The ABC of research across career stages - Mid career

Third of four posts on navigating the sometimes choppy waters of research (and academia) across career stages

Anne-Wil Harzing - Wed 28 May 2025 06:59 (updated Tue 27 May 2025 13:21)

In many ways, the mid-career stage is the toughest part of an academic career. Everyone thinks that being an ECR is the hardest part of your academic journey. For some it can be, but I don’t think it is true for everyone. As an ECR you often get lots of support. You can participate in networks that have been created just for your career stage. You get time allowances to get settled. Sometimes you even get start up budgets. And you can ask lots of silly questions!

Just like when you are a PhD student, you think you are extremely busy when you are an ECR. But then, once you are about 5-7 years into your career, and you are maybe a Senior Lecturer or even an Associate Professor, you realise that you only get busier when you get further into your career.

Yes, you may have a few of publications under your belt, you may have just that bit more confidence. But you are no longer junior, and are now expected to suddenly forge your own path, often without much support. That’s not easy at all. So here are a few things that I think are crucial at this stage.

A – Adjust your research trajectory

In your ECR stage you have tried many things. Obviously, we never stop learning and experimenting, but at the mid-career stage it is a good time to take stock and make some choices. What worked, what didn’t? What did you enjoy, what did you hate? Do you have a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses?

At this career stage, you will also be expected to take on some leadership roles, either in your own institution as PhD director or head of a research cluster, or in the academic community as an editorial board member or even Associate editor. This can be a great way to learn more about research.

With increasing seniority, you are now also expected to broaden your portfolio. It is no longer only about internal grants and publications. You need to get involved in external grant applications and think about the academic and societal impact of your research.

B – Balance the many plates in the air

By far the most difficult part of this career stage is that you are balancing so many different plates in the air. You are expected to take on higher-level teaching duties, managing tutors and programmes, and also take your turn in committees and leadership roles. These expectations mean that finding enough time for research might become harder.

This is often combined with balancing many plates in your personal life. You may have young children; you may still be facing precarity in your job or housing situation. Of course, ECRs face a lot of precarity too, but it is often a bit easier to cope with if you are still in your twenties or early thirties and without dependants. So, creating a sustainable career that doesn’t take over your private life may be hard (see also: How to create a sustainable academic career).

So, do keep talking to your mentors, they are as valuable in this career stage as they are at the ECR stage. But also feel free to ask them for sponsorship. Just be specific about what you need. Do you need invitations for keynote speeches, for editorial positions, for external connections? Do you want them to champion you for leadership positions? Do you need an introduction to an academic you want to work with? Just ask. They may not always be able to help, but if you don't ask you never find out. Finally, remember that mentors are often overwhelmed too. So, you may wish to consider supplementing mentor advice with a career coach or join networks for peer support.

C – Create your unique research profile

This is also the stage where it is becoming really important that you start building your own unique profile. This means you need to start thinking about research agendas, not just a list of papers, and start working more independently. If you haven’t published without your PhD supervisor or first senior co-author yet, this is the time to do so.

It also helps if you start building up your public profile a bit more consistently. Remember you can do the best research of the world, but if nobody knows about it, they can’t appreciate it. Beyond populating the key social media profiles (see Social media to support your career), try to become more visible through talks at other universities, running webinars, or organising conference sessions.

It may help you to start thinking about what you would like to become known for, and what you need to do get there. Put yourself in your own shoes in 5-10 years’ time. If you continue like you do now, will you get there? If not, are you ok with that?

Mid-career key word: Identity!

We can summarize this career stage with one word: Identity! I see mid-career as finding your research and academic identity and leveraging your strengths. There is now a general recognition in talent management that we grow more by leveraging our strengths than by working on our weaknesses. Yes, some weaknesses need to be addressed, but focusing all your attention on those risks missing your biggest opportunity for growth. So do try to figure out what you are uniquely good at and develop this further.

The ABC of research across career stages - Mid career

A – Adjust your research trajectory

B – Balance the many plates in the air

C – Create your unique research profile

Mid-career key word: Identity!

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