Academia and Academia and Industry: The good, Industry: The good, the bad and the uglythe bad and the ugly

Dr Jenny SummervilleDr Jenny Summerville

A Brief History…A Brief History…

Left QUT in July to pursue private consultancy Left QUT in July to pursue private consultancy opportunitiesopportunities

2003 – July 2008 worked for Centre for Social 2003 – July 2008 worked for Centre for Social Change Research and School of DesignChange Research and School of Design

1998 - 2002 held a range of casual & part-time 1998 - 2002 held a range of casual & part-time academic & research positions academic & research positions

Enrolled in my Phd in 2000 – finally got it in Enrolled in my Phd in 2000 – finally got it in 20072007

My journey from PhD to My journey from PhD to academia…academia…

More of an iterative process than a More of an iterative process than a smooth progression from one to the othersmooth progression from one to the other

Took lots of opportunities to get research Took lots of opportunities to get research and lecturing experienceand lecturing experience

This is also the reason it took me six This is also the reason it took me six years to finish my PhD!years to finish my PhD!

Disclaimer:Disclaimer:

My current role in industry would not be possible My current role in industry would not be possible without ten years of experience in academiawithout ten years of experience in academia

While there are some significant differences While there are some significant differences between academia and industry, the two between academia and industry, the two domains cross over in a number of waysdomains cross over in a number of ways

I am a private consultant and there are major I am a private consultant and there are major differences between running your own differences between running your own business and working for an organisation business and working for an organisation (academic or industry-based)(academic or industry-based)

Academia and Industry: Academia and Industry: What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

Some common assumptions:Some common assumptions: Academia is more flexibleAcademia is more flexible Industry pays moreIndustry pays more Academia provides more room for intellectual Academia provides more room for intellectual

autonomyautonomy Industry is more practicalIndustry is more practical The only people in academia are those who can’t make The only people in academia are those who can’t make

it in industryit in industry Industry-based professionals do not have the same Industry-based professionals do not have the same

level of insight into complex problems as academics level of insight into complex problems as academics

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

Academia is more flexibleAcademia is more flexibleOn the whole, academia does provide more opportunities On the whole, academia does provide more opportunities

for flexible working hours and autonomy in deciding for flexible working hours and autonomy in deciding where and how you workwhere and how you work

Things to note:Things to note:

It’s great to choose how you work, however there is a fine It’s great to choose how you work, however there is a fine line between flexibility that helps you achieve a better line between flexibility that helps you achieve a better work/life balance and flexibility for work to creep into work/life balance and flexibility for work to creep into every aspect of your lifeevery aspect of your life

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

Industry pays moreIndustry pays moreI’m not convinced – this tends to depend on:I’m not convinced – this tends to depend on:

a)a) The employment market , skills shortages/surpluses, The employment market , skills shortages/surpluses, etcetc

b)b) The knowledge market relative to your discipline and The knowledge market relative to your discipline and specialisationspecialisation

c)c) Salaried versus specialist contract/consultancy workSalaried versus specialist contract/consultancy work

d)d) How well you can sell yourself and your skillsHow well you can sell yourself and your skills

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

Academia provides more room for Academia provides more room for intellectual autonomyintellectual autonomy

Intellectual autonomy is one of the key reasons why many Intellectual autonomy is one of the key reasons why many choose to pursue academic careers. The tide may be choose to pursue academic careers. The tide may be changing, however, as universities become more changing, however, as universities become more geared to industry-driven research and geared to industry-driven research and commercialisation opportunities.commercialisation opportunities.

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

Industry is more practicalIndustry is more practical

Industry is oriented to achieving practical outcomes in the Industry is oriented to achieving practical outcomes in the short-term while academic work tends to have a long-term short-term while academic work tends to have a long-term viewview

Myth or Reality?Myth or Reality?

The only people in academia are those The only people in academia are those who can’t make it in industrywho can’t make it in industry

andand

Industry-based professionals do not Industry-based professionals do not have the same level of insight into have the same level of insight into complex problems as academicscomplex problems as academics

Load of rubbish!Load of rubbish!

So what’s the main So what’s the main difference?difference?

CULTURE!CULTURE!

Academia…Academia…

‘‘slower’, casual & flexible atmosphere slower’, casual & flexible atmosphere intellectual autonomyintellectual autonomy greater freedom in determining your job greater freedom in determining your job

role & tasks role & tasks disagreeing with the boss or the disagreeing with the boss or the

university’s ‘corporate line’ is considered university’s ‘corporate line’ is considered par for the coursepar for the course

BUT…BUT…

Can spread you too thin – teaching, Can spread you too thin – teaching, research, publishing, serviceresearch, publishing, service

Can experience frustration because ‘impact’ Can experience frustration because ‘impact’ is not immediateis not immediate

Ability to pursue research opportunities is Ability to pursue research opportunities is frequently dependent on fundingfrequently dependent on funding

Flexibility can turn into the flexibility to Flexibility can turn into the flexibility to work morework more

So what can you do to So what can you do to prepare yourself?prepare yourself?

Whether you are headed for academia or Whether you are headed for academia or industry, there are a range of industry, there are a range of opportunities you can take now (in opportunities you can take now (in academia) to prepare yourselfacademia) to prepare yourself

Taking a strategic approach to what Taking a strategic approach to what opportunities you take and when you opportunities you take and when you take them is importanttake them is important

What to do?What to do?

