a career in academia dr charlotte lawson chlawson@rvc.ac.uk cardiovascular group veterinary basic...

A Career in Academia

Dr Charlotte Lawsonchlawson@rvc.ac.ukCardiovascular Group

Veterinary Basic Sciences

What is research?

1 : Careful or diligent search2 : Studious inquiry or examination; especially : investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws

3 : The collecting of information about a particular subject

What Interests Me?

Subject areas – Immunology, molecular biology,

cardiovascular biology, human cardiovascular disease and prevention, veterinary diseases, basic cell biology

Working environment–Variety, creativity, independence,

improvisation, practical work, responsibility, passing on knowledge, people, travel, team work, management, writing

My Career Path…School

A levels: biology, chemistry, physics

Undergraduate degreeAnimal Science (Wye College, University of London)3rd year project: molecular analysis of wheat ATPases (!)

PhDKennedy Institute of Rheumatology (CXWMS, UofL)“Molecular analysis of shedding of human p75 TNF-R”

Post-docHarefield Hospital (Imperial College), Transplant immunology group

FellowshipBritish Heart Foundation Intermediate Fellowship (Harefield Hospital)

Royal Veterinary College, LondonLecturer in VBS (Lifestyle (Cardiovascular) research group)

What do I do in my day?

• Design and carry out/oversee experiments

• Analyse and discuss data

• Write papers

• Present papers at meetings

• Write grants

• Teaching

• Committees and admin ()

• Still have fun ()

Career options on graduation

⋙ PhD

⋙ Postdoc Research

⋙ Fellowship/Lectureship

Why choose this route? ⋙ like research; the “buzz”

⋙ teaching?

?

Or…

•Work as a technician/research assistant, part time PhD

•Work in a clinical lab (trainee Biomed scientist, trainee clinical scientist)

•Accreditation then part time PhD

•Senior clinical scientist/biomedical scientist

What is a PhD?

What is a PhD?

What is a PhD?

Training in independent research

•A variety of techniques

•Scientific publications

•Presentations locally and internationally

•A THESIS!

•Many generic and transferable skills •Time management, team working, organisation,

presentation, assertiveness

•Freedom to develop own academic interests

Criteria of success

• Scientific publications (impact factors, citation indexes…!)

• Research grants (money)

– charity, industry, research councils

• Scientific reputation

– invited talks, editorial boards…

Not money……• PhD – about 14-15K

•(age 21-25)

• Post Doc 25-30K

•(age 25-30)

• Lecturer 25K – 40K

•(age 30-40)

• Senior Lecturer/reader 40K – 50K

•(age 35-50)

• Professor 50 – 70K

•(age 40-…)

No company car/perks, but ok pension and reasonably secure (and you don’t need a big wardrobe

budget!) £

“Normal” Career path

• First Degree

• (MSc)

• PhD

• Post doc position x1 or x2

• Research fellow

• Lectureship (tenure)

• Senior lecturer/senior research fellow

• Reader

• Professor

Benefits• Academic freedom!

• Creativity!

• Long term goals and targets

• Self motivation, self driven

• Varied activity – hands on, teaching undergrad and postgrad

• Writing

• Travel

• Sabbatical leave

• Few constraints

• Kudos (editorial boards, invited speakers, review panels)

• Deadlines!

Summary

•Many different ways of entering research

•Great way of combining basic science & clinical work

•Don’t need to be a clinician

•Fun, exciting, innovative, variable, travel, independence, team work

So…• If you are the sort of person who has moments

• Doesn’t mind

• Is not too motivated by £

• Likes to be creative

• Enjoys and and

Then…

A career in academia could be for you!

Thank you for listening!