We all arrive at the experience of academic culture shock via different routes: the transition from a taught model of study to one driven only by ourselves; returning to study after a long break and finding the academic landscape vastly changed; moving universities and encountering differing academic and support structures; and, of course, moving to the UK from a country with a different culture of doctoral and post-doctoral development.
Academic culture shock often results in feelings of disorientation, confusion, disengagement and demotivation. Sound familiar? Join us to explore your expectations and assumptions about the doctoral / Early Career Researcher experience, whether your lived experiences are different from your expectations, and how you can effectively manage the situation and your response(s) to it.
Series background
As PhD and early career researchers, we all have ups and downs. If and when the downs get very bad, it might become clear to us that we need support. But there’s a world of space between being happy and fulfilled in our work, and that point at which we might, finally, admit there’s a problem and seek help.
Many – perhaps even most – researchers are working in that space. Most of us live with conditions and experiences that can have profound impacts on our capacities as researchers.
Experiences like imposter syndrome and academic anxieties are incredibly common. Common enough that we should be talking about them. A lot. So why the silence?
The Thriving Researcher is a new initiative that creates space and time for researchers to come together and break the silence. We’ll be building an inclusive community by discussing our shared experiences, and learning how to work – and how to thrive – in the face of challenges that can feel overwhelming and isolating.
These are free, informal, supportive events, with a focus on validating your experiences, reflecting on your responses to common challenges, and arming you with practical tips and tools to help you feel better equipped to do what you do best.