Identify the kinds of generic capabilities that Identify the kinds of generic capabilities that will help you secure your desired positionwill help you secure your desired position

Identify the key things you will need to say on Identify the key things you will need to say on your CV to demonstrate that you have these your CV to demonstrate that you have these core skillscore skills

Identify the people, networks and places that Identify the people, networks and places that you need to be linked in with to get the you need to be linked in with to get the opportunities you needopportunities you need

What counts on your CVWhat counts on your CV

QualificationsQualifications This is why you shouldn’t sacrifice your PhD for the This is why you shouldn’t sacrifice your PhD for the

sake of other ‘opportunities’sake of other ‘opportunities’ Short courses useful additionsShort courses useful additions

AwardsAwards Scholarships, etc.Scholarships, etc. Top-up scholarships from industry and institutesTop-up scholarships from industry and institutes Many conferences have an award for the best post-Many conferences have an award for the best post-

grad papergrad paper

Research and ConsultingResearch and Consulting

Any experience counts – usually begins with Any experience counts – usually begins with casual or contract work as a research assistantcasual or contract work as a research assistant RA Work is usually secured via word of mouthRA Work is usually secured via word of mouth Identify some key researchers in your faculty and let Identify some key researchers in your faculty and let

them know you are looking… then keep reminding them know you are looking… then keep reminding (presence is everything)(presence is everything)

About a month before ARCs and NHMRCs are due About a month before ARCs and NHMRCs are due is a good time to give reminders!is a good time to give reminders!

Don’t be too picky to begin – use the opportunity to Don’t be too picky to begin – use the opportunity to prove yourself and get ‘in the loop’prove yourself and get ‘in the loop’

Remember that an Early Career Researcher is not Remember that an Early Career Researcher is not expected to have bucket-loads of experienceexpected to have bucket-loads of experience

Research cont…Research cont…

If you are headed for academia, the long-term If you are headed for academia, the long-term goal is to become a Chief Investigator, Post-goal is to become a Chief Investigator, Post-doc or Research Associate (you can create doc or Research Associate (you can create your own job!)your own job!)

In terms of how your CV is read/evaluated by others, In terms of how your CV is read/evaluated by others, the things that typically count include:the things that typically count include:

topic investigated (obviously contextual)topic investigated (obviously contextual) Size of the project (frequently judged by $$)Size of the project (frequently judged by $$) Funding Body (Industry, ARC, NHMRC, etc)Funding Body (Industry, ARC, NHMRC, etc) Who else is on the grant (track record, disciplines, Who else is on the grant (track record, disciplines,

expertise)expertise)

Research and Generic Research and Generic capabilities…capabilities…

You often don’t highlight these kinds of You often don’t highlight these kinds of generic capabilities on your CV, however generic capabilities on your CV, however they are important and can be learned they are important and can be learned through research experience:through research experience: How to design a projectHow to design a project How to develop a budgetHow to develop a budget How to manage a projectHow to manage a project How to secure/sell a project (get money!)How to secure/sell a project (get money!) How to sell yourselfHow to sell yourself

TeachingTeaching

Tutoring & Marking, lecturing and unit co-ordination Tutoring & Marking, lecturing and unit co-ordination

Warning: teaching is time consuming – students often don’t respect Warning: teaching is time consuming – students often don’t respect the fact that you have work other than themthe fact that you have work other than them

If you want to get lecturing experience ask to do a guest lectureIf you want to get lecturing experience ask to do a guest lecture

TIP 1: Teaching in the same subject once is often as good as teaching TIP 1: Teaching in the same subject once is often as good as teaching it year after yearit year after year

TIP 2: Try to secure teaching work in the same area as your PhD (or TIP 2: Try to secure teaching work in the same area as your PhD (or partner up with an academic to develop a new unit)partner up with an academic to develop a new unit)

Teaching in academia sets you up well for private industry training Teaching in academia sets you up well for private industry training opportunitiesopportunities

PublicationsPublications

Refereed (peer reviewed) publications are the only Refereed (peer reviewed) publications are the only ones that have considerable weight on an academic ones that have considerable weight on an academic CVCV

Can use your PhD as a basis for publications (either by Can use your PhD as a basis for publications (either by thesis-by-publication or publish as you go)thesis-by-publication or publish as you go)

Can turn around research reports into publications (the Can turn around research reports into publications (the CI’s will love you)CI’s will love you)

If hired to write a publication, make sure you are clear If hired to write a publication, make sure you are clear on whether you will be an author and order of on whether you will be an author and order of authorshipauthorship

In the long-run the aim is to have your work published In the long-run the aim is to have your work published in ‘high quality’ journals (if academia is your goal) or in ‘high quality’ journals (if academia is your goal) or industry publications (if industry is your goal)industry publications (if industry is your goal)

Networks are the keyNetworks are the key

Start with your supervisorsStart with your supervisors Don’t be afraid to contact other academics to Don’t be afraid to contact other academics to

discuss opportunitiesdiscuss opportunities Ask around at the relevant research institutes Ask around at the relevant research institutes

(ISR, ICII, IHBI,ISI), cooperative research (ISR, ICII, IHBI,ISI), cooperative research centres and research centrescentres and research centres

Be flexible (but not at the expense of your Be flexible (but not at the expense of your PhD)PhD)

Be VISIBLE!!Be VISIBLE!!