C8 - The Pathway to independence; A collaborative initiative to help develop future scientific leaders

Day 2 at 11:00 - Background: Taking the leap from postdoctoral researcher (postdoc) to independent team leader represents a significant challenge and a steep learning curve. Funding and team leader positions in the life sciences are scarce and competition is fierce. Once in post, the pressures are manifold; recruit the right people, publish, win further funding, balance teaching, administration and research commitments, raise your profile amongst peers, the list goes on. The nature of scientific research adds further complexity, with the common expectation that postdocs will move organisations and develop their own field of expertise away from their current institution. This leaves the risk that as a sector we are failing to prepare our future leaders for the challenges ahead. In 2012/13 the Institute of Cancer Research, the BBSRC and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute came together to develop an innovative programme aimed at helping top postdocs prepare for the challenges ahead - ‘The Pathway to Independence; Developing Future Scientific Leaders'. A key aspect of this programme was that sessions and talks were provided by scientists in the field who had been through the process and could share lessons learned for the benefit of attendees. Strand - Research staff.