Dr Bethany Jackson, a Nottingham Research Fellow in the School of Geography, reflects on the topic of interdisciplinarity and her journey in research.

Dr Beth Jackson, Nottingham Research Fellow

I’ve never been one to make life easy for myself – this is best reflected in the way my research has evolved. Many people look at one specific challenge that may be complex, but it sits within a single research field.

Interdisciplinarity is supposed to have shattered these boundaries and yet the practicalities rarely reflect this across funding, policy and collaboration. I am lucky that I have been encouraged and had the opportunity to combine my interests on labour rights and the impact of climate change as a geographer where disciplinary boundaries aren’t rigid. There is however still one challenge that remains – how do you talk about and make inroads with two often disconnected research fields.

This is a struggle I have been grappling with since I completed by PhD and began my post-doctoral journey (shockingly five years ago). The labour space has been discussing the impacts of climate change for a while – after all the Just Transition movement originally arose from union action in the U.S. in the 1970s – and there has been a wealth of researchers (including myself) and civil society organizations that have been looking at the intersection of labour (often from the perspective of extreme forms of exploitation) and climate change. This has however not been as pertinent an issue in the environmental space.

The winds of change seemed to begin to stir in 2021 where the World Wildlife Fund (US branch) approached us to look at the intersection of labour and climate in the run up to the UNFCCC COP26 hosted in Glasgow. I organised and hosted an event with leading actors from both sides of the isle that I work across, with speakers from labour rights groups such as Solidarity Center, environmental organisations such as Earthworm Foundation, and global governance actors (e.g., UNDP). The aim was to get people sharing their work and producing a roadmap of recommendations that would help to provide a more collaborative landscape for shared opportunities and funding where labour and climate issues may arise in tandem. This had a positive outcome for a short time, and I was feeling good about the outcome and boost from engaging (online – there was still a pandemic happening after all) at COP26.

Then post-doc life continued and it was in 2023 when I got my next shot to really get my teeth into making people engage with one another again. This was leading a project funded by the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre looking at potential opportunities to intersect modern slavery and climate policy specifically within the UK. This arose as the EU have been pushing toward a combined approach within their due diligence frameworks. The study provided the opportunity to engage with policymakers across both the national and devolved administrations who work on the topics of modern slavery and climate change within their respective departments but may have never sort out collaborations before. This provided a unique opportunity with civil servants from all four governments to assist in the development of actionable recommendations around more cohesive legislative and policy pathways for labour and climate action. I’ve previously written about my experiences of engaging policymakers; but my personal highlight was hearing civil servants from the Scottish Government inviting one another to collaborative meetings without us having to facilitate!

After this positive outcome I was challenged by the excellent Survivor Research Advisory Board (SRAB, Rights Lab) on whether combined policy would minimise the support and effort needed to eradicate modern slavery – a legitimate concern and one that I continue to ponder. But this did open an interesting third aspect of collaboration on complex topics – lived experience priorities.

Working with the SRAB and a colleague from Health Sciences we decided to explore the links between labour and climate from a different perspective and in combination with an additional complex risk: health. Over a series of several sessions and many activities (involving whiteboards, maps and post-its), we co-produced an accessible paper looking at three key areas to addressing health and labour in the context of climate change from a lived experience perspective. This was a departure from the other forms of interconnected collaboration I had previously engaged in, but I think represents a new pathway and approach to addressing challenging issues. There is always more to learn, and you can’t get everything right all the time, but this was my most fulfilling engagement work yet.

There are several lessons I have taken away from the research projects I mention above:

• From the first project I learned the skills to be able to identify cross-cutting issues and share expertise.

• From the second, I began to understand the complexity of policymaking and identified ways to facilitate conversations between departments.

• Finally, in my third project I have begun to reflect on the different priorities from stakeholders and the need to develop more creative communication and inclusion of diverse voices in complex research.

My research has thus been on a journey – from engaging with interested organisations working in the field, to policymakers, to lived experience experts – there is I feel no right or wrong way to engage with stakeholders of all kinds. The key is to speak with and learn from as many people from as many aspects of your research topics as you can and reflect on how you can continue to do this across your research. It may mean your previous assumptions are challenged, it may make you question everything you’ve ever published on the topic – but it may be one of the most valuable things that you do.

Contact Beth via LinkedIn.

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Researcher Rebecca Bull, from the School of Sociology & Social Policy, explores how criminal records perpetuate stigma and hinder reintegration.

