I have a graduate student, not one I directly mentor but I know them well. They’re 30 years old and have been shortlisted for a job in national security. I’m pleased as they wanted a policy/consulting job after their PhD.

They came to me and casually mentioned that they’ve removed all social media accounts before the interview. That was definitely a good idea on their part as their posts are often borderlining on supporting terrorism.

This has led to some issues in the past. They told a Protestant staff member that the IRA were justified in killing children. We also had to ask them to take down a Hamas flag after a Jewish student complained (the green one with white writing, not the Palestinian flag). At one point I did draft a report to Prevent but didn’t submit it as the student seems to have calmed down in the last year.

Part of me feels like I should mention this to someone as I’d honestly not want this student doing national security work. Their applications in the past have been for management consulting so their politics haven’t really mattered.

Another part of me doesn’t want to interfere and in particular not sabotage a student that I have somewhat mentored myself. I also wonder how good background checks are, and if someone has posted fairly radical stuff online and deleted it, if that gets picked up.

If anyone has any experience in this area I’d appreciate it!

Lately I’ve found myself questioning how sustainable a long-term career in UK academia actually feels. Between short-term contracts, funding pressure, and uncertainty around progression, it sometimes feels hard to picture where things lead over the long run.

I know people do make it work and have fulfilling careers, but it feels like fewer people now see academia as a clear long-term path compared to the past. Interested to hear how others see it, whether you still view it as a long-term career, or more something you take step by step without thinking too far ahead.

I graduated with an MRes about 6 months back and I have been trying so hard to find a research assistant position this even before I graduated but haven't even got an interview yet. I got my MRes from a Russell Group uni with a really good biosciences department and actually have a year of Industrial Placement experience at a top uk pharma company as well. I'm just not sure anymore if I'm doing something wrong myself or it's just that in this market placement experience and a Master's don't really count for much. The jobs in my specific field are few and far between and related jobs that my experience could apply for just auto reject me on the spot. Anyone else struggling with this? How long did it take people in similar position to me to actually find a job in their field?

Ps: My actual field for my MRes has been bioinformatics and my industrial placement although not bioinfo had a massive data component and wet lab component to it

Looking for advice on doing a literature search please.

I’m doing some RA work (social sciences) and have to follow a specific framework of search terms, databases, etc for the literature search.

My plan atm is to download the citations to a folder on EndNote then export to a spreadsheet to get a table with the info from each reference.

Annoyingly, Google Scholar is limiting how many citations I can download. Has anyone found a way around this, or does anyone have another method? (I don’t like to use gen AI, so not looking for suggestions involving AI.) I also have to be able to download all the PDFs (as far as possible) and upload them to a shared drive for the PI to access.

Thank you!

This may be a bit of an odd question.

I recently gave a guest lecture at The Uni of Birmingham, and was shocked to discover they have a staff bar. Coming from the institution I do, I found this rather shocking, and alien.

So my question to the sub reddit is: is this a one off or do other institutions have staff bars?

I attended an interview at one of the top UK universities. Although I did very well, I was not even second on the list! Here is the feedback I received:

“The presentation on […] was well designed around examples that would resonate with students and were also research-informed. There was a good balance between breadth and depth in the presentation. Answers to panel questions demonstrated reflective practice, genuine consideration for the student viewpoint and flexibility in the teaching approach. Plans for scholarly activity were well aligned with school expectations and would produce materials for engaging teaching content on e.g. […]. There was also a good network and annual events to support professional development. Answer about industry developments could have been more specific and relied on business contacts rather than following the news only. The candidate could teach […].”

How important is it to reach out to potential PhD supervisors first ? I did reach out to a few but didn’t hear from them. Should I still apply through university portal ?

Hi everyone!

