Confessions of an Early Career Researcher: A new podcast by the British Academy and Leverhulme Trust

A new podcast for early career researchers (ECRs) has been launched by the British Academy in collaboration with the Leverhulme Trust.

‘Confessions of an Early Career Researcher’ is by ECRs, for ECRs and will dive deep into the journeys, challenges and triumphs of early-career academic life, while providing career advice to its listeners.

Hosted by Dr Leonie Smith, lecturer in Philosophy at Lancaster University and member of the British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN), the podcast offers support and advice to early-career academics by demystifying the world of higher education and increasing their knowledge of opportunities. Guests will share handy tips and personal insights from their own early journeys through academia.

The season features six episodes of roughly 30 minutes each, covering topics such as navigating the ECR landscape, how to apply for grant funding, networking and mentoring. Guests include Dr Ayesha Omar, British Academy International Fellow, Professor Anna Vignoles, Fellow of the British Academy and Director of the Leverhulme Trust, Cardiff University Sociologist Dr April-Louise Pennant and King’s College London Lecturer in Global Cultures Dr Pavan Mano.

Dr Leonie Smith, host of Confessions of an Early Career Researcher, said: “We set out to make this podcast guiding and supportive, while also being realistic about the first few years of an academic career. Each episode is packed with personal stories and practical tips from ECRs at different career stages. Through the individual, authentic and personal experiences of our guests, you really get to understand the realities of building a life in, and sometimes beyond, academia – and how to do this while holding on to the joy and fulfilment of the research, teaching and desire to make an impact that brought us all here in the first place.”

Professor Anna Vignoles, Director of the Leverhulme Trust and Fellow of the British Academy, said: “The Leverhulme Trust’s centenary year is an opportunity not only to provoke a wider discussion about the value of blue skies research but to increase our support for early career researchers. To that end, we are excited to be collaborating with the British Academy on this new podcast to help early career researchers navigate every stage of their career journey.”

Listen and subscribe to the first three episodes of ‘Confessions of an Early Career Researcher’ at www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/audio-video/confessions-of-an-early-career-researcher. Three more episodes will be available on Wednesday 15 October.

The new podcast builds on the British Academy’s Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) becoming nationwide earlier this month. Established in 2021, the ECRN is a UK-wide, inclusive, researcher-led membership body accessible to all ECRs based in the UK and working in the humanities and social sciences, regardless of their funding source or background.

For further information contact the Press Office on [email protected]  / 07500 010 432.