My name is Rebecca Bull, and I am a final year PhD student. I study the post-sentence discrimination some people experience due to having a criminal record. I specifically consider Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Western Australia in my work. The stigma and restrictions people endure limit their rehabilitation and reintegration into society, possibly encouraging further criminality.

1 in 3 adult men in the UK have a criminal record. 1 in 10 women have one too. This can include convictions from shoplifting to fraud.

Most of these people have backgrounds of deprivation, domestic violence and trauma. Odds are we all know people with a record, whether we know it or not. Friends. Family. Colleagues. This may create feelings of anxiety or fear for some, but most people’s records are for minor convictions. This is not to diminish the impacts of crime and crime victims, but it is not always the worst-case scenario.

People are charged with committing a crime, convicted and then sentenced for their infringement and serve their legal sentence. This could include a fine, a community sentence or imprisonment. Sentences are getting longer and more severe, despite what headlines might tell us. However, the punishment carries on after the sentence too.

The barriers due to having a record after completing a sentence are immense. This includes difficulties getting a job, housing, insurance, accessing education, relationship strain, stigma, and mental health troubles. This may be for the family of the person with the record too. All of these coalesce to form an often unconquerable barrier to ‘rehabilitation’ or ‘reintegration’.

People who have spent time reflecting and working on themselves may be trying to turn their lives around. Yet, this is near impossible when so many barriers are in place holding people back. These barriers not only keep people in a situation where crime is more appealing, but increases victimisation as more people fall back into crime. This leads to a more unsafe society, as well as decreased economic activity as people find it hard to get into employment.

Therefore, I challenge you to reconsider your outlook on ‘criminals’ and who you think is and is not one, and why. Try to think a bit more critically about the bombardment of headlines we all see daily and if the media are trying to stoke fear among the public just to make a profit.

Who would you consider a ‘criminal’?

The guy who got into a pub fight 7 years ago?

The 17-year-old who was caught getting drunk in the park with their friends?

The struggling mom who stole nappies and baby food from a supermarket?

Your friend who was convicted for inconsiderate driving while lane-hogging?

The elderly lady who did not inform the authorities that her daughter had moved back in, which changed her benefit allowance?

The word ‘criminal’ has taken on a stereotype that does not represent all of those with a criminal record. Our minds can jump to the worst crimes imaginable, but maybe we can pause, think and learn a bit more before plunging into judgement.

For more information on the barriers for people with criminal records, their stories and how actors in the field are trying to change a system rooted in stigma, the charity Unlock do some wonderful work.

You can connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn.

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Richard Major, Director at Vigence, shares how hosting a postgraduate researcher brought fresh insight, real impact, and mutual value to his business.

Our journey with the University of Nottingham Placements Programme started in autumn 2024 as part of our strategic marketing development programme, and the experience has been truly transformative.

At Vigence, we specialise in delivering innovative dynamics and power platform solutions tailored to drive positive change for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and advising, mentoring and training staff from all organisations.

A clear and ambitious brief – a fresh start for our marketing journey

We began with a solid foundation but knew our earlier marketing efforts needed to be more forward-thinking and maintainable. After reviewing our marketing plan, The University of Nottingham’s placement programme offered us a unique opportunity to connect with talented individuals who could bring fresh perspectives to the execution of our plan.

As we embarked on this collaboration, our goals for this placement were clear: modernise and streamline our website to reflect our current vision, enhance staff engagement, and refresh our marketing activities for long-term sustainability over the final two quarters of 2024.

The selection process wasn’t easy – every candidate offered had recently completed a MBS specialising in marketing and demonstrated great skills and insight. Ultimately, we chose Meghana Mohankumar, whose detailed planned approach and clear understanding of our needs stood out.

Meghana immediately immersed herself in our company’s mission and values, ensuring that her work aligned perfectly with our goals. She approached the project with enthusiasm, a can-do attitude, and an unwavering commitment to understanding our business’s mission and values. Meghana’s ability to tackle such a broad and multifaceted brief was remarkable.

The impact of Meghana’s work – driving change and delivering results

Meghana’s contributions were substantial and were instrumental in moving our marketing strategy forward. She began by thoroughly understanding our objectives, crafting compelling content and a robust structure for our website. Her dedication and keen insight helped bring our vision and values to life with engaging content and a refreshed structure for our website, giving it a modern and maintainable foundation.

