I am a Professor (Chair) of Global Health Design Innovation at Lancaster University in the UK and a Co-Director of the Future Cities Research Institute between Lancaster and Sunway Universities. I have spent the last decade and a half building a successful academic career going from PhD graduate to Full Professor in less than 15 years and by the age of 40. Then, in 2021, seeing colleagues and PhD students struggle with getting jobs or getting on the academic career ladder, I decided to do something about it. I am now lifting the hood up of academic career development, showing the process underneath, so that others have a guiding light that helps them on their journey. You can follow me on Twitter (@PhDtoProfMentor) and on LinkedIn for a free academic career advice every weekday as well as a free interview guide.

Succeeding at Your Next Postdoc or Lectureship Interview: 5 Insider Tips 

Want to impress potential employers during your next postdoc or lectureship interview? This article has insider tips from an experienced hiring committee member. Learn how to research the institution and interviewers, prepare examples of your teaching and research experience, practice common interview questions, highlight your collaborative skills, and ask thoughtful questions to impress your interviewers and stand out from the crowd. By following these tips, you can show that you are the ideal candidate for the position and help advance your career in academia.

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Travelling, Working, And Returning To Academia

A former history MA graduate, Jim Hulbert, recounts how he went from traveling to working, and returning to academia. After some years of working, he decided to pursue a PhD, a journey that was jumpstarted during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was furloughed from work.

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Navigating Reflexivity: A Guided Example to Move Beyond Reflection

Need guidance writing the reflexivity section of your thesis (or indeed writing reflexively throughout the thesis)? This article defines reflexivity as going beyond reflection to consider the influence of our positionality on our work. It covers three main types of reflexivity – personal reflexivity, methodological reflexivity and philosophical reflexivity – and includes some working examples to illustrate the thought processes and questions that facilitate transparency and rigor in research.

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