Academia

Academia as a whole is another large institutional stakeholder and profession in the sustainability discourse. Academia plays a key role in bridging the gap between experts and non-experts.

There are two routes to “academia” or “research” which includes:

Joining a think-tank or a knowledge (in-house) team.
The traditional academic route is where one teaches and conducts research in Universities.

Universities and research institutes work on climate change and the environment to drive discovery and implement innovative solutions. These also work to communicate academic knowledge to businesses, industry and policy-makers. An example of this is the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. Importantly academia is a key stakeholder in societal commitment to combating climate change and a source of independent knowledge. Universities and higher education institutions are recognised for their responsibilities when knowledge, skills and innovation are needed to deal with global challenges.

Academic research ranges on all areas related to climate change, the environment and the natural world. This is not specific to one University Department due to the large breadth and complexity of sustainability that necessitates research on several “niches.” This can include research in policy, education, biology, engineering, social sciences, law, psychology and more.

What are the key skill sets most important to succeeding in this role? (from the survey)

Research skills - by nature a PhD is all about research, so being able to collect data, analyse information and adopt a critical eye to the research is important.
Partnership building and stakeholder engagement - building community partnerships with those on the ground who would have contextual realities, establishing trust and rapport with interviewees/people in the field for potential synergies in future academic research or policymaking
Technical and analytical skills including data management
Science communication and presentation skills

Career Case Study

PhD student at Imperial College London

What does your day-to-day look like?

The day-to-day of a researcher looks different depending on their area of expertise. For instance, if their research focuses on secondary information (i.e. a literature review), then you are likely to find academics in their computers or the library reading. Some academics and researchers go on what is known as “field work” where they visit a different locality (can span from Richmond in London to different parts of Thailand). Others work on technical topics and can be found in cool university labs analysing samples or testing theories.

(Sector-specific question): What are the most challenging aspects of pursuing a PhD?

In my experience, the most challenging aspects of pursuing a PhD vary from technical to interpersonal. On a practical note, funding your research can be a challenge. There are two approaches. One is to do someone else’s proposed project, or an aspect of their research where they have already received funding. The other is where you have a research idea that you want to fund and develop further. The choice of supervisor is also key because you will be working with that person for a minimum of 3 years - their expertise in your research field is important so that they can guide and support you throughout your PhD process. Last, on a practical note - having the necessary technical skills to complete your research is also key.

On an interpersonal level, a PhD can become lonely from time to time. Academia has some rigid, traditional hierarchies that PhD students have to navigate. A PhD also requires strong self-organisation skills and discipline. Your supervisor is unlikely to micromanage you throughout the 3-4 years of your PhD’s duration, which means that you have to set and manage your own ‘internal’ or ‘self’ deadlines.

(Sector-specific question): How does a PhD position people to enter the job market after completion?

You will not find a lot of PhD students that know what they want to do after they finish their project - but a PhD opens a lot of doors. Answers to this also depend on the stage that a PhD student is in in their career already - for instance, we have many experienced professionals in my department who have worked in industry before pursuing their PhD. We also have students with 0 - 1 year experience in industry who then pursued their PhD. From my perspective, there is the obvious career path into academia. While you do your PhD, you also get a lot of opportunities to teach in university as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), which means that you are building your CV and experience to follow that path. For those of us without previous experience, internship or external consulting opportunities during our PhD are important to get a feel for what is out there after graduation. Depending on your PhD, you can do many things after graduation that do not include academia. For instance, consulting, policy advising, project management or joining a think-tank.

(Sector-specific question) Top tips for students hoping to successfully apply for a PhD?

Think about the topic you would be pursuing and whether that is something you can think about every day for the next 3 to 4 years of your career. Measure the pros and cons - time commitment, career development, network development, research, capacity and funding. Leverage the skills and knowledge you already have, and any previous research experience. Connect with your supervisor and make sure your working styles are compatible. Last, find your ‘circle’ - a PhD buddy that doesn’t necessarily have to be in your Department or research group, but someone who you will be able to connect with throughout your PhD experience.

What is your key advice & top tips for young people looking to enter this field?

Luckily - or not - there are some standard ways to “get into academia.” This includes getting a PhD. There are different degrees. For instance, a traditional path to academia looks like this:

Undergraduate
Master’s programme
PhD programme

Another approach looks like this:

Undergraduate
MPhil programme which includes what you would learn in a Master’s and can then progress into:
A PhD

Your PhD can be self-funded, but you may also receive funding from an organisation to carry out specific research. This can be traditionally between 3 and 4 years if done full-time or 7 to 8 years if done part-time.