Off the beaten PI track: The why and how of diversification in academic career paths

Presentation prepared for Distinguished Lecture Series of the Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin (24th September 2024) The realisation of widespread adoption of research best practice requires diversification of the academic workforce, not only in the transitional period, but also for the maintenance of new infrastructure and behaviours. This brings a welcome opportunity to retain talent and expand the breadth of roles in academia, with a growth in the range of career paths which can be determined to be “successful” according to an individual's own criteria. Importantly, this will increase the opportunities for skills and ambition to be cultivated in directions which fall outside of the traditional PI track, and contribute significantly to the success of our research endeavours. In this talk, I will describe my own rewarding journey to becoming a Research Technical Professional, how this has reinvigorated my passion for research, capitalised on my desire to develop others, and provided enumerate opportunities for growth and development. We recognise, however, that changes to our systems can culture are required to accommodate appropriate reward and recognition procedures which demonstrate that Research Technical Professionals are valued equally alongside traditional academic researchers. There are opportunities for both individual and collective action to support the necessary changes, and you are invited to join the progression towards a more highly skilled and technically competent research workforce.