Challenges and Perspectives for Early Career Researchers during the current economic climate

10 July 2009

By Web Admin

By Professor Sarah O’Hara, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor Bob Webb, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Nottingham.

The economic turbulence of recent months and the confirmation that we are now in the midst of the largest global recession for a number of decades clearly presents huge challenges, but also significant opportunities, for Universities, their students and staff.  Discussion of cuts in public spending and, in the short-term, reduced investment in research and development by business, industry and charities will inevitably be a cause for concern particularly amongst post-graduate research students and early career researchers, who may be worried about future research opportunities and might also consider themselves an easy target for cuts.

Current Challenges

Yet the need to highlight the importance of researchers and the significant role that they have in the UK's knowledge economy is even more important now than previously. The UK’s position in the global economy has been built, in no small part, on the ideas and innovations that have emerged from the basic and strategic research carried out by its universities.  In this regard, post-graduate research students and early career researchers have had a significant role in these successes. Research-led universities will continue to assist in the process by (i) continuing dialogue with the government to stress the role that researchers play in this process and (ii) the need for continuous and sustained investment in this sector so that the UK is well positioned to take advantage of new developments and opportunities as the UK emerges from the economic downturn.

It is important to try and ensure that post-graduate research students and early career researchers are well placed to take advantage of new opportunities as they emerge.  With this in mind, the University of Nottingham has invested considerable time, effort and resource in ensuring that the connectivity between the University's research base and innovation leads to opportunities for involvement in spinouts, entrepreneurial activity and influencing the implementation of public policy.  For example, the University has entered into partnership with Nottingham Trent University, with funding from the East Midlands Development Authority (emda), to develop BioCity, one of Europe's largest bio-incubators.  This initiative now employs many researchers and support staff in a range of SMEs and is now employing many more people than when it was an industrial research and development laboratory.  It also provides an excellent example of how University’s can support research and development in the local community, in addition to providing graduate employment opportunities.  Other successful collaborations include the University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP), which opened in 2008.  Innovation parks provide a perfect setting for high-growth businesses and attracting world-class research teams. These types of development provide incubator and starting space for local businesses.  Local businesses are also looking for talented young researchers to support their growth and development. Indeed UNIP will be celebrating the opening of the new Global Navigation Satellite (GNSS) Research and Development Centre.  This is a collaboration between the University of Nottingham, emda and local businesses and will also support the evolving EPSRC supported Digital Economy initiative that will also act as a magnet for young researchers in these fields.

Perspectives

These are but a few of the exciting opportunities that the University of Nottingham is pursuing.  Other research-led Universities have similar initiatives.  These are being taken forward in the firm belief that partnerships which forge links between academia and industry are vital to sustain the health of the UK economy and produce entrepreneurs of the future.  Indeed, it is such partnerships that will develop the novel new technologies for the next major advance.

Early career researchers are central to these aspirations and it is essential that programmes are in place to both attract and support world class individuals.  Such a programme is demonstrated by the University of Nottingham’s Anne McClaren Fellowship Scheme.  This is aimed at supporting the career development of world class female early career research scientists and engineers.  The University is also investing in a range of additional fellowship opportunities designed to attract and nurture our best researchers and to provide that vital first step on the research career ladder.

Importantly, equipping post-graduate research students and early career researchers with the skills that underpin their research is essential.  Furthermore, the possession of a range of skills acts as a bridge between academia, business and industry.  For example, building on investments in to the Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI, a European Centre of Excellence in Enterprise Education), the University of Nottingham has developed an extensive range of training courses targeted at the research community.  These provide postgraduates and research staff with generic and enterprise skills which make them more highly employable.  The importance of networking and self-promotion, making the most of any conference attendance, representation on local and national bodies, circulating publications etc all increase the skills and employability of young researchers, whether destined for a career in academia or in industry.

Furthermore, there are a number of additional programmes aimed at supporting young researchers in the current economic downturn. At Nottingham a recent award by HEFCE from the Economic Challenge Investment Fund, recognises the pressures on young researchers and provides an integrated careers advice and personal development programme, offering work experience internships with public, private and third sector organisations.  The “Talent Builder” programme further supports post-graduate research development, with targeted skills training to meet the needs and demands of business and the wider community.

Future

What is important is that researchers reflect on the skills that they have developed during their career to date and consider how these skills lend themselves to careers both within and beyond academia. It should also be recognised that research opportunities are global.  The University of Nottingham is a global organisation with campuses in Malaysia and China as well as the UK.  Hence, training and research experience from a world-leading University (as judged in the recent 2008 Research Assessment Exercise) does prepare post-graduate research students and early career researchers for employment opportunities world-wide.  Working overseas can also be an important career development experience which is viewed positively by prospective employers.

In conclusion, take the opportunity to identify your skills and more importantly skills gaps.  Also take advantage of training and development opportunities within your institution. Being proactive in maximising these opportunities will ensure that you are as well prepared as possible should you need to look for an alternative position, either in the UK or overseas, whether it be in research or along another career path. Examples of the initiatives outlined for the University of Nottingham will also be found in other research-led UK Universities, demonstrating that there are career opportunities for early career researchers even in the current economic climate.

By Professor Sarah O’Hara, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor Bob Webb, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Nottingham.

Vitae would like to thank the author(s) for contributing this article. Vitae would like to remind readers that the information and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vitae or CRAC: The career development organisation.

This article has been published as part of Vitae's Researcher careers and recession online activity in July 2009.  To view other articles on this theme please visit www.vitae.ac.uk/careersandrecession