But Meghana didn’t stop there. She also took the initiative to assess and develop our presence on LinkedIn, laying the groundwork for increased online engagement. Additionally, she designed an innovative campaign to reconnect and kick start communication with our customers and contacts, breathing new life into our vital professional relationships. Meghana also engaged in the heavy lifting of organising media shoots and interviews with staff and customers.

Final thoughts – a collaborative and seamless process

The collaboration was both seamless and incredibly rewarding, thanks to the high calibre of postgraduate candidates offered for interview.

The entire experience was straightforward, flexible and well-supported by the University of Nottingham. Meghana’s up-to-date marketing insights and proactive approach enabled meaningful outcomes that are already making an impact. Her efforts have not only brought a renewed energy to our marketing activities but also equipped us with a clear roadmap for the future.

We are incredibly grateful for this collaboration with the University of Nottingham and for the opportunity to work with such talented individuals. This partnership has been a tremendous step forward for Vigence, and we look forward to continuing our journey of growth and innovation.

Thank you to Meghana and Richard for contributing to this blog post.

Connect with Meghana on LinkedIn

Connect with Richard on LinkedIn

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PhD researcher Joe Davies explores the silent data crisis and its impact on decades of scientific progress in chemistry.

“Don’t you just hate it when you misplace your valuable data from painstaking years of publicly funded research?”

Synthetic chemistry has a serious data problem. And no, it’s not one you can fix with a few extra spreadsheets. Every day, in research labs worldwide, invaluable experimental data disappear – scribbled into paper lab notebooks, locked away in drawers, occasionally disposed of, and ultimately forgotten.

The knowledge that could drive new discoveries is slipping through our fingers because chemistry has yet to embrace the digital revolution that has transformed other sciences.

In an age where data is considered the “new oil”(link £) why is chemistry still running on coal?

From antiquarians to data stewards

“I don’t even have an Auntie Quarian”

Most academic researchers in chemistry use paper lab notebooks. After all, they are incredibly convenient tools and enable you to feel like the researchers of old. Take the historic and scientific treasures that are Marie Curie’s lab notebooks, for example, these are stored in lead-lined boxes in Paris where visitors must sign waivers and wear protective gear to view them. Hers are radioactive with a half-life of 1600 years. Radioactive or not, paper lab books belong in the past.

In today’s world, data should be findable, accessible, interoperable, and resuable (FAIR). But chemistry lags behind, rather than embracing the digital tools that have transformed other sciences.

How much valuable data are we losing?

“I really hope nobody learns from my past mistakes – they were just too embarrassing!”

When we post on social media, we post what we want to show off. We don’t post the time we stepped in dog poo and didn’t notice and had to rush to, try at least, to clean the carpet before joining a meeting on Teams.

We do the same when publishing results. We publish the things that work and that we are proud of. Not all the dumb mistakes we made along the way that informed us of the wrong way of doing things, from which we learnt the right way. These extremely valuable data, sometimes called “negative data”, are lost down the black hole when the paper lab book is stored in the dusty cupboard so that one day, years down the line, someone will open and not know any of the names listed inside as it transitions from a scientific resource to an archaeological one.

Publishing in journals is the standard way researchers share data, but current methods fall far short of what is needed. Experimental details are often buried in PDFs, making them difficult for machines to process and challenging for researchers to extract and reuse.

Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs): a solution we’re ignoring

“ELNs have been around longer than Netflix, so why are we still buffering adoption?”

Fortunately, a solution was developed… right around the time Blockbuster started to lose popularity. Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, or ELNs, have been used in the pharmaceutical industry for over a decade now. However, barriers – both legitimate and self-inflicted – have prevented their widespread adoption within academia.

The barriers to ELN adoption in academia

Selecting an ELN can be challenging: there are a lot of options to pick from, “what does it cost?”, “I want this one but nobody else in the department does”, “I don’t like change”, “how do I get my data out of it if I want to move to a different provider?”. Mostly legitimate reasons. Fortunately, there are resources out there to help. There is an ELN Finder website which lets you filter by domain, pricing, and more.

It’s unfair if data are not FAIR

“Mirror, Mirror on the wall, which is the FAIRest ELN of them all”

 Getting your data out of one ELN and into another, aka interoperability (the I in FAIR data) is a challenge. Cynically (or realistically if you want to be the cynical one), it is advantageous for a paid-for ELN to make it hard to get your data out in a format that can be loaded into another ELN, because then you are free to leave and stop paying them. This sort of decision can make the whole thing a bit intimidating and easy to put off for another day or year. Fortunately, there are initiatives where well-meaning ELN providers have grouped together to enable interoperability between their systems. The ELN consortium is one such initiative, where an ELN File format has been developed that can go from one ELN into another, transferring over all the data.

