Hardback
How to be a Successful Academic Researcher
Reflections and Tips From a Veteran Social Science Researcher
9781035341658 Edward Elgar Publishing
This book is a comprehensive, practical guide to successful academic research. Drawing on lived experiences across a variety of academic disciplines and commercial practice, Jim Macnamara illustrates the many successes, challenges and failures involved in academic research.
More Information
Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This book is a comprehensive, practical guide to successful academic research. Drawing on lived experiences across a variety of academic disciplines and commercial practice, Jim Macnamara illustrates the many successes, challenges and failures involved in academic research.
In the ever-changing higher education environment, Macnamara examines different educational institutions, structures, systems, positions, and career paths to demonstrate how to get into and build an academic research career. Chapters utilise case studies, research reporting, tips, and personal reflections to explore how to find and broaden your academic niche, innovative ways to gain research funding, and how to write, publish, disseminate, and teach your work. The book aims to support academics in a world of university-industry engagement and partnerships, diversification of research funding, research translation and commercialization of research outputs. It provides crucial analysis of the impact academic research has on industry and professional practices, public policy, and society.
With particular attention paid to disciplinary research budgets, conventions, and practices, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars across the social sciences looking to begin and build their research careers.
In the ever-changing higher education environment, Macnamara examines different educational institutions, structures, systems, positions, and career paths to demonstrate how to get into and build an academic research career. Chapters utilise case studies, research reporting, tips, and personal reflections to explore how to find and broaden your academic niche, innovative ways to gain research funding, and how to write, publish, disseminate, and teach your work. The book aims to support academics in a world of university-industry engagement and partnerships, diversification of research funding, research translation and commercialization of research outputs. It provides crucial analysis of the impact academic research has on industry and professional practices, public policy, and society.
With particular attention paid to disciplinary research budgets, conventions, and practices, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars across the social sciences looking to begin and build their research careers.
Critical Acclaim
‘Research is an extremely important part of an academic’s job, but understanding and appreciating the intricacies behind the idea of what research is and how it should be undertaken at an institution can be seen as being a mysterious thing by PhD students, and early/mid-career academics. This book is not only a personal journey of Distinguished Professor Jim Macnamara, it is a guide that is full of information, advice, tips, cases and words of inspiration that is recommended to those considering an academic career.’
– David Waller, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
‘This is exactly what we need – a practical guide to living a good academic life written by somebody who understands how to communicate. It’s grounded, human, insightful, easy to read and offers a lot of great hacks. Buy it for any Early Career Researchers in your life and learn from it yourself.’
– Alan McKee, University of Sydney, Australia
‘I did my PhD under Jim’s supervision and his practical and academic research expertise were an invaluable guide to me in adapting to the academic world. He tells many “home truths” and explains the formal and informal “need to knows”, which will guide students and early career academics navigating the idiosyncrasies of academia.’
– Andew McCowan, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
‘This lively, informative and often humorous book addresses a potentially stressful issue for many aspiring academics – namely how to get a good job at a good university as a successful researcher. The book is global and multi-disciplinary in scope. There is plenty of “teaching”, remarkably little “preaching”, and much to be learned from this authoritative and wide-ranging book.’
– Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK
– David Waller, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
‘This is exactly what we need – a practical guide to living a good academic life written by somebody who understands how to communicate. It’s grounded, human, insightful, easy to read and offers a lot of great hacks. Buy it for any Early Career Researchers in your life and learn from it yourself.’
– Alan McKee, University of Sydney, Australia
‘I did my PhD under Jim’s supervision and his practical and academic research expertise were an invaluable guide to me in adapting to the academic world. He tells many “home truths” and explains the formal and informal “need to knows”, which will guide students and early career academics navigating the idiosyncrasies of academia.’
– Andew McCowan, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
‘This lively, informative and often humorous book addresses a potentially stressful issue for many aspiring academics – namely how to get a good job at a good university as a successful researcher. The book is global and multi-disciplinary in scope. There is plenty of “teaching”, remarkably little “preaching”, and much to be learned from this authoritative and wide-ranging book.’
– Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK
Contents
Contents
About this book and academic success
1 Getting into academic research
2 Discovering research and your place in a field
3 Discipline, disciplines, and disciplinarity
4 Getting started—chrysalis, coat tails, and contacts
5 Case studies—building a research career
6 Writing and publishing
7 Disseminating your research for impact
8 Taking your research to the classroom
9 Landing the ‘big fish’
About this book and academic success
1 Getting into academic research
2 Discovering research and your place in a field
3 Discipline, disciplines, and disciplinarity
4 Getting started—chrysalis, coat tails, and contacts
5 Case studies—building a research career
6 Writing and publishing
7 Disseminating your research for impact
8 Taking your research to the classroom
9 Landing the ‘big fish’
