Changing Academic Life

Geraldine Fitzpatrick

What can we do, individually and collectively, to change academic life to be more sustainable, collaborative and effective? This podcast series offers long-form conversations with academics and thought leaders who share stories and insights, as well as bite-size musings on specific topics drawing on literature and personal experience. For more information go to https://changingacademiclife.com Also see https://geraldinefitzpatrick.com to leave a comment. NOTE: this is an interim site and missing transcripts for the older podcasts. Please contact me to request specific transcripts in the meanwhile.

  1. Deborah Boehm-Davis on career paths, leadership, and change (CAL129, S7E2)

    1天前

    Deborah Boehm-Davis on career paths, leadership, and change (CAL129, S7E2)

    Professor Emeritus Deborah Boehm Davis, George Mason University in the US, is one of the pioneers of the CHI conference. Deborah discusses her varied career building from her psychology background and spanning roles in human factors at Bell Labs, NASA, and General Electric. She then talks about her extensive tenure at George Mason University in both faculty and administrative/leadership roles, eventually becoming the dean of a college. Deborah shares reflections on career transitions, the importance of making a difference, effective leadership, the significance of collaborative work, and the challenges and strategies for navigating academic leadership, as well as managing academic responsibilities alongside family life. She also talks about her last industry role at Oculus Research and offers insights into the skills and approaches necessary for effective academic and industry leadership. The conversation also touches on the importance of interdisciplinary work and mentorship in academia. Overview: 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Deborah Boehm-Davis: Career Overview 03:24 Early Career and Human Factors 04:54 Transition to Academia, Balancing Faculty and Administration Roles 09:38 Reflections on Career and Impact 17:39 Navigating Academic Leadership 25:14 Collaborations, Interdisciplinary Work and Collegiality 28:18 Interdisciplinarity and Being Strategic 32:57 Transitioning to Leadership Roles, Developing Leadership Skills 33:53 Handling Difficult Conversations 36:39 Balancing Decisions and Stakeholder Concerns 40:29 Engaging Faculty and Effective Communication 44:51 Leadership in Industry vs. Academia 46:54 Mentorship and Support Systems 50:24 Proudest Achievements and Work Skills Course 56:28 Reflections on Women in Academia 59:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 01:00:46 End Related links: Video of a 2024 talk to the Uni of Virginia HFES Student Chapter: “A Career in Human Factors: A Lifetime of Change” [40:51 mins] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-boehm-davis-05b50 Website: https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/dbdavis

    1 小时 1 分钟
  2. Season 7 Kickoff: Fresh Starts and Being Intentional (CAL128 S7E1)

    9月3日

    Season 7 Kickoff: Fresh Starts and Being Intentional (CAL128 S7E1)

    In the first episode of season seven, the 10th year the Changing Academic Life podcast, I invite us to reflect on the theme of being intentional about what we want for ourselves at the beginning of this new academic year for many of us in the northern hemisphere, or for any temporal landmark that is relevant for you. As example and inspiration, Anna Cox from UCL shortly shares her strategies for setting clear priorities, maintaining work-life balance, and managing her remaining 'available time to promise', recognising every yes entails a no to something else. This is a great example of the 'fresh start effect', using the temporal landmark of a new academic year, as talked about by Katy Milkman and colleagues, and reminds us of the importance of creating pauses for reflection. So how will you be more intentional about your fresh start? 00:34 Introduction 01:27 Starting With Intention 05:28 Anna's Fresh Start  07:05 Thinking About Priorities 09:01 Available Time to Promise 10:56 Creating Pauses to Think 12:20 Re-iterating Anna's Key Questions 16:29 Wrapping Up  17:57 Pointers to Other Related Episodes 19:24 Wrapping up 20:31 End Related links: eWorkResearch group at UCL and Anna’s webpage and WLB definition  Dai, H., Milkman, K. L., & Riis, J. (2014). The fresh start effect: Temporal landmarks motivate aspirational behavior. Management Science, 60(10), 2563-2582. Loleen Berdahl, How to quit promising time and energy you don’t have See www.changingacademiclife.com for an easy search for the related podcasts: Anna Cox, Marta Cecchinato, Johanna Stadlbauer, Amy Ko, Carmen Neustaedter, Katherine Isbister, Vikki Wright

    21 分钟
  3. Creating Peer Support Groups (CAL126, S6, E20)

    6月18日

    Creating Peer Support Groups (CAL126, S6, E20)