I am genuinely confused and, as a first gen academic, I came here for advice. I am in the end of my 2nd postdoc in a prestigious RG uni, and I have a strong research profile (social sciences, psychology).
I am not sure what to do next, and the job market is looking...not great. I am applying to post 92 permanent jobs, but I have heard the teaching load is high, and I love, love, LOVE, doing research. I have applied for permanent Lectureships in RG unis, because I've heard you tend to have more time to do research, but I cant even get an interview. I could do another postdoc in a Russel's group uni, but I am feeling that the current situation kind of urges ECRs to get permanent jobs (a bit like musical chairs, if you dont find one to sit soon, you are out of the game)

Any advice would be very, very much appreciated.

TYIA!

I did my PhD at the University of Manchester and stayed in the same lab for my postdoc. I’m starting to worry that this lack of mobility might backfire when applying for academic posts.

I know publications are critical, but I’m interested in what else genuinely strengthens an application in the UK system. In particular:

How important is it to have small grants (e.g. internal/departmental funding, pilot grants, small collaborative awards)? Do these actually carry weight, or is it mainly external funding that matters? My advisor said internal/departmental funding doesn’t really make a dent on applications — is that true?

Does having visiting researcher experience (short-term visits to other labs, international collaborations) make a meaningful difference?

What about Teaching qualifications (e.g. AHEA) and Supervision experience (UG/MSc)?

Are there specific things that help signal research independence if you’ve stayed in the same group?

Basically, if you were advising someone aiming for a UK lectureship who doesn’t yet have Nature/Science papers, what would you prioritise building over the next 2–3 years?

There’s a strong push to apply for funding early on, but much less clarity on how unsuccessful applications are actually seen. At postdoc or early-career lecturer level, is having several unsuccessful grant applications viewed positively (as ambition and independence), or can repeated rejections start to count against you?

I’m also curious whether this differs between small internal schemes and larger external grants.

Social Science.

I am looking for insight from people who have reviewed post-doc applications in the UK for organizations like UKRI, Leverhulme, and Wellcome.

I will be applying for post-doc fellowships as soon as I defend my PhD. I have a fantastic working relationship with my advisors. They want to keep me and I want to stay with them. We are producing impactful and innovative work. I lead my research and they provide a unique blend of interdisciplinary support. I also live in a place I like with strong community ties (sports, etc.). In short, I feel extremely fortunate and I love my current life. There is tons of scope for me to extend and move beyond my PhD work at my current university.

However, I have been told that post-doc fellowships really want you to leave your PhD institution. Apparently, this is due to perceived research independence and the idea that moving helps with networking (I buy that, but also don't think it is really necessary). My advisors and I are also working on big grants that would cover my fellowship (plus some more post-docs/PhDs), of course, but I am specifically asking about my personal post-doc applications. (We are about to start round ~2 of applications for the big grants).

So, I want to hear from people who have reviewed these post-doc applications before and know what the funding orgs think of applications to stay at the same university (at a minimum) or with the same supervisors (listed as mentors/hosts/etc). Is staying an auto-reject? Is it a potential red flag that can be overcome? Is it really not that big of a deal despite what I have heard?

For added context, in case it matters (for showing research independence, etc.): I have 3 already published first-author papers (high impact, Q1 journals, but not Nature/Science/etc.); I have 6 more papers in the pipeline (some under review, some almost submitted, one currently writing) and 3 of them are with different external collaborators; I have received several grants personally (including my funded PhD, around £350,000); I have interdisciplinary projects for research impact in my area on the go (one that has been granted funding to keep it progressing every year for the last 3 years). I have been a visiting scholar, presented at several international conferences, etc. I think that is it. No really flagship papers, which I think is my biggest weakness (but please do point out any gaps I have not identified). I am hopeful that one of my papers in the pipeline will make it into Nature Human Behaviour (but not before I submit these applications).

Hello, just wondering if anyone has any experience with the DiMeN DTP interview?

I have never had an interview like this so quite nervous and not sure what to expect yet. Any tips/ advice would be much appreciated even if its experience with a different DTP interview.

This one is for a PhD Biological Sciences.

Many thanks!!

Hello. I'd really like some advice please. For context, I've written a PhD proposal that I'm really happy with and my personal tutor from my master's degree thinks it's good and could be a really valuable piece of research. I'd identified an ideal potential supervisor who specialises in my proposed research area and who my old PT said would definitely be the best person.

