Academic and research career vacancies

There are a number of different places you can search for vacancies to help you get started in an academic or research career:

Your department

If you are looking for an academic/research career, it is possible that if your research is in a sought-after specialism, employers may target your department specifically. Keep an eye on notice boards for adverts or invitations to employer presentations. There may also be opportunities within your department.

Specialist journals

Specialist journals and magazines such as 'New Scientist' and 'New Statesman and Society' are excellent sources of vacancies. Many of these are likely to be found in the main library or your department.

Professional associations

Professional associations can be useful because they can often give advice and may have a list of employers that you can write speculatively to for jobs. If you are looking for a job in your specialist subject, you probably know the journal or professional association magazines to search, if not your supervisor will in all probability be able to tell you.

Newspapers

The main newspapers with job vacancies in Higher Education are the Guardian (Tuesday) and Times Higher Education Supplement (Friday). Reference copies of these are available in the Student Development Zone.

Networking

Try networking as an approach to seeking work. It is worth noting that academics may well know of postdoctoral work that is going to be available not only in their department but also in other universities. They may also be able to provide you with named contacts to approach, in universities or the private sector.

Websites with academic and research vacancies

The following internet sites carry vacancies specifically for academic or research careers, some also carry a range of wider positions such as managerial and academic-related posts in universities.

All disciplines

Jobs.ac.uk (www.jobs.ac.uk) - vacancy database for jobs in Further/Higher Education.

PhD Jobs (www.phdjobs.com) - vacancy database for postgraduates of all disciplines.

Times Higher Education Supplement (www.thes.co.uk) - vacancies of all types within academic institutions.

National Postgraduate Committee (www.npc.org.uk) - information for postgraduates.

Science related

FindAPostDoc.com (www.findapostdoc.com) - exclusively advertises post-doctoral positions in science.

Science's Next Wave (www.sciencecentral.com) - information and links relevant to science postgraduates.

New Scientist (www.newscientistjobs.com) - details of many science posts

Marie Curie Fellowship Association (www.mariecurie.org) - search for opportunities by country or topic.

Royal Society of Chemistry (www.rsc.org)

Research councils

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - www.ahrb.ac.uk

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) -www.bbsrc.ac.uk

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - www.epsrc.ac.uk

Medical Research Council (MRC) - www.mrc.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) - www.nerc.ac.uk

Science and Technology Facilities Council (PPARC and CCLRC merged) - www.scitech.ac.uk

Overseas

Association of Commonwealth Universities (www.acu.ac.uk) - a range of vacancies in Commonwealth Universities.

British Council (www.britishcouncil.org) - a huge range of activities covering the arts, science, technology and education.

Further information

There is further information and advice available in the Careers Service (based in the Library). We have resources you may wish to consult. For example:

'Your PhD What Next?' provides some very useful pointers and further details about the job market for PhD graduates.

We also have some books relevant to specific employment sectors that you may find useful.

Do remember that many web sites come and go, so an up-to-date search on a good search engine such as 'Google' is advisable.

Finally, you may wish to look at our books and files on CVs and applications containing information and sample CVs in them.

Advice and guidance

You can ask to speak to a Careers Adviser for guidance on any careers related matter and feedback on your CV. Follow the links here to find out about appointments.

>>Further information about postgraduate/further study