    If you are curious about how to set up your own peer support group, inspired by what Johanna Stadlbauer shared about what Uni Graz are doing, then this episode might get you started. I walk through some of the ‘things to think about’ when setting up peer groups such as the group’s purpose, the focus, and who that would involve, also the group size, meeting frequency and commitment, and choosing between structured or informal formats and related roles. I then walk through two examples of more structured formats: action learning sets which take more of a coaching approach, and peer mentoring models that take more of a consulting or advising approach. I also give some examples of more informal peer groups.  Regardless of approach, good listening, confidentiality and a commitment to genuine participation are key. I also refer to some resources and links for further reading and more detailed overview of steps, as well as some related podcasts. Whether you're looking for mutual support, expert guidance, or simply a sense of belonging, there's a group format that can work for you. Give it a try! 00:00 CAL126 Exploring Peer Group Support Models 00:29 Introduction 01:36 Purpose 03:03 Focus 05:03 How Many 06:17 How Often 07:45 Format 08:24 Roles 09:44 Critical Ingredients 11:38 Walking Through Some Examples 12:35 Example: Peer Coaching Groups - Action Learning Set 20:39 Example: Peer Mentoring Groups 25:04 Example: Informal Peer Support Groups 28:23 Recap 30:07 Do What Works for You - Suggestions 33:07 Closing Call and Pointers 36:36 End Related Links Action Learning Sets guidance by Caroline Doherty via the UK NHS Action Learning Sets page Action Learning Sets at Uni of St Andrews as example in an academic context Graz Call for participation in their Collegial Development Programme Kollegiale Beratung in sechs Phasen (Collegial Advising in 6 Phases)  Descriptive Consultancy with protocol description Balint Group Method The No Club book and No Club Guidance Related Podcasts Michael Bungay Stanier on the power of curiosity and taming your advice monster a href="https://changingacademiclife.captivate.fm/episode/rw8-asking-good-questions-empowering-good-people"...

    37 分钟
  4. Johanna Stadlbauer on boundaries, agency, and community building (CAL125, S6 E19)

    6月4日

    Johanna Stadlbauer on boundaries, agency, and community building (CAL125, S6 E19)

    Johanna Stadlbauer is an anthropologist working in researcher development at the University of Graz, recently made Head of Research Careers Campus Graz. Her mission is a more fun and kind academia. Johanna shares the experiences and challenges of her journey from a PhD to quitting a postdoc in anthropology, to doing NGO work part-time, and then coming back to academia for a researcher development role. Her work now is focused on creating a supportive and kind academic environment, with the aim to improve researcher well-being and foster a sense of community. She discusses establishing structures for postdoctoral researchers' support and community, and highlights initiatives like the writing retreat, Fiasco Fest, and peer mentoring, which aim to improve researcher well-being and foster a sense of community. Johanna is a role model for how to navigate a career path and your work role on your own terms. She is really clear on her own boundaries, and what she needs to feed herself and look after her work-life balance. She also reminds us the value of peer support, of telling people their contributions matter, and of taking the time to savour the good. She reminds us of the significance of agency, community support, and the need for transparency and understanding in academia. 00:00 CAL125 Johanna Stadlbauer 03:03 Introduction and Guest Background 03:56 Journey from Anthropology to Research Development 06:18 Postdoc Experience and Challenges 07:42 Deciding to Quit the PostDoc 12:05 Transition to NGO Work 15:57 Finding Balance and Setting Boundaries 19:47 Messaging in Academia 23:35 Permanent Contract and Current Role 29:27 Towards a Fun and Kind Academia and Experiences of Power Abuse 31:26 Finding Solutions and Positive Structures 33:31 Balancing Critique and Support in Academia 35:58 Empowering Postdocs and Addressing Structural Issues 40:12 The Importance of Community, Peer Support and Mentoring 49:39 Promoting Good Working Environments for Researcher Wellbeing 52:03 Personal Reflections and Final Thoughts 56:53 End  Related Links Johanna's web page (English version) Head of Research Careers Campus Graz  Researcher Development in Graz Blog  LinkedIn pages for Johanna, the PostDoc Office, and Research Careers Campus Graz The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA)  Max Planck PhD Net  Balint Group Method

    57 分钟
  5. Tina Persson on career pivots, recruitment and coaching for career security (CAL124, S6 E18)

    5月21日

    Tina Persson on career pivots, recruitment and coaching for career security (CAL124, S6 E18)

