In all seriousness, if there is a call for Medievalists in Singapore, I am off… This is a very candid, helpful post. Lots of ideas that resonate a little with the UK situation!

I am clinging to my contract in Campus Services and looking to move into the Innovation and Engagement Services team for a fixed term, which I am able to do as a secondment opportunity. Still looking for funds to create new impact opportunities within my School in which I’m an Honoarary Research Associate, and I have adult teaching lined up for Spring/Summer terms with the Centre of Continuing and Professional Education. At least I don’t have to travel between institutions to make up my many jobs!!

The Research Whisperer

This is the second half of a talk (first half here) that I gave recently at the University of Melbourne Researcher@Library event.

Thanks to all involved for inviting me and making me feel so welcome.  It was great fun!


A large tree limb growing through a large fence. The fence and the tree, by Jonathan O’Donnell on Flickr

The academy is a tough place at the moment. It needs some hacking.

In Australia, we are at the lowest level of government funding for research since we started keeping records. It doesn’t look like that situation is going to get better any time soon.

At my university, 60% of academic staff are paid by the hour. People with PhDs are working at multiple universities just to pay the rent, being paid the same way that they would be if they were behind the counter at a 7-Eleven. This isn’t uncommon across Australia, and the trend is towards more casualisation of the workforce…

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