The future is digital – even for chemistry

 Furthermore, just to reiterate, it is 2025. Students expect digital solutions, and industry expects them to use digital methods. The future is digital (interestingly, even Marie Curie’s lab books have now been digitalised!), and the core message is an old simple one of “adapt or perish”. ChatGPT and AlphaFold have demonstrated the power of data from the vast volume of text on the internet or the Protein Data Bank. There are synthesis machine learning models, but “for chemists, the AI revolution has yet to happen”,  and there is no AlphaFold success story in synthesis because there is no equivalent data foundation.

Want to make the switch? Go to AI4Green and join the green side

If you’re ready to stop losing valuable data to the black hole of paper notebooks but don’t want to spend weeks researching ELNs, try AI4Green.

I worked with other researchers at the University of Nottingham to develop an ELN called AI4Green. We take advantage of working in a digital environment by using AI and other computational tools to help you make your chemistry more sustainable. We think, and so do our users, that the ELN makes things easier by streamlining the data collection process.

* Monitoring and improve your sustainability
* Automated molar calculations
* Automatic hazard code retrieval
* Integrated AI tools
* A streamlined, user-friendly lab notebook experience

The future of chemistry is digital. Will you embrace it, or get left behind?

You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn

The post Chemistry’s data black hole: how much knowledge are we losing? appeared first on Researcher Academy.

Nikki Bonett, a researcher in BioSciences asks “how much of your day do you spend sitting down?”

As a researcher, much of your time—whether spent reading journal articles, writing papers, or analysing data—is likely done sitting. Is it really a problem?

Why does time spent sitting matter?

Since the since the advent of the computer, desk-based jobs have increased in number and many of us now sit for longer periods than ever before. This means work tasks keep us stationary for lengthy periods of time.

Unfortunately, prolonged sitting has been linked to serious health risks such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. Yet, these desk-based jobs don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

It struck me as ironic that the first time I heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking” was during a particularly tedious hour-long lecture on sedentary behaviour, in which we spent the entire 60 minutes – yes, you guessed it – sat at a desk. This is a sobering thought, especially when much of a researcher’s day revolves around tasks that encourage sitting. But how can we combat this sedentary lifestyle between 9 am and 5 pm, while still getting our work done?

How can we be more active at work?

One solution that’s growing in popularity is using an under-desk treadmill or walking pad. Imagine being able to get your 10,000 steps in while responding to emails or writing your next paper!

If you’re not feeling that adventurous, another idea is to use a standing desk. Many of these desks are adjustable, allowing you to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. While standing may seem like a small change, it requires more energy than sitting and can help engage your muscles and promote better circulation.

But let’s be honest – these solutions might not work for everyone, so allow me to propose just one more: breaking up your sitting time. The good news is that even if you don’t fancy standing or walking at your desk while working, simply breaking up your sitting time could be just as effective.

How can breaking up sitting time improve your health?

Even if you’re someone who exercises regularly, sitting for long periods at work can still harm your health. Studies show that interrupting long bouts of sitting with short bursts of activity can have positive effects on heart health, metabolism, and overall wellbeing, regardless of how much exercise you do in your free time.

The idea is simple: take breaks to move around. Whether it’s a quick walk to grab coffee or a brisk walk outside, these small moments of movement can help reduce the risks associated with prolonged sitting.

If you’re fortunate enough to be based at one of the University of Nottingham campuses, you’ll likely find plenty of green space to enjoy while breaking up your sitting time. Take advantage of it! Give your eyes and brain a break from your screen and use it as an opportunity to move a little more.

Highfields Park | Image credit – Victoria Harwood (@Bush-Hog-Tails)

This practice of completing short bouts of physical activity throughout the day has been given a conveniently memorable name: ‘snackitivity’. If you take nothing else away today, my hope is you’ll remember this fun little word and try to implement it into your life.

Snackitivity: a simple approach to health

Snackitivity has been garnering increasing interest in the exercise science space, with claims that it can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and mortality.

The key point about these exercise snacks is that they break up sitting time and can boost your metabolism. This has been shown to benefit inactive adults and those with type 2 diabetes, as well as young, healthy, active adults. However, the more active one is, the higher the exercise intensity required to elicit these metabolic benefits. This means that while breaking up sitting time with light-intensity activity may be enough for more inactive individuals, more vigorous-intensity activity may be required if you’re more active.

