Dr Jane Herron already had an established research career when she decided to take a break from it all and raise a family. Now back in the workplace thanks to a Wellcome Trust career re-entry fellowship award things are back on track. Earlier this month we caught up with Jane to discuss her experiences and look at how this type of funding is helping to promote women in science.
When I left Cardiff University in 2008 research had been a huge part of my life for over 10 years. I had achieved a great deal so stepping away to raise a family was a big decision for me. However the time felt right and I now have two wonderful children who challenge my brain in many different ways as every parent I’m sure can relate to.The break really helped me to consider where I was going as a researcher and how I wanted to progress my career in the future. Eventually I started to really miss the activity of research and the whole challenge of working within an academic environment. Once my children reached school age I felt the time was right to start considering my options and investigate the opportunities available to get back into research. I reviewed all of the funding schemes available, but there were very few suitable for getting researchers back into the workplace. I was eventually successful through the Wellcome Trust career re-entry scheme. This scheme is for postdoctoral scientists who have recently decided to recommence a scientific research career after a continuous break of at least two years.It’s a fellowship that is particularly suitable for applicants wishing to return to research after a break for family commitments.
I was lucky enough to secure funding for 4 years on a part-time basis – a wonderful opportunity having been away from the environment for so long.I had managed to stay in touch with colleagues during my career break so always felt that I was in the loop. This helped enormously when I eventually returned and I’m extremely grateful to have received that level of support.
So now I’m back in the School of Psychology I can safely say that I absolutely love coming to work! I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity to return to high-quality research. My brain is being stretched again and I’ve most definitely rediscovered my passion for research. I’m amazed how quickly I’ve settled back into the environment. One of my biggest fears was the risk of falling behind theoretically and also the continuous advancement of technology. I really didn’t think there would be a way back into research for me so now that I’ve been given this fantastic opportunity I’m keen to ensure that others in a similar situation don’t miss out.
Funding is limited so there is a definite need for this to be addressed in order to make significant impact. Most funding is also aimed at early or mid career researchers. There appears to be very little fellowship funding available for those who have spent time away from the lab, and as a result many researchers in this position must be struggling to source suitable support. As far as I’m aware, Wellcome Trust and the Daphne Jackson Trust are the only schemes capable of meeting these needs. I would definitely encourage other research funders to follow this lead.
I’d be lying if I said the process is easy. You have to be incredibly proactive in seeking out the opportunities and there just isn’t enough funding to go round. Fortunately it’s all worked out for me and I’m incredibly excited about what the future holds now I’m back doing what I love. I have a good work / life balance and it feels like I’ve never been away. This opportunity has been a real game changer for me and I’m hugely grateful to Wellcome Trust for funding this opportunity and to Cardiff University for their on-going support and commitment to women in science.
Cardiff University and Women in Science