About me.
I qualified as a physiotherapist in 2014 with an eager attitude and keen to change the world. Early on I had an interest in research; I finally understood that changing the world is much easier if you are an active researcher. I was always curious and inquisitive and if there was not an answer to something I often wondered why nobody had looked at that yet. There comes a time where you stop wondering why, and start becoming the person who was going to answer that question. I completed a masters in advancing physiotherapy practice in 2015, keen to continue my research. I presented my undergraduate dissertation at conference and have been to conference every year since.
In 2016 I joined the Centre of Research and Exercise Sciences department at Glenfield Hospital on a spontaneous application sat in a cubicle with a DNA. I was hesitant to leave clinical work completely and join a research job for 3 years. I expressed these concerns and agreed some clinical time, whilst continuing weekend working at my previous trust and eventually the new trust. This research physiotherapist role was fixed term to complete a project on an airway clearance device, which subsequently formed a part of my PhD.
Fast forward, its 2020 and I remain in the research department with a PhD under my belt and beginning my journey into postdoc. My clinical time has increased and I work 60:40 clinical:research. I turned my 3 year fixed term post into an exciting career as a clinical academic and I hope an exciting future ahead of me. But as I try to establish myself as an independent researcher, I have less time to give junior colleagues that might wish to do the same. And in fact- I’m sure there are many Allied Health Professionals around the UK that strive for a clinical academic role.
So here I am, putting pen to paper (metaphorically) to share with you the tips and tricks, successes and failures of life as a clinical academic. Buckle up and sit tight, I’m bad at directions but I will get us there eventually.
