview back to FFG-S (via fms-ecr@ncl. ac. uk )