The mid-career reset: how to be strategic about your research direction

"After completing my PhD, my default response was 'yes' to collaborations and academic service. This approach built my network and advanced my CV."

"Once I established my own laboratory in 2021, the number of opportunities increased rapidly, attracting collaborations due to my career stage and funding capabilities."

Mid-career researchers occupy a pivotal yet precarious stage in academia, where expectations and responsibilities increase significantly. After establishing their careers post-PhD, they often find themselves managing a growing number of tasks while trying to maintain a clear research direction. The author, a palaeoclimate scientist, reflects on their journey from postdoctoral fellowships to securing a tenured position, highlighting the importance of saying 'yes' to opportunities that build networks and enhance visibility, ultimately leading to increased funding and collaboration offers.

Read at Nature