Regardless, the best part about these exercise snacks is that they’re sustainable, because they don’t require long exercise sessions. A 10-minute bout of activity can be enough to reap the benefits.

Finally, how can you implement snackitivity into your day?

Start by scheduling regular breaks. Every 1-2 hours, take a 10-15-minute brisk walk. This can help you hit your step goals while also giving your health a boost. It’s a small change, but it’s a sustainable step towards a more active, less sedentary lifestyle.

Follow Nikki on LinkedIn

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Meléa Sinclair is a BBSRC-funded PhD researcher in the School of Life Sciences. She shares her experiences of stepping into the unknown.

If you had told me at 20 that I’d be doing a PhD, I wouldn’t have believed you, mostly because I didn’t actually know what a PhD was. That is the reality for a lot of individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, we are treading paths our parents and other family members never have.

Combine that with a lack of representation and community, and it is no surprise that only 1.8% of postgraduate research students in the UK identify as Black (according to the UK Higher Education Statistics Agency). That figure does not even reflect the full picture. Only 3.5% of Black doctoral students complete their PhDs within three and a half years, compared to 9.7% of white students (UKRI, 2023). That disparity has nothing to do with ability and all to do with lack of support, resources and the feeling of not belonging. This extends beyond the PhD researcher phase, where in 2023 we saw a 25% increase in Black professors in the UK, but this is still only 1% (HESA, 2024). Of the 210 Black Professors in the UK, only 61 are women.

I started the Black PhD Collective (BPC) as a space for Black PhD researchers to show up authentically, to bring their full selves, their cultures, and their norms into academic spaces without feeling the need to code switch. It is a community that understands our shared experiences: systemic, personal and cultural. Even if someone is the only Black student in their department, this network is a way of saying, “you are not alone”.

This is the first nationwide network for Black PhD students across all universities and disciplines.

Our Nottingham-based launch sold out in just two weeks, starting from scratch with an Instagram and LinkedIn page that had no followers. That response alone speaks volumes about how urgently this space is needed. We have students coming from across the country, including as far as London and Cardiff. We doubled capacity and are now heading towards our second sell-out for this event.

We are only getting started.

BPC is not just a social movement. We are developing a series of professional workshops shaped by what our members have told us they need. In the pipeline, we have a London social, and we are planning a summer fair to welcome the local community onto campus. This will give families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds a fun, free day out, while introducing young people to the world of STEM. There will be bouncy castles, activity stalls, and plenty of chances to spark curiosity in the next generation. Because that representation matters.

I am excited about the real and lasting change we can make. It is not just my vision It’s ours, as a collective.

If you are a PhD student, or you know someone who is, reach out. Come to an event. We are always looking for team members, event volunteers, and mentors to support PhD applicants.

Let us build a space to unwind, develop our skill sets, support the next generation and thrive together.

Connect with Meléa on LinkedIn

Follow Black PhD Collective on Instagram

Follow Black PhD Collective on LinkedIn

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MBA student Pavan Katari shares his experiences of a placement with a health-tech start-up.

Working with Persomic has been a rewarding blend of learning, hands-on experience, and professional growth. As an IT professional with experience in software development, business analysis
and strategy, I was eager to apply my skills beyond the classroom during my MBA at the University of Nottingham. That’s when I found Persomic, a health-tech start-up using AI for real-world impact—an opportunity I eagerly took on.

Persomic uses AI to simplify lab result analysis, helping healthcare practitioners make faster, more accurate nutrition decisions—saving time and improving patient care. The chance to contribute to something this impactful excited me, and I took on the responsibility of bringing their tech development in-house, improving internal workflows, and supporting their growth plans.

Balancing an MBA with a start-up – a true challenge

Balancing high-intensity MBA modules, project work, and a fast-moving start-up was like stepping into a whirlwind. One moment, I was deep in coursework, and the next, I was making key tech decisions at Persomic, challenging me to master time management and adaptability.

This was also my first hands-on experience with AI integration, and it reshaped how I viewed technology’s role in automation and efficiency. I participated in key discussions and decisions, learning how start-ups leverage AI for practical problem-solving.

How I contributed to Persomic’s growth

My role initially focused on helping launch Persomic’s SaaS platform and securing its first customer, but it quickly expanded to bringing technology development in-house.

