Cheers with Peers

This month Dr Jennifer McIntosh talks to Professor Ingrid Winship, Inaugural Chair of Adult Clinical Genetics at the University of Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and they discuss building a wider researcher profile. Dr McIntosh quotes Charles Darwin who said those who dare to waste one hour of time have “not discovered the value of life." How do mid-career researchers increase their value – is it an issue of time and prioritising your research over everything else?

In this month’s episode, Dr Jennifer McIntosh talks to Professor Ray Chan, Professor in Cancer Nursing, Faculty of Health, at the Queensland University of Technology. We believe that Professor Chan is a mid-career superstar. His career trajectory has been stellar, beginning a research career from 2007, he became a Professor within 4 years of his Ph.D. So how did he become a mid-career superstar and what is his advice for mid-career researchers in going above and beyond?

In today’s episode you’ll hear from Professor Temple-Smith. What makes a great supervisor? How can you as a mid-career researcher model yourself on being an effective supervisor particularly if you’ve never experienced it yourself? Lisa Delpit says Warm Demanders “expect a great deal of their students, convince them of their own brilliance, and help them to reach their potential in a disciplined and structured environment" How can you be a warm demander in your role as a supervisor?

, Dr Jennifer McIntosh and Professor Lena Sanci broach how to negotiate the awkward issues as a mid-career researcher. Being a MCR can be tricky, especially when negotiating things such as collaborator roles; becoming a Chief Investigator on a Grant; the administrative burden of being an MCR with added responsibilities; settling authorship position and choosing mentors and peers who can assist you with your research. Show notes available here http://pc4tg.com.au/cheers-with-peers-professor-lena-sanci-dr-jennifer-mcintosh-september-2019/

In this episode, Dr Jennifer McIntosh and Professor Mei Krishnasamy discuss the transition of clinical practice to researcher and how Mid Career Researchers (MCR) can build their folio of work to become experts in their field. Professor Krishnasamy holds the inaugural Chair in Cancer Nursing at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests embrace the development and evaluation of nurse-led interventions aimed at refining patient and carer experiences of living with a diagnosis of cancer, demands of treatment and symptom profiles and is concerned in the development of nursing and allied health-led services.

In this episode, Dr Jennifer McIntosh and Professor Lyndal Trevena discuss being a General Practitioner and embarking on a research career. How do GPs navigate their clinical research and their practice? Lyndal discusses in depth the challenges and successes of being a GP and clinical researcher. She talks about the importance of mentors early in her career and grasping opportunities as they come.

In this episode, Sibel Saya and Dr Rebecca Bergin from Cancer Council Victoria talk about Dr Bergin’s experience as an Early Career Researcher observer of the NHMRC Project Grant review panel. The conversation centres on the process of how Grant applications are reviewed and some key take-aways from her observations. She talks in depth about the process the panels go through when reviewing applications. Show notes are available http://pc4tg.com.au/cheers-with-peers-episode-8-dr-rebecca-bergin-and-sibel-saya-april-2019/

In this episode, Sibel Saya and Professor David Weller discuss the role of international collaboration in an Early Carer Researcher’s academic pathway. He believes that ECRs should start small and look at seed funding rather than being overwhelmed by the big picture. He discusses the role of moving to other countries and the ECR and his own career trajectory. Professor Weller mentions the International Benchmarking Partnership, which he spoke as part of his plenary at the PC4 Symposium in May 2018 There is some audio interference given it was recorded at the Symposium. Show notes are available here

In this episode, Sibel Saya sits down with Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates and Professor Ray Chan to discuss nurse-led research pathways for early career researchers. Distinguished Professor Yates discusses undertaking further education and how nurses must consider deeply the reasons for wanting to do research and what understand what drives them. She believes that researchers must be people who are willing to think outside the square and that creative and critical thinking skills are key for researchers. Professor Chan touches upon the importance of mentors, support groups and professional networks when looking at the researcher career path. He advises nurses to look at applying for scholarships and speak to peers who have journeyed the pathway previously. Show notes are available here http://pc4tg.com.au/cheers-with-peers-episode-6-distinguished-professor-patsy-yates-professor-ray-chan-and-sibel-saya/

An integral feature of being an Early Career Researchers (ECR) is where to access support. Recognising your community, peers, organisations, all are which are devised to support ECRs. Research can be a lonesome endeavour and encouraging and engaging in support mechanisms is crucial to success. In this episode, Sibel Saya and National Manager of PC4, Dr Kristi Milley, discuss how to most effectively engage in support networks. She also examines new ways of engaging with the research community via social media platforms like Twitter. Show notes are available here http://pc4tg.com.au/cheers-with-peers-episode-5-kristi-milley-and-sibel-saya/

In this episode, Sibel Saya and Professor Jon Emery discuss General Practitioner (GP) led research pathways for early career researchers. He discusses in depth his personal experience journeying along the academic career pathway and offers helpful advice to early career researchers and GPs considering research. Professor Emery mentions working alongside Dr. Jenny Field who worked in Primary Care and Medical Education at the University of Southampton School of Medicine. He believes it is a challenging but exciting career pathway and offers different suggestions for routes to research. Show notes are available here http://pc4tg.com.au/episode-4-professor-jon-emery-and-sibel-saya/

An integral aspect of research for Early Career Researchers (ECR) is working alongside consumer representatives. Evidence suggests that where consumers participate in the design of research and data collection tools, the tools are more readily received and accepted by participants. In this episode, Sibel Saya and consumer representative, Nikki Davis, discuss how to most effectively use consumers in your research. Nikki discusses her presentation for the PC4 Symposium and her introduction to becoming a consumer through Counterpart. Shownotes located here http://pc4tg.com.au/episode-3-sibel-saya-and-nikki-davis/

One of the most challenging aspects of being an Early Career Researcher (ECR) is working out what you don’t know. In this episode, Sibel Saya and Professor Nikolajs Zeps discuss funding and ECR funding applications, in particular. Funding is critical to research and Prof. Zeps discusses the recent NHMRC funding changes, how this impacts ECRs and what makes a successful application. He acknowledges the power of being succinct and that realistically not all ECRs will be successful in their funding applications. Pr Zeps offers advice about drafting a successful application and suggests there is myriad of pathways that the ECR can journey down during their career trajectory. Show notes are located here http://pc4tg.com.au/episode-2-sibel-saya-and-professor-nikolajs-zeps/

One of the toughest parts of being an Early Career Researcher is working out what you don’t know. In this episode, Sibel Saya and Dr Jennifer Walker discuss mentoring and sponsorship from the Early Career Researcher’s point of view. Mentoring and sponsorship are very different animals in the academic world. Dr Walker discusses her tips in being an active participant in discovering whom your sponsor and mentor will be. Mentors and supporters are crucial in providing early career researchers with leadership, guidance and promotion with regards to effectively navigating the complex world of research-engaged academic career development. Sponsors and mentors are very different roles with very different outcomes for early career researchers. Show notes are located here http://pc4tg.com.au/episode-1-sibel-saya-and-dr-jennifer-walker/