EC Blog
Welcome to the Early Career Blog!
This new area aims to provide a wide variety of career advice to our Early Career members. If you are interested in writing a blog post or have any suggestions of topics you’d like us to cover, please email: ashattock21@rvc.ac.uk. We’ve included a sample of topics we’re hoping to cover below, if you would like to write about any of these then we would love to hear from you!
– Leaving a post that isn’t for you
– Choosing Between Academia and Industry
– Building resilience
– Parenthood during a PhD/postdoc
– Returning to academia/work after a career break
A Fruitful Failure Fable
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham By Vipul Batra Vipul completed a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in System Biology and Bioinformatics at the Panjab University and a PhD in Animal Biotechnology from ICAR-NDRI, India. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at...
Moving countries for a PhD? The good, the bad and everything in between!
Postdoctoral Screening Scientist at the National Phenotypic Screening Centre, University of Dundee. By Dr Kane I completed my master’s degree in India in 2014, and while I enjoyed research, the idea of committing to a 4-year doctorate terrified me. So, after four...
The Importance of a Good Mentor by Dr Gbenga Eweoya
By Dr Gbenga Eweoya, Senior Lecturer in Anatomical Sciences Department, University of Abuja, Nigeria. Author Biography: Dr Gbenga is presently a Senior Lecturer and the Ag.ead of the Anatomical Sciences Department at the University of Abuja, Nigeria. His interest in...
Getting into science communication: An interview with Sarah Norcross, director of PET
By Sarah Norcross, Director of PET Progress Educational Trust Please click here to watch the video Author Biography: Sarah isn’t a scientist! She has a degree in Law for King’s College London and after her degree she qualified as a barrister. Her legal practice saw...
Having children during a PhD/Research Fellowship
By Dr Jessica Lawson, Research Fellow at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), and former SRF PhD Early Career Representative. Author Biography: I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College with my veterinary...
Taking a career break in academia
By Suman Rice, Reader in Reproductive Physiology at St George’s, University of London, as well as a mentor in SRF’s free mentoring scheme (find out more here: https://srf-reproduction.org/srf-mentoring-scheme/) Can you briefly describe your career journey,...
How to Effectively Use Your Postdoc Position to Prepare you for an Independent Faculty Position
By Dr Claire Stenhouse, Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology, Pennsylvania State University Author Biography: Claire completed both her BSc in Biological Sciences with Honors in Reproductive Biology and MSc by Research in Reproductive Sciences at the University...
Navigating the transition from BSc/MSc to PhD
By Alexandra Shattock, a third-year PhD student. Author Biography: Alex completed her BSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Birmingham and then went on to gain her MSc in Reproduction and Development from the University of Bristol. She is now in the final...
Should I or shouldn’t I: Exploring the ups and downs of a doctoral degree.
By Dr Rebecca Blanchard, Teaching Associate within the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham. Author Biography: I completed an undergraduate degree in Equine Sports Science at Nottingham Trent University. Following this, in 2013, I...
Maintaining a good work-life balance
Maintaining a good work-life balance By Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, Professor of Fetal and Placental Physiology at the University of Cambridge. Author Biography: Amanda completed her undergraduate degree (BSc) at the University of Adeliade, Australia, followed...