I managed the transition of software development and documentation from an external vendor, ensuring a smooth handover and long-term stability. To support Persomic’s future customer relationship management system (CRM), I developed structured documentation with process maps, CRM provider selection criteria, and a cost-benefit analysis, making it easier for the team to evaluate options and integrate new features effectively. Additionally, I reviewed technology partner proposals to ensure their AI solutions and cloud services were both technically effective and cost-efficient, successfully negotiating better pricing for Persomic.

Key lessons and career growth

I used to think leadership meant focusing on strategy while leaving technical details to the team. However, technology evolves too quickly to step away from it entirely. At Persomic, I realised that effective tech leaders must stay engaged with the latest advancements to make informed decisions. This experience reinforced that balancing leadership with hands-on technical knowledge is crucial. Staying connected to tech ensures smarter decision-making, better collaboration with teams, and long-term career growth.

Dr Adigo Atabo, Persomic’s founder and a great mentor, taught me a crucial lesson – to always question the value behind every effort. ‘What value are we getting out of this?’ became a guiding principle in my approach, shaping how I evaluate work and make decisions moving forward. This role also provided me with valuable UK work experience, deepening my understanding of start-up culture, business operations, and leadership in the tech space. It strengthened my aspirations in both technology and business strategy, equipping me with skills that closely align with my career goals.

Final thoughts: why this matters

For any student considering a placement, go for it. Start-ups push you out of your comfort zone, forcing you to adapt, innovate, and grow rapidly. Whether you’re in tech, business, or any field, hands-on experience at a start-up can accelerate your career in ways a classroom never could.

Opportunities like this are rare. If you get one, take it seriously, contribute meaningfully, and use it as a stepping stone for long-term growth. Looking back, my time at Persomic wasn’t just another project – it was a defining chapter in my career. It taught me the importance of balancing leadership with technical expertise, solving real-world challenges, and thinking strategically while staying grounded in execution.

Find Pavan on LinkedIn

The post Navigating start-up waters: my journey with Persomic appeared first on Researcher Academy.

Dr Tania Cleaves is a Research Development Manager in the Faculty of Arts and continues to conduct research independently in her spare time. Her main message: you don’t have to choose between a non-academic career and your love of research. Both are possible, if you’re up for it.

My story

I’m in a role where I help academics develop and craft competitive external funding applications, and I love my job. It’s a great gig where I feel valued, and it works for my life. It wasn’t a path I had planned for or imagined for myself, however. When I completed my PhD in Art History here at University of Nottingham, back in 2008, I passed with no corrections and assumed the world was my oyster. I quickly learned that I was instead a little fish in a very big pond, and began scrambling for teaching contracts, postdoctoral opportunities, lectureships, and secondary school jobs – all while trying to publish from the thesis.

Career experiences

It took me three annual rounds of competition to secure my first postdoctoral fellowship, though I was lucky to get the second fellowship straight after the first. It was the latter fellowship, funded by the Wellcome, that led to my first monograph. But it didn’t result in what I had thought, for so long, was the main prize: a coveted permanent research + teaching contract. Instead I pivoted and went into research support, a growing profession that attracts many post-PhDs seeking a role that complements their research skills: critical analysis; absorbing large amounts of information with attention-to-detail; attending to processes and guidance; and hanging out with other academics.

The ‘return’

With a baby and a new job, I had little time to think about my research, and in many ways I felt ‘done’ after that first book, which truly felt like giving birth again – another labour of love. It wasn’t until my child reached the toddler years and I was settled at work that I noticed something new: an urge to take up a small tangent in the first book and explore it further. Motivated by a unique conference call that felt too good to pass up, for the first time in years I wrote an abstract. Writing the paper and conducting research again felt like I was dealing with unfinished business. I owed it to the subject, and to myself, to return to it. It felt amazing.

Alternative academia

Over the last few years, I have steadily – if slowly – been writing my second book in my spare time. It’s a very different beast to writing the first book, which is purely driven by perseverance (others might call this downright stubbornness). My time is exceedingly precious and I work with the natural ebbs and flows of the research and writing process, finding those moments ‘in between’ to read, take notes, plan and write. Conference calls work well as drivers because I use them as exploratory pieces of writing for early-stage research, and of course because they have a deadline! I love the idea of writing retreats but also short bursts of intense activity, balanced with quick searches for the next library book or small grant application to fund a research trip. (These do exist, even for independent scholars.)

