Whether you've got a PhD or equivalent, or you're nearly there - it's a great idea to consider how you develop your career with your postdoc qualification.
During your early career you have been focusing on getting qualifications, gaining considerable research experience in the process. Now that you have achieved that goal - or are nearly there - there are new hurdles and considerations to tackle, such as:
- What funding should you apply for?
- How do you get support while developing your career?
- How do you develop impactful research projects?
- How can I work across disciplines?
And so many more questions about life as a researcher!
This page brings together a selection of resources focusing on all the things of concern to postdocs - including key videos and blogs from the recent #MentalHealthResearchMatters campaign.
The MHR Incubator postdoctoral working group produced our recent webinar 'How to build your postdoctoral career in mental health research'.
Download the presenters' slides from the postdocs webinar here.
Panel members were:
- Dr Rachael Kelley - Reader in Dementia Research and a mental health nurse with 20 years of research experience, including NIHR fellowships/funding and grant panels.
- Prof Ian Maidment (Professor in Clinical Pharmacy) had a 20-year NHS career before moving to academic. He has led numerous NIHR/charity/UKRI grants.
- Dr Josefien Breedvelt is a Prudence Trust Research Fellow at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, King’s College London.
- Dr Ruchika Gajwani - MQ mental health fellow
- Dr Josefien Breedvelt - Prudence Trust fellow
- Dr Parisa Mansoori - Research Lead at MQ mental health
The full recording can be found on the NIHR's YouTube channel here
The MHR Incubator GROW programme is a 6-month competitive professional development programme for postdoctoral mental health researchers to build their networks and work on their professional goals as part of a supportive multidisciplinary cohort.
Our guides to the mental health funding landscape
What does good mental health research look like?
Last year's #mentalhealthresearchmatters campaign run by McPin Foundation and Mental Elf highlighted four core aspects of impactful mental health research: inclusive, antiracist research; multidisciplinary working; developing cross discipline projects; centering lived experience; partnership working. But how do you embed these ideals into the project you are planning? The following webinars and blogs offer useful and practical insights on issues you are likely already considering.