Profile: Robert
Key facts
PhD discipline: History
Area(s) of work: Academic research support administration
Year of graduation: 2003
Date of Interview: 17/06/2008
Year of graduation: 2003
Date of Interview: 17/06/2008
Timeline
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Audio Clips
Robert discusses some of the benefits of working within a university setting but in a non-academic post. He also considers the possibility that there is a trade-off.
Robert talks about his decision to take a non-academic post and the reactions of others.
Robert recalls writing for the student newspaper, and applying for jobs in publishing, academia and research support roles while finishing his PhD.
Robert talks in detail about what happened towards the end of his PhD to put him off the idea of pursuing an academic career.
Robert looks back at the expectations and assumptions he had about an academic career.
Robert reflects on why he didn't pursue an academic career.
Robert discusses the assumptions that people have about the PhD.
Robert discusses how he saw an academic career as a natural next step, but then considered his other options.
Robert recalls the sometimes disheartening experience of applying for academic posts towards the end of his PhD. He explains his ultimate change of direction, into a non-academic post.
Robert describes the ups and downs experienced during his PhD, and how he kept going.
Robert identifies the different motivating factors that led to the PhD.
Robert describes his work as a research funding manager in a post-92 university, and how having a PhD has helped in this role.
Robert shares his feelings of satisfaction in achieving his PhD and he reflects on what the PhD means to him now and how it affects his sense of self and identity, since he is working in a university, but not in an academic post.
Robert contemplates the options open to him now, both within the field he works in and beyond it in something more related to his PhD.