Of course I don’t have to do it; I choose to do it. I’ve learned that it is worth it if you want to perform academic work in a different way. This is alternative academia: a ‘third space’ where you can embrace the space between what seems, on the surface, to be the polarised worlds of non-academic and academic work. I may not have a research component to my day job, but being a researcher enhances it immeasurably. It allows me to empathise with my main clientele, those academics who are equally finding key moments to conduct research and disseminate it.
Along with several colleagues from my former employer, the University of Birmingham, I am privileged to be part of an alternative academic HEI network in the UK. It is a supportive community for those in non-academic jobs within Higher Education who conduct research in their spare time. That sounds super specific, but you’d be surprised how many of us there are.

Modelling what is possible

I’ve had the opportunity to take up academic jobs in the past few years and decided not to, remaining within research support as my day job. A big reason for that is to model what is possible, that it doesn’t have to be ‘either/or’ but both. Two things can be true here: I can hold a non-academic job and still ‘be’ a valid researcher. I can continue to find joy in these two, complementary versions of myself – even as I struggle daily with the challenge of my other other identity as a parent. I invite you to consider what is possible for you as well.

If you’re coming to the end of your PhD journey or fixed-term contract and starting to freak out, I assure you that it’ll be okay. You have options, and ‘leaving’ academia isn’t failure. I myself see it as simply occupying an adjacent space.

Resources

If you’re starting to soul search and think about your next steps, there are lots of empathic experts out there who can help. My recommendation is to ensure you’re engaging with all the Researcher Academy has to offer when it comes to enhancing your skills. I also love Holly Prescott’s blog, especially on ‘academic adjacent careers’ if you’re keen to understand more. And if you identify with life as an alternative academic here at the University of Nottingham, I’d love to hear from you.

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Oliver O’Sullivan is a PhD researcher in the School of Medicine, investigating the use of blood tests to predict the development of osteoarthritis after injury. His research interests are the prediction and prevention of osteoarthritis, especially after injury, in young, active populations such as sports people and the military.

Osteoarthritis is a disease which affects our joints, making them painful, stiff and makes certain activities more difficult. These types of osteoarthritis, especially the ones after injury (‘post traumatic osteoarthritis’), can happen two or three years after an injury, and affect people in their 20’s. At the moment, there are no specific drugs available to help this painful, disabling condition, with many sufferers requiring surgery at the end stage of the disease.

However, the good news is that a lot can be done to help you and those you love. We all agree that prevention is better than cure, and these five simple tips will help reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis if you have had a joint injury in the past (we call this ‘secondary prevention’) or help you live better with this condition if you already have a diagnosis (also known as ‘tertiary prevention’).

1) Learn

We used to think that Osteoarthritis was an age-related, degenerative joint disease. We know that this is not true. Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs because of different risk factors, including our genes, our immune system, our general health, any other medical problems and injuries, and any inflammation. Because we know all this, we are better able to treat it, and if you know all about it, you will be better able to manage it. Read reputable sources, such as those on Versus Arthritis or Free From Knee Pain, and discuss them with your loved ones or healthcare professionals.

2) Move

There was previously a belief that activity wears away our joints and makes Osteoarthritis worse. We know this is not true. We also know that our joints heal better when we use them, and we feel better when we move. It is good to do activities that make your heart beat faster (we call this ‘ cardiovascular exercise’) and activities that make us stronger (we call these ‘strength and conditioning’), but we also believe that the most important component of activity is fun.

Take up activities that you enjoy, and do them on your own or with friends. Group activities at your local gym or guided activities such as ‘Couch to 5k’ might be helpful. Your joints are likely to ache at the start, but this is ok, it will get better, and you can take pain relievers to help you when you first start.

3) Think

Consider what activities you do – both those you need to do and those that you want to do. Do any of these make your symptoms worse? Consider if there is an alternative, such as another way to perform household tasks, or some workplace adaptions you could speak to your employer about, or if you could switch your favourite activity (such as playing football) to one which is less likely to cause pain or symptoms (such as swimming). Do the things you want and need to do, but think about how they make you feel and if there are better ways to do them.

4) Eat

We know that certain foods make Osteoarthritis worse. Foods that are highly processed, so-called ‘ultra-processed foods’, have been seen to cause inflammation in our bodies, which leads to increased weight and worse symptoms. The fuel we put in our car impacts its performance, and we are no different. Using the simple rule of ‘if the ingredient list contains words you don’t understand, you can’t get in your kitchen, or your granny has never heard of’, it is probably better to consider an alternative. In addition, healthy eating helps us to obtain and maintain a healthy weight, which provides many benefits (individuals with a high body weight have more advanced osteoarthritis, higher levels of inflammation and worse feelings of pain). There is no need for a fad or crash diet; just eat well and be well.