    Tina Persson shares her journey from chemistry and nearly 20 years in academia, to recruiting and then career coaching. Tina discusses the challenges she faced in academia, including struggles with energy-draining tasks and political landscapes, and how she pivoted to a career in recruitment and coaching. She emphasizes the importance of understanding natural talents, emotional intelligence, and honest communication in career development. The conversation covers valuable tips for professors on recruiting and supporting early-career researchers, the impact of AI on career skills, and the cultural differences in career transitions. Tina also highlights the significance of lifelong learning and being open to unseen opportunities, offering practical advice for academics, those seeking an academic position, and those considering a career pivot.  Overview: 00:29 Episode Introduction 03:02 Introducing Tina and her Academic Journey 10:18 Transition to Industry 12:24 Becoming a PhD Recruiter 15:25 Coaching and Career Development 25:24 Recruitment Tips for Professors 36:00 Startup Mentality in Academia 38:43 Evaluating Candidates Beyond Technical Skills 40:35 Innovative Interview Techniques 43:09 Filtering Candidates Efficiently 50:57 Cultural Differences in Recruitment 52:50 The Role of AI in Recruitment 54:25 Human-Centric Skills in Academia 01:00:13 Building a Supportive Academic Culture 01:03:23 The Importance of Career Pivoting 01:05:52 Conclusion and Contact Information Related links Related to Tina: About Tina and her LinkedIn profile and Passage2Pro PhD Career Stories Podcast and upcoming book People: Sarah Blackford , Fritz Eckstein  Holland’s Theory of Career Choice

    1 小时 8 分钟
  6. Strengths as Superpowers - Replay (CAL123, S6 E17)

    5月7日

    Strengths as Superpowers - Replay (CAL123, S6 E17)

    This is a replay of an episode about our strengths as our superpowers and it is a useful precursor to the next podcast discussion where my guest will talk about them as natural talents. This replay episode was triggered by two interactions that made me think more about the importance of knowing our own unique superpowers (as Aaron Quigley discussed), ie our strengths, and also our kryptonite (thanks Lewis Chuang), and how this can help us work out what is our good academic life. And to recognise that we can all have different superpowers. Before getting to the replay I also report on some lovely feedback from the episodes with Graham McAllister. 00:29 Introduction 01:39 Update from episodes with Graham McAllister 05:21 Replay - Strengths as Superpowers 06:49 Kyrptonite and Superpowers 08:19 What are your superpowers? 14:29 Other notes about strengths as superpowers 17:21 Summary and pointer to ways to explore strengths 19:25 Additional Pointers 22:05 Outro Related Links: The twitter thread started by Lewis Chuang Aaron Quigley podcast conversation Mike Twidale podcast conversation VIA Character Strengths Survey Strengthscope Strengths assessment tools Related Work: Michelle McQuaid, 2014, Ten Reasons to Focus on Your Strengths No matter what your job description says, Psychology Today. Jeremy Sutton, 2021, Cultivating Strengths at Work: 10+ Examples and Ideas, PositivePsychology.com. Ryan M. Niemiec, 2020, Coronavirus Coping: 6 Ways Your Strengths Will Help You Turn to your best qualities for prevention, safety, and health. Psychology Today.

    23 分钟
  7. Graham McAllister (Part 3) on the art and craft of writing (CAL122, S6E16)

    4月16日

    Graham McAllister (Part 3) on the art and craft of writing (CAL122, S6E16)

    ”Writing is thinking, I love thinking, I love working on problems, I love thinking through the problems…. So the whole writing thing is a thinking thing.” says Graham McAllister in this final part of our conversation. His foray into writing a book on Games Usability after he sold his company was also a foray into exploring the process of writing, asking himself questions like "How do you write a book? What's my voice? How do I write? What fits in with my life?”  Graham unpacks his experiences about the art and craft of writing that worked for him in answer to these questions. He starts with reflections on publishing challenges in academia and his commitment to making knowledge freely accessible. He also talks about the process of discovering his writing voice, the iterative writing process, setting up a writing routine and setting achievable goals. Graham also reflects on the broader implications of his work within academia and industry, the pursuit of clear communication for your audience, and his future aspirations in writing and consulting. The conversation highlights themes of personal growth, the importance of thoughtful work-life integration, and the impact of past mentors and opportunities. Overview 00:00 Introduction 02:50 Introduction to the Book Writing Journey 03:28 The Philosophy of Free Knowledge 04:51 The Writing Process and Idea Generation 07:12 Structuring and Refining the Book 10:08 Finding Your Voice and Writing Routine 11:51 Future Writing Projects and Reflections 20:09 Balancing Work and Personal Fulfillment 26:04 Final Reflections and Gratitude Related Links: Graham’s Home page and LinkedIn Profile and his books CAL120 Part 1 episode with Graham on his previous career pivots CAL121 Part 2 episode with Graham on team vision alignment

    32 分钟

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What can we do, individually and collectively, to change academic life to be more sustainable, collaborative and effective? This podcast series offers long-form conversations with academics and thought leaders who share stories and insights, as well as bite-size musings on specific topics drawing on literature and personal experience. For more information go to https://changingacademiclife.com Also see https://geraldinefitzpatrick.com to leave a comment. NOTE: this is an interim site and missing transcripts for the older podcasts. Please contact me to request specific transcripts in the meanwhile.

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