How to succeed in academia: Tips from a researcher
An academic career is a challenging but rewarding line of work. If you are deciding on a career in academia, or you are currently in academia, we’ve compiled a list of things you’ll need to be successful and stay successful.
Choose a niche
The first step to academic career success is to choose a field of study that is niche. A niche is a more specialized area within an academic discipline that is just starting out and isn’t wildly studied. For example, we are all familiar with the topic of decision-making in psychology. However, you won’t find as much research articles about emotional factors that influence decision-making in specific contexts such as business. This area is a niche.
Finding a niche early on in your academic career is important because academia is very overcrowded and competitive, with thousands of people competing for funding and grants in the same area of study. The earlier you find and choose your niche, the more chances you’ll have for standing out. When you find your niche, you’ll have less competition and more room for growth and learning within that field. This will also help you get more exposure for your area.
However, be careful not to choose area of study just because it’s niche. Your area of study should still be something that you are passionate about and that aligns with your interests and goals. A good rule of thumb is to pick something you can see yourself doing for the long-term. Choose something that you won’t get tired of doing or that you won’t mind staying up late for working on every day.
If you are in one area of study but you discovered an interesting niche in another area, then don’t be afraid to make the switch. You will find it a lot easier to be successful in academia in an area that you love.
Strive to improve
Success in academia requires continuous development and improvement of your skills and knowledge. This involves staying up-to-date on the literature in your area, learning about and applying new analyses or methodologies, and expanding your knowledge. This will help you stay ahead of the game and the competition. It will also increase your chances for getting published and getting grants because others will see that your skills are highly relevant and desirable.
Adopt a “growing from the inside out” approach where you develop your skills in your specific niche. It may be tempting to branch off and learn about new advances in a related field, but make sure you can apply that knowledge to your direct research first. Going off into too many directions will leave you scattered and fractured.
One way to do this is to seek out opportunities for professional development. These can be workshops, courses, and certifications that are relevant to your field. Learning platforms like Coursera are great tools for continual learning.
Network and collaborate
Like many other fields, academia is all about who you know. Building a network and collaborating with other researchers is a major key to success in academia. This can help you learn about job openings, get advice on your career path, and find mentors who can provide guidance and support.
Connecting with the right people can be key for your career. That PhD student who is now a professor at a reputable university has a new opening, and they are more likely to choose someone they know personally such as yourself. Connections go a long way in academia so don’t be afraid to get out there and network.
Attending conferences is the best way to meet other researchers. This is because conferences are usually large events with thousands of scholars anticipating to network. Make an effort to connect with other researchers and professors. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, tell them what you’re working on, or ask for their advice. Many people get queasy at the thought of selling themselves, however being able to market yourself successfully will get you far.
Attending courses or seminars at your university or college can also be a great way to meet other students or researchers. Sign up to graduate seminars and social events as well. You can also look up researchers on academic platforms such as ResearchGate and connect with those who work in a similar area as you. This can help you stay up to date on the literature, as well as potential collaborations with those researchers.
Once you have a well-developed network, you can eventually propose and begin collaborations or projects together with those researchers. This can be key for you to build your skills, gain more exposure, and new publications.
Maintain work-life balance
Success in academia requires a significant time commitment, long working hours, high levels of focus and dedication, and often high levels of stress. At the end of a busy day in the lab, you may just want to get a head start on your tasks for next day and the last thing you want to do is go out with friends. However, it is still important to maintain a healthy work-life balance to be successful in academia. This will help you take a mental break from so you can come back with new ideas the next day. After all, too much of one thing is a bad thing.
Make time for activities outside of work. Pick up old hobbies or find new ones. Spend time with loved ones, meet up with friends, or schedule a spa day. Go for walks in nature or out to see a movie. Even if you do these things by yourself, they are key to preventing burnout and maintain your overall well-being.
If you’re interested in more ways to maintain work-life balance in academia, check out our guides section for productivity and balance tips.
Takeaways
Being successful in academia is a lot of work. But you can make the road to success easier by choosing a niche area you’re passionate about early on, improving your skills, connecting with the right people, and taking the occasional break every now and then.
