Getting Your Research Career Going at UQ Cindy Gallois Acting Executive Dean SBS Faculty September, 2008

The UQ context and the ERA context UQ mission: research, RHD, teaching Six research institutes, many research centres – ISSR started 2007 Research strengths in all humanities and social sciences, science High priority on basic, applied, translational research Go8 university – implications for Workload: teaching, service must leave time for research (T&R, RO) Promotion – strong evidence base for quality and quantity Need to publish high-quality work, win external funding, supervise RHD students to successful completion UQ is a large and complex organisation Research/ research training activities generate > 25% of our income BUT largest single source of income is still teaching-related activities Australian context: larger projects, high- quality, high-impact research – scale and focus in research

Early Career Researchers: Who are you (in social, behavioural, and economic sciences)? Five key evidence areas that describe ECRs: Time from PhD – anywhere up to 10 years (usually <3 or <5), depending on the context Funding – have you achieved an independent external grant as a lead CI? Publication – do you have a track record (quality and quantity) that will attract independent funding? Teaching and research supervision – can you supervise HDR students to successful completion? Independence and experience – can you operate within UQ independently?

Expectations of an ECR Applying for and getting funding Internal – NSG, ECR, fellowships, UQFREA External – contract, NCG, ARC/NHMRC, international How much is enough? Publishing your work Journal articles, chapters, books, other? Quantity per year? What tier or mix of tiers? Commercialisation? Supervision – associate or primary? Independence – where do you go for help?

The research-teaching nexus Your research informs your teaching Theory and approach Methodology and techniques Make your curriculum your own Your teaching informs your research Raises interesting questions Students and your future research team

What is the right teaching and research balance? Find the teaching–research balance that suits you at present, considering Your own preferences Building and maintaining your reputation Confirmation and promotion School/Centre demands You don’t have to stay (there) forever

Managing teaching and research UQ has workload guidelines (including for ResTeach) – follow them Use annual appraisal to present and confirm your research plan If and when you teach, teach smart Teach in your strengths Preparation and assessment – consider numbers and resources Use term times – that’s why we have them Administration and service – be strategic

Where does supervision fit? Supervision is part of research UG and honours projects and theses are research – start your team here Honours and postgraduate coursework – small but publishable projects Students who want to do their own thing PhD – capacity and scope of supervision – learn to say no Postdocs and colleagues – learn to manage your team

What if you are an RHD student? Formulate a clear thesis plan Timely submission – scope Publish along the way Take opportunities to network Formulate a career plan T&R, RO – get guidance, mentor Timing, references, etc. Get the skills and knowledge you will need Participate in other research teams Network, network, network

What do you need to do now? Formulate a clear research plan Build your own niche area NOW – check against national priorities – all have social-science goals BUT – resist temptation (very strong in the social sciences) to start your own cottage industry Set goals, short- (12 months) and longer-term Have a regular time for research, team meetings Network, use all available resources: informal meetings, seminars; conferences, workshops Find good mentors in and out of your team Act – don’t react to others

What does UQ do for ECRs? New staff start-up grants ECR competitive grants UQ FREA and Faculty awards RRTD (ORPS) and Faculty workshops Travel grants for RHD students School guidelines and resources for ECRs

Sources of Further Information Web-sites: UQ, RRTD, CA&P, Faculty (BEL, SBS), Institute (ISSR), School, or Centre RRTD research bulletin, faculty bulletins External sites like ARC, NHMRC Policy and guidelines - HUPP Seminars and workshops People: Faculty Research Director, MICD, staff School/Centre staff – Research Chair, RHD Chair RRTD and UQ Graduate School staff