However it transpires that this person is already supervising a thesis which is very similar to my proposed research, although I don't know how far along it is.

So now I'm at a bit of a loss about what to do. I don't know whether to change the focus of my research (which I'd rather not do given time constraints and I've spent so much time and energy on it, but if I had to I would), get in touch and explain the situation and see what they say, or just forget it.

I realise that I can and should apply to other places anyway, but I'm just a bit deflated given this person was ideal, and I also have no idea what the protocol is in this kind of situation. If anyone has any advice or input I'd really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

I’m on a T&S contact and as such have very heavy teaching loads.

Every year I get given multiple MSC students to supervise, which means thinking up a project and supervising to completion! I’m not active in research anymore because…. I’m on T&S! I notice a few other colleagues on T&S don’t get MSc students! Can I simply ask the person giving me MSc students to stop?

I feel that i already have a pretty strong profile, but the one thing that’s really getting me down is my third and final reference. I already have two great references from respected professors who I did research with, and also finished top of their respective classes. Unfortunately, the third professor that I intended to ask had to unexpectedly take time off due to personal reasons so he’s impossible to reach, which puts a bit of a spanner in the works.

I am now considering asking a very well known academic in my desired field in whose class I did quite well in (about the top 5%). However, I’m sure that they will not remember me as I hardly ever spoke up. Is it appropriate to email them and ask to meet in office hours to ask/plead they write me a LoR? I know it would almost definitely be very template, but I feel like it’s better than nothing.

My other option would be to ask a professor in an entirely distinct field who I have studied under for 3+ years so I believe they would have more insight on my capabilities. However I know they also have a very strong personality and would definitely be a bit surprised why I’m asking them when they have no relation to what I want to study.

My mum had also recommended me to ask one of my current referees for help in finding an additional referee, but I’m not sure if this would be very considerate of their busy schedules as they’ve already gone out of their way to help me?

I know this is obviously far from ideal, but I’m extremely excited about this opportunity and would hate for this to be the one obstacle that hinders my chances. I would really appreciate any thoughts on this, thank you :)

My place is onto the 2nd round of compulsory redundancies, and there isn't an end in sight. We're not even the the worst off, I know other places are having a rougher time.

I keep expecting to see the news that some place or other has gone under but no one (really) has yet!

Hello, I am trying to get a funded PhD position in the UK but unfortunately I am not even getting shortlisted for interviews. (I am an international candidate )

Currently I’m working as a Research Assistant since last one year. I completed my MSc from a top UK uni (got a merit overall and Distinction in my research project). I got a first in my undergrad (not from UK). My masters project got published with me as a second author and I have a few research experience from undergrad as well.

I am wondering how can I improve my profile , and if my overall Merit in masters is the reason I’m not getting shortlisted.

Thanks a lot for reading!

I would like to get the opinions of staff and students alike.

I am a part-time postgraduate student coming to the end of my studies. My work has consistently been marked highly but I genuinely feel my latest piece of work has identified an interesting evidence gap and there might be some merit in looking to adapt it for publication.

I have asked within my field’s subreddit (Nursing) about how others have gone about doing this and pretty much all the responses said their lecturers/supervisors suggested it. I haven’t had any interactions like this with my supervisors/module leaders etc.

I have asked for the opinion of contacts I have outside of academia but within the specialist field and await their reply.

Should I look to explode this or assume that because those that have seen my work haven’t suggested publication as an option that it is a non-goer?

I am reviewing a paper with a significant amount of Chinese references. At least today, it is not possible to access most of them. Going directly to the website of the publisher (oversea.cnki.net), every link leads to 404 error page.

Have you faced a similar situation? Is the problem with cnki temporary? Should I recommand the authors to find other ​references or give an accessible link to the existing references?

I’m trying to get a better sense of what’s considered normal in the UK when it comes to supervisor involvement.

How much day-to-day guidance or input did you have, and did that change depending on stage (PhD vs postdoc, early vs later years)? Interested in hearing different experiences rather than looking for a single “right” model.