1. Digitising our futures: early career professionalization in the digital sphere
Dr Charlotte Mathieson School of English and Languages,
University of Surrey
@cemathieson

2. Developing a digital identity: overview
What digital opportunities are available?
What are the benefits to early career researchers?
What are the issues to consider and how can challenges be overcome?

3. My career 2007-10: PhD, Department of English, University of Warwick
: Teaching associate, Department of English, University of Warwick (plus many other short-term ECR contracts)
: Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Study, University of Warwick
: Teaching Fellow, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, Newcastle University
2016-present: Lecturer, School of English and Languages, University of Surrey

4. What digital platforms are there?
Blogs
Individual
Co-authored
Social media
Twitter / Facebook
Website
Individual / department homepage
Networking sites
Academia.edu, LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Piirus

5. Institutional homepage

6. Blogging: Warwick Blogs

7. Blogging: benefits Gateway into public engagement
Leading to further opportunities
Developing academic writing
Honing clarity, structure, key messages
Research practice and identity
What am I doing/ why/ how?

8. Blogging: developing your own site

9. Blogging: multi-authored platforms
Journal of Victorian Culture Online
Feminist & Women’s Studies Association blog
Open Letters Monthly: an Arts and Literary Review
Consider:
where / what

10. Social media: twitter

11. Social media: benefits
Research networks:
Audience for blogging
Interaction and discussion
Maintaining professional relationships
Developing new professional contacts
Information and opportunities

12. Social media: benefits
Career-stage networks #PhDchat #ECRchat
Career and professionalisation advice
HE news and views
Community and support

13. Social media: other options
Facebook
LinkedIn
ResearchGate
Academia.edu
Piirus

14. Benefits of digital identity
Networking:
Building and maintaining a fluidity of online and “real life” contacts
Time investment benefits
Visibility:
Increased visibility for publications
Opportunities for collaboration – publication; teaching abroad; public engagement
Professionalisation
Awareness of current news, views, etc.
Keeping up to date with your field
Advice on professional development issues

15. Benefits of digital identity
Community
Support and advice from peers on professional and related wellbeing issues
Breaks PhD/ECR isolation, gives continuity during instability
Identity
Who am I as a researcher / what am I doing / why / how?
What makes me unique?

16. Challenges of digital identity
What is a professional online identity? What does that mean to me? What are my boundaries?
Visibility of research:
What can I write about? Are there risks in putting research online?
Time:
How much time do I need to invest? Isn’t it more important to put time into writing publications?

17. Resources
Twitter
#ecrchat #phdchat #withaPhD #socphd – career-stage networks
#scholarsunday – recommended scholars to follow
#acwri and #suwtues – academic writing advice and fortnightly chat group

18. Resources
Mark Carrigan, Social Media for Academics (London: Sage, 2016)
LSE Guide to Twitter
PhD Life Blog, University of Warwick
Emma Cragg, Beginning Blogging. Available at blog.piirus.com/2015/05/07/beginning-blogging-guest-blogger- emma-cragg-writes-about-how-to-combat-your-fears/
Piirus Digital Identity Health Check for Academics. Available at: blog.piirus.com/piirus-bonuses/
Raul Pacheco Vega 6 Twitter Tips for Busy Academics. Available at based-on-my-own-strategy

19. Thank you and Questions
Dr Charlotte Mathieson School of English and Languages University of