Towards independence: blazing your trail as a freelance researcher

There are many different PhD programmes, which run in various settings and are aimed at diverse groups of students. The outcomes may look similar (everyone graduating the programmes gets a PhD), but the inputs and processes along the way can differ substantially.

The traditional academic pathways still exist, albeit in a somewhat limited capacity vis-à-vis the numbers of students who successfully complete PhD programmes, which means that other pathways are gaining prominence and prestige. Not everyone who undertakes PhD study seeks a “regular” academic career. Some professionals take the time to do a PhD and gain a deeper understanding of their profession, then step back into that field at a higher level. Others feel that the best way forward is to do a PhD, then engage in research linked to their profession.

Whatever your reasons, if you choose not to be a university-bound academic, plenty of options are open to you, and this article will help you reflect on some of the key reasons (practical and personal) that may take you in that direction.

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What do I gain from doing a PhD and starting along an academic pathway?

If you work in industry or another profession and decide that you might want to pursue doctoral study but are not focused on working in academia, it is worthwhile taking the time to reflect on why you do want to do a PhD. If it is for knowledge and experience, or because you are interested, that is perfectly acceptable! Contrary to some opinions, there is no right or wrong answer as to why someone wants to do a PhD. There is only your answer, and if you are happy with your reasoning, then further questions are unlikely to be helpful to you.

Whatever your reason, it is always useful to have in mind the construction: “I am doing xyz, so that abc can happen, in order to…”

If you can complete that phrase to your own satisfaction, then you are well along the way to carving out your way.

What do I want to ‘do’ with my PhD and academic experience?

Not everything needs a PhD, but equally, some pathways may do. It is often useful to look up people whose pathways appeal to you, so you can see what their educational or professional backgrounds look like and what types of additional roles they have linked to their professional experiences. Are they charity trustees? Do they edit a journal? Or are they on advisory panels that are in your area of interest? Are these “extracurriculars” contingent on, or linked to, their PhD and research journeys? If so, you may decide that a PhD and formalised research are for you. If not, you may decide that a less conventional pathway is a route you wish to follow.

Amplifying your voice, skills and viewpoint

During and after a PhD and more generally, building connections in the area of your study is vital. If you are not following a traditional pathway and working as an independent scholar, this is particularly important; without a formal academic affiliation, your voice might get lost in the ether.

This is where professional organisations, charities and learned societies are a goldmine of information and support – you can give your support and you will most likely be supported, too!

For independent scholars, the US-based National Coalition of Independent Scholars is a learned society whose admission processes include peer review and scrutiny. Working alongside or within a larger organisation can give your views gravitas and amplify your research voice, so that you impact the areas you hope to.

Saying yes, and is that ‘yes’ worth it?

Being able to say “yes” to things that interest you and allow you to focus where you feel most able are the main draws of independent research. You do not have to toe a wider organisational line, adhere to their timelines or meet their objectives. You can set your own and say yes where you are comfortable