5) Sleep

We know that a good nights sleep (and a cup of tea!) makes everything better. How we feel is influenced by our sleep, with poor or lack of sleep contributing to worse pain and symptoms and a negative outlook (such as feeling grumpy or blue). We have also recently discovered that the same thing happens in our joints! Our body’s natural rhythm (the ‘circadian rhythm’) is related to the growth and repair of cartilage, a vital component of our joints, and when our sleep is disturbed, our joint health is too. Using general principles, such as the 10-3-2-1 rule (no caffeine for 10 hours, food for 3 hours, work for 2 hours and screen time for 1 hour before bed), can help.

These five simple and easily applied tips will improve your chances of developing osteoarthritis after a joint injury and will also improve your experience of the disease if you already have the condition. Look after your joints, and they will look after you. We should think about our joint healthspan as well as our joint lifespan.

Can you “learn, move, think, eat, sleep”? Not so scary after all!

The post Five simple tips for joint health appeared first on Researcher Academy.

Jamie Green, occupational health specialist and researcher of clergy health and wellbeing, tells us how her PhD experience has been enriched by her role as a “demonstrator” in Researcher Academy courses.

Embarking on a PhD, especially as a distance learner, can feel like a solitary, and sometimes lonely experience. For me, I have felt connected and part of a team by demonstrating on several Researcher Academy courses.

How I have upskilled

Prior to my PhD I had some public training experience, but I wanted to expand my skill set into higher education and gain a recognised qualification. After taking the Presentation Skills for Researchers course prior to presenting my PhD work in the US, I was flagged as a potential demonstrator (A course demonstrator is a postgraduate research student who helps other students learn in a practical setting).

The demonstrating opportunity with the Researcher Academy couldn’t have come at a better time as it offered me the experience and vital hours needed to begin the process of gaining fellowship with Advance HE. I worked from 2019 to 2021 gaining experience through demonstrating on a variety of courses including Time to Write, Presentation Skills for Researchers, and Getting to Grips with Academic Writing. In 2021, I had enough experience and hours to be considered under the Nottingham Recognition Scheme for Fellowship with Advance HE.

I have continued demonstrating with the team throughout my studies which has provided a vital connection to UoN life. Additionally, this ongoing practice has helped my career development and since 2022 I have been working as an associate lecturer with The Open University. Without my experiences with the Researcher Academy and the Advance HE qualification I wouldn’t have had the skills or confidence to undertake this work.

What it’s like working with the team

What you have with the Researcher Academy is an exceptional balance of talented educators and supportive colleagues. From beginning as a nervous novice, I have had nothing but warmth, encouragement, patience, and respect. The team are incredibly approachable, whether it’s a quick reminder about procedures, or more in-depth training, staff are on hand to make sure you feel supported and you are fully equipped and confident in the role.

From day one I have felt a valued member of the team where I have been invited to pilot and share my thoughts on course material for continual improvement. This is particularly valuable for me as a differently abled student. I have been invited and felt able to make suggestions and give feedback that will help improve the courses for future students with additional needs.

The impact on my studies

Not only has my experience boosted my employability and expanded my teaching skills, but it has also impacted my research. My PhD culminates in an acceptability and feasibility intervention, the format of which was largely inspired by the Getting to Grips with Academic Writing course. Demonstrating on this course allowed me to explore methods of delivery that were pedologically sound and suitable for an interdisciplinary audience.

Additionally, although I was in the demonstrator role, being part of the community sharing thoughts, worries, hacks, and tips with other PhD students through the courses I have led has been extremely rewarding. It has been a joy to share hints and tips I’ve learnt along the way to boost the confidence of learners and help them feel a little less alone in their academic journey. I too have also gained so much from hearing from other learners. These courses have helped me feel encouraged, part of the community, and less alone in the common struggles of PhD writing.

These experiences have significantly enhanced my career opportunities and impacted my PhD research. Working with this fantastic facilitation team has been an immense skill, knowledge, and confidence boosting experience. If you get the chance to work with the team, even if it’s just one course (in person or online) do it!

The post If you get the chance, get involved! appeared first on Researcher Academy.