Essential skills for a career in research

How did you become interested in science?

I wish I had a romantic story about always having a love of science, but when I was growing up in rural Kildare at first I had aspirations to go to art college. That was until I realised I didn’t have any artistic talent. My older siblings studied science and I liked the subject, so I went to Trinity and specialised in physics and then did a PhD in astrophysics there.

What was your PhD on?

I was studying a “symbiotic star” system where one star nearing the end of its life — a red giant — has a mutual existence with a nearby smaller, hotter star called a white dwarf. The white dwarf illuminates the larger, dying star and we can capture more information about it. There was a bit of a rocky start though, in that a key instrument for my research on board the Hubble space telescope broke before I was to begin my project. Thankfully it eventually got fixed and I could get the information I needed.

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How did you move from astrophysics to science education research?

After my PhD, I applied to be a management consultant and I was on the verge of signing a contract when an opportunity came up to work as education and learning manager with the Science Gallery in Dublin for a year instead. While I was there, a position came up in Trinity for an assistant professor in science education and I got it. I have been working in the area ever since and I am director of research for the School of Education now.

What is your research on?

I look at science and society, including science education, communication and public engagement. We have seen more focus on these recently because of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. I’m looking at barriers and enablers to improving trust in science around the world, and I’m also leading the Irish involvement in establishing a European centre for science communication.

You have just written a book on essential skills for early-career researchers — how did that come about?

It came about from being marooned, really. Back when the Beast from the East struck in 2018, I got stranded in an airport hotel in Berlin for three days. I started thinking about the book seriously then, but it took another lockdown — Covid-19 — for me to really get going on it. I was on sabbatical and meant to be travelling to Brazil but the pandemic meant that didn’t happen. So I got stuck into writing the book instead.

What are some key skills for early-career researchers then?

Being able to build your network and communicating clearly through writing. I know not everyone loves writing, but it is the medium through which many researchers are recognised, whether that’s in a grant proposal or an academic paper.

For me writing the book was a new experience, and I took tips from Stephen King’s book On Writing, particularly about shutting out distractions and writing something every day. Though obviously mine is a textbook, not a horror story!

And what keeps you motivated in the work?

Writing a book or carrying out research are long-term projects, but I find that interacting with colleagues and editors keeps me going, I am learning all the time.

• Essential Skills for Early Career Researchers by Prof Joseph Roche is available through JosephRoche.ie/EssentialSkills and will be launched at European Researchers’ Night, Trinity College Dublin Long Room Hub on September 30th at 5pm — see start-ern.org