academia – Page 2

New adventures: the ‘way of Wendy’

I am embarking on the ‘Way of Wendy’ (hashtagwayofwendy). …But instead of beginning straight away, I am procrastinating by writing a blog post about my intentions to begin. Such is the way of things. Wendy (Imma call her Wendy) has a term for this: writing dysfunction. It’s like erectile dysfunction except it’s unlimited by gender/sexContinue reading “New adventures: the ‘way of Wendy’”

Short- and fixed-term contracts: a rant about research culture

I recently heard an established academic say that they didn’t really see there was any issue with short- and fixed-term contracts, as staff in their organisation were generally redeployed. Obviously, I have some T H O U G H T S on this. Redeployment does not address the real problems experienced by those on STCs/FTCs.Continue reading “Short- and fixed-term contracts: a rant about research culture”

Put up or shut up

Current calls for ‘interdisciplinarity’ are frequently little more than lip-service. The Arts are worth more than that. I recently had a funding application rejected. I was upset for a few days, but I’ve moved on. There’s no point in stressing about the past. BUT. There’s one thing I really, really need to say. The feedbackContinue reading “Put up or shut up”

I can’t believe other people don’t do this. (practical tips for academic researchers)

I have noticed that it is common-place for newly-minted PhDs to write a blog post along the lines of “what I wished I’d known at the start of my PhD.” This post will be in a similar vein, but there’ll be less of the “I wish I had known” and more of “This really helped”Continue reading “I can’t believe other people don’t do this. (practical tips for academic researchers)”

I’m ‘waiting for Godot.’ Are you?

Samuel Beckett’s famous play has been… playing on my mind Ages and ages ago,* I submitted a fellowship application. It was by far the most complex application I have ever made, and the total number of pages surpassed 30. “Gosh!” I hear you exclaim. “This must have been for a major fellowship scheme. Three years,Continue reading “I’m ‘waiting for Godot.’ Are you?”