Navigating research careers is often highly challenging for early career researchers (ECRs) in the social sciences. The ability to thrive in research careers is complex and requires "soft" people and management skills and resilience that often cannot be formally taught through university coursework. Written from a peer perspective, this book provides guidance and establishes emotional rapport on topical issues relevant for ECRs in academia and industry. The authors are ECRs who have been successful in navigating their careers, and they seek to connect with readers in a supportive and collegial manner.Each chapter includes elements of story-telling and scientific thinking and is organized into three parts: (1) a personal story that is relevant to the topic; (2) key content on professional and personal effectiveness based on evidence in the psychological, sociological, and/or management sciences; and (3) action points and practical recommendations. The topics covered are specifically curated for people considering undertaking research careers or already working in research, including:
Work Hard, Snore Hard: Recovery from Work for Early Career Researchers
Networking and Collaborating in Academia: Increasing Your Scientific Impact and Having Fun in the Process
Accelerating Your Research Career with Open Science
Engaging with the Press and Media
Make Your Science Go Viral: How to Maximize the Impact of Your Research
Exploring the Horizon: Navigating Research Careers Outside of Academia
Thinking like an Implementation Scientist and Applying Your Research in Practice
Survival Guide for Early Career Researchers summarizes relevant evidence-based research to offer advice in strategic but also supportive ways to ECRs. It is an essential go-to practical resource for PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. This book will also benefit senior researchers who are serving as mentors or delivering professional development programs, administrators and educators in institutions of higher learning, and anyone with an interest in building a successful research career.
1. Dominika Kwasnicka, Alden Yuanhong Lai. Introduction: A Practical Guide on How to Survive and Thrive as an Early Career Researcher.
Part I. It’s All About You!
2. Alden Yuanhong Lai. Setting up for a Thriving Career: Assessing Your Scholarly Identity and Institutional Environment.
3. Lauren A. Fowler. Developing and Maintaining Healthy Work-Life Balance for Early Career Researchers.
4. Eka (Tari) Gatari Psikolog, Alden Yuanhong Lai, Bram Fleuren. Work Hard, Snore Hard: Recovery from Work for Early Career Researchers.
5. Jorinde E. Spook, Sanne Raghoebar. Achieving Balance Between Research, Teaching, and Service at Work.
6. Laura Desveaux. Climbing the Invisible Ladder – Advancing Your Career as a Woman in Science.
Part II: Research Skills and Competencies.
7. Anne van Dongen. Managing Research Projects.
8. Elaine Toomey. Networking and Collaborating in Academia: Increasing Your Scientific Impact and Having Fun in the Process.
9. Emma Norris. Accelerating Your Research Career with Open Science.
10. Olga Perski. Being Agile: Honing New Skills and Fostering Curiosity for Increased Scientific Impact.
11. Daan Westra. To Come, to See, to Conquer: Practical Pointers in Applying for Funding and Securing Your Initial Grants.
Part III: Research Dissemination.
12. Sarah Krull Abe. Being an Effective Writer.
13. Kim M Caudwell. Dealing with Rejection: Critical Thinking, Constructive Feedback, and Criticism in the Peer-review Process.
14. Silja-Riin Voolma. Presenting and Speaking About Your Work.
15. Nikki Stamp. Engaging with the Press and Media.
16. Mike Morrison, Kelsey L. Merlo. Make Your Science Go Viral: How to Maximize the Impact of Your Research.
Part IV: Research Outside of Academia.
17. Rachel Carey. Exploring the Horizon: Navigating Research Careers Outside of Academia.
18. Jenny Olson. An Alternative Career Path: Research and Evaluation in the Health Services and Not-For-Profit Sectors.
19. Amy Hai Yan Chan. Asking Why and Saying Yes: How to Make Career Decisions Strategically.
20. Rebecca Pedruzzi, Anne McKenzie. How to Engage the Public in Research.
21. Andrea K. Graham. Thinking like an Implementation Scientist and Applying Your Research in Practice.
22. Dominika Kwasnicka, Alden Yuanhong Lai. Final Thoughts: A Fulfilling Scholarly Career.
Index.
Dominika Kwasnicka, MA, MSc, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at University of Melbourne, Australia and SWPS University, Poland. She is a Director of Open Digital Health and Head Editor of Practical Health Psychology. Her goal is to make the research world a fair and inclusive space where diversity, creativity, and innovation thrive.
Alden Yuanhong Lai, PhD, MPH, is an assistant professor at New York University and executive advisor to the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation. He studies how to improve the jobs and working environments of healthcare workers, and seeks to apply his research on employee wellbeing to his own academic life.
Navigating research careers is often highly challenging for early career researchers (ECRs) in the social sciences. The ability to thrive in research careers is complex and requires "soft" people and management skills and resilience that often cannot be formally taught through university coursework. Written from a peer perspective, this book provides guidance and establishes emotional rapport on topical issues relevant for ECRs in academia and industry. The authors are ECRs who have been successful in navigating their careers, and they seek to connect with readers in a supportive and collegial manner.
Each chapter includes elements of story-telling and scientific thinking and is organized into three parts: (1) a personal story that is relevant to the topic; (2) key content on professional and personal effectiveness based on evidence in the psychological, sociological, and/or management sciences; and (3) action points and practical recommendations. The topics covered are specifically curated for people considering undertaking research careers or already working in research, including:
Work Hard, Snore Hard: Recovery from Work for Early Career Researchers
Networking and Collaborating in Academia: Increasing Your Scientific Impact and Having Fun in the Process
Accelerating Your Research Career with Open Science
Engaging with the Press and Media
Make Your Science Go Viral: How to Maximize the Impact of Your Research
Exploring the Horizon: Navigating Research Careers Outside of Academia
Thinking like an Implementation Scientist and Applying Your Research in Practice
Survival Guide for Early Career Researchers summarizes relevant evidence-based research to offer advice in strategic but also supportive ways to ECRs. It is an essential go-to practical resource for PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. This book will also benefit senior researchers who are serving as mentors or delivering professional development programs, administrators and educators in institutions of higher learning, and anyone with an interest in building a successful research career.