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Postgraduate researchers

Careers appointments can be booked by research students through Careers Gateway.  Research staff should contact the Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) for further help.

The Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) can help you gain transferable skills  by offering information resources, a training and development programme and support with career planning. 

Academic careers

Higher education is the most popular career destination for research graduates, and can provide a challenging and rewarding career.  It is important to weigh up the pros and cons of an academic career, especially given the current trend towards short term contracts.  You will need a good understanding of the issues facing higher education (see Useful resources below) and a range of skills built up during your research degree.

Pros and cons

Academia offers:

  • relative independence and autonomy
  • a stimulating work environment
  • opportunities to attend international conferences
  • opportunities to publish research
  • teaching opportunities
  • knowledge transfer
  • professional and personal development

but can be:

  • isolating
  • insecure, with short term contracts 
  • demanding, in terms of workload and deadlines
  • less well paid than comparable professional careers

If you are keen to pursue an academic career, you need to make sure you build a good track record during your PhD studies in the following areas: 

  • publications in quality, peer reviewed journals
  • writing successful research proposals and funding bids
  • project management
  • teaching experience (tutorials, seminars and lectures)
  • presentation skills (presenting your research at seminars and conferences).

Skills

To be successful in an academic career can you show: 

  • Passion for your research – and the ability to pass this on to others
  • Organisational and time management skills
  • Networking skills
  • Communication skills – for report writing, grant applications, lectures and presentations
  • Motivation – to manage your workload, and at times work long hours
  • Administrative skills
  • Teamworking  skills.

Outside your department you need to network to get to know your peers nationally (and internationally), and also the big names in your field; you should also make yourself and your research interests known so that you can begin networking with potential collaborators through conference attendence, administrative roles and involvement in professional bodies and university groups.

The Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) can help you develop your skills, and offer a range of courses open to postgraduate researchers and research staff.

A Professional Development Plan (PDP) helps you think about the skills, behaviours and attitudes you want to develop as a researcher at York. You can find information on PDP workshops, and templates, on the Researcher Development webpages.

York Learning and Teaching Award

York Learning and Teaching Award (YLTA) is a nine-month accredited introductory programme offered at the University of York for researchers who intend to pursue an academic career.  It provides researchers who teach with skills in facilitating learning, teaching techniques and the opportunity to learn from the experience of new academics, and you can use this on your CV as evidence of professional development.

Other jobs in HE

There is a lot of competition for research and lecturing posts.  There are, however, a range of other, non-academic, roles within higher education, which may be of interest to researchers.   See the After your doctorate section on the Vitae website.

Useful resources

Reference books in the Careers include:

  • The Academic Career Handbook
  • Managing Your Academic Career
  • Successful Research Careers

Vacancy websites

Careers in other sectors

According to Research Councils UK, doing a PhD has an impact on perceived employability and career decisions, with doctoral graduates using their research skills even though many work in roles which are not classified as research. The Impact of Doctoral Careers explores the economic, social and cultural impact that doctoral graduates have on organisations they work in. As a PhD graduate you may find work outside of academia, in roles in education, the public sector, research and development, health, finance, consultancy and more. 

Skills

During your PhD you will be developing many transferable skills, valued by employers.   See the Vitae website for a list of skills employers look for, and how they relate to research training.  The Jobs on Toast blog also lists skills that will make you employable.

The Researcher Development Framework and RDF Planner can help you with planning your personal, professional and career development, and will help you identify relevant skills and competences you have developed.

Useful resources

Vacancy websites

Explore our resources

Useful links

Contact us

Careers and Placements
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (Undergraduate semester time)
Telephone: 01904 322685
Email: via Careers Gateway

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