Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
In today’s competitive research landscape, many early career researchers (ECRs) with aspirations for a long and healthy academic career might be wondering where to start.
From getting their research noticed, whereas others might think it is an impossible task to establish themselves as credible.
When there is so much research out there already, and some of it from researchers who have long established their credibility.
Would anyone really be interested in research led by ECRs?
The answer is, yes!
How valuable is sharing your research?
Even as a fledgling ECR, there is still value in sharing your research with wider audiences.
Sharing your research can not only help to raise awareness about the topic of your research and give valuable insights.
But it can also help to provide greater visibility of your work and raise your profile amongst your peers.
A risk managed approach is essential when sharing your research.
But if managed well, sharing your research can be a valuable way to build your profile and academic career.
Some might be wary of sharing due to concerns about research being plagiarised or used for AI data harvesting.
All valid concerns, but not necessarily a reason not to share.
After all, in academia, researchers build on the knowledge found and shared by the researchers who came before them.
Had they not shared their knowledge with us, it would not be possible to build upon it.
So, in the words of Isaac Newton, ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ is all part of the job.
That said, if you have specific concerns about the content of your research or how it might be used, you should seek the advice of an expert in your field, such as an institutional librarian, your PhD supervisor or a senior academic in your field.
If, however, you are ready to share your research, this article will give some insights into some of the ways you can share your research and some tips for a good approach.
Requirements for funded PhDs
While there is no single definition of an ECR, ECRs are typically in the first 9 years of their academic career.
Completing a doctorate or researching post-doctorate.
In an increasingly competitive landscape, funded PhD studentships can still be found.
Those fortunate enough to get them might find themselves on the first step of an ECR pathway.
PhD studentships might be funded by a PhD student’s host institution.
On occasion, funding is awarded by one of the UKRI funding councils.
Either way, these funders typically require a thesis to be made open access 12 months after the degree has been awarded.
There is also a growing number of PhDs being fully or part funded by industry partners who are looking for a return on their investment.
Whether that be staff development for the individual, seeking evidence in the field in which they work, or looking for new findings that they may wish to research further.
If a PhD project has been funded, unless it contains confidential information and is under a Non-Disclosure Agreement, it is likely the funder will require the resulting thesis to be published, often open access, so it can be viewed by anyone with an interest in the topic of research.
Open Access Publishing and University Repositories
Open Access (OA) Publishing makes research freely available for anyone to access over the internet.
The advantage of open access over traditional journals is that the public, professionals and academics can access the papers.
Without having to pay a subscription or go through a paywall.
While the research can often be deposited without having to pay a fee to a publisher.
Be wary that in some instances, there are processing charges or other charges from the publisher.
However, paying for OA does not necessarily mean the academic quality of the paper is better or that the open access availability is better.
A free route to OA can be a good option for ECRs and will allow for greater visibility without cost to the researcher.
To help with making the decision about where and how to publish, there are tools available to help researchers assess value in journals.
Many Universities have their own repositories.
The awarding institution will often require PhD theses to be deposited in the University’s repository.
Depositing a PhD thesis open access in your institutional repository can often be a great first step to sharing your research.
Allowing the opportunity to make connections with interested readers and have your work cited by other students and more widely.
You can even choose to grant permission for further use of your work by adding a CC licence free of charge.
There are six different CC licence types with different levels of permission.
The licence you choose to add will dictate how others can use your work.
Sharing can lead to collaboration
Part of being a successful researcher is being able to communicate what your research is about in layman’s terms.
Using plain language that can be clearly understood.
If you can do this well, you have a better chance of attracting and finding collaboration opportunities with researchers.
Many institutions around the world offer PhD students the chance to participate in a Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT).
This is intended to help researchers develop their skills in explaining their work to a non-specialised audience clearly and concisely.
The competition is often filmed.
This helps to give researchers a reference point and a filmed record to share widely on social media, attached to a researcher’s profile.
Some institutions also offer media training to ECRs.
Recognising that being able to communicate ideas is an important skill to have.
Promoting interesting research stories via their press office to local and national media.
Another way your research might reach a wider audience is through The Conversation.
An online platform that provides an independent source of news articles created by academic experts in collaboration with journalists.
The Conversation aims to bring expertise to the public.
Through an international readership, a large body of whom are young people.
The Conversation allows content from their platform to be republished by other publications for free.
Roughly 60% of authors featured are contacted by media organisations, as the topics covered tend to be of current interest.
Strengthen your academic career by sharing your research
Sharing knowledge from your research findings can be helpful to the researchers of tomorrow who might want to read and reference your work.
Citations are also an important part of academic work.
Supporting career progression by showing evidence that your work has been read and acknowledged.
If progression in an academic career is your goal, one of your objectives might be to produce papers that are suitable to be submitted for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) on behalf of your institution.
If you progress to senior researcher roles, submission to REF is expected.
Encouraging a good practice to get into the habit of working in the right way early on in your career as an ECR.
Sometimes senior academic colleagues might ask you to collaborate with them.
As a research assistant or a co-investigator on a project and co-produce the resulting paper.
Having your name listed as an author alongside more established researchers can help to add to the credibility of your publications.
Sharing your research can also lead to collaboration with academic and industry partners.
If your research is seen by other researchers in your area of interest, you might find that they invite you to attend or speak at a conference.
Perhaps even to work collaboratively.
Presenting research posters at conferences within your institution and giving talks to peers internally are other good ways of sharing your research.
Alongside building confidence to present to wider audiences and on other platforms.
Likewise, if potential industry partners take an interest in your work, it could lead to collaborative Knowledge Exchange (KE) activities.
This could generate income for your institution and be counted towards your institution’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) metrics.
Raise the profile of research
Sharing your research is part and parcel of being an academic.
Arguably, one of the expected activities you should undertake in order to progress in your academic career.
However, a risk-managed approach is advised, particularly if the content contains sensitive information or if the work has been industry-funded.
Sharing your research could lead to greater visibility and knowledge sharing, and benefit for wider audiences.
It could also help you find opportunities for collaboration and strengthen research funding applications.
Supporting pitches for potential knowledge exchange with industry partners.
Building a good track record of collaborative academic activities, as well as sharing your research papers, all help to build your professional profile and academic career.
However, bigger than that, the task of raising the profile of research itself is crucial to creating a sustainable, long-term research culture.
Where research is seen as integral to new discoveries, innovation and policy making.
Raising the profile of research as a whole could contribute to shaping attitudes towards research.
Inspiring young people into research careers.
So, through sharing your research, you might even inspire the researchers of tomorrow.
Just as you might have been inspired by those who came before you.
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