Salon -Transition to Independence

A weekly webinar to discuss careers and research topics. These sessions combine livestreams, guest speakers, and group online chat to exchange ideas, challenge, influence, inspire, and educate. In this session, our guests Dr Ian Harrison and Dr Davide Bruno explore the topic of transitioning from researcher to research leader and gaining your independence.

Imagine standing on the edge of a vast, complex landscape — a place where knowledge, curiosity, and innovation flourish, but where the path forward can feel uncertain and daunting. Transitioning to independence in academic research is like stepping onto that terrain with new freedom yet without the structured support you once relied on. It’s a pivotal moment, filled with opportunities to shape your unique academic identity, build meaningful collaborations, and secure funding. But how do you navigate this transition effectively? How can you overcome the challenges of establishing your voice in a crowded field, while setting yourself up for sustainable success? Have you been given the knowledge and skills you need? Today, we’ll explore these questions, unpacking the tools and strategies needed to make that leap from mentee to independent researcher.

Speakers

Dr Ian Harrison is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London. During the pandemic Ian established his own lab, looks at the function of the glymphatic system in the brain, responsible for the clearance of protein solutes from the brain parenchyma. With Fellowship funding from not one, but two charities, he has forged a path to independence and is happy to talk about his learning, experiences and share his tips.

Dr Davide Bruno is a Reader in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University. His interests lie broadly in the fields of memory, ageing and dementia. With an enviable and long list of publications, Davide is a leader in his field and has made the transition to independence in a competitive and challenging field.

Programme