Our experts and research fellows shared their tips, advice and useful hints on applying for Fellowships.
Which Fellowships are available? How to apply? What not to do? How to manage a positive work-life balance in light of the challenges faced by an early-career researcher, particularly if you have a (young/dependent) family?
Previously, GDEMs (gender, diversity and equality meetings) were a PE-CDT student led activity giving one academic per month an opportunity to talk to students in less formal setting about their career experiences, giving them tips and advice on how they managed the challenges faced in their careers, particularly with regard to work-life balance and facing equality in the workplace. Following feedback, we have brought a variety of speakers together and re-formatted the meetings into a more structured event, with a “Focus on.. “ topic each time. The first of these re-formatted meetings was held on the afternoon of 17 October 2019, and Focused on Fellowships.
After welcome remarks from the PE-CDT's science co-ordinator, Lisa Bushby, Dr Karen Hinxman of Imperial’s Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre introduced Fellowships to the group and explained that applicants will need to consider the three Ps when putting together their application: Person, Project and Place.
We were delighted to have three research fellows join us for the afternoon, starting with Dr Kim Jelfs, who discussed how reluctantly she found herself putting together 40-page applications for fellowships and overcome imposter syndrome to land the role of Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Chemistry Department. Kim also successfully applied for an Imperial Junior Research Fellowship
Dr Anne Guilbert, EPSRC Research Fellow in the Department of Physics, was meeting an application deadline that very day and so had some really useful insights to offer. Particularly around making your own research stand out from that of your previous supervisors.
Dr Laura Ratcliff, EPSRC Early Career Research Fellow in the Department of Materials demonstrated that it is possible to manage a chronic illness and a career in research. Laura shared loads of tips and advice for students and researchers.
Finally, Dr Stephen Curry, Imperial's Assistant Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion gave a talk on Imperial's equality, diversity and inclusion strategy.
The talks were followed by networking and drinks.
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Reporter
Lisa Bushby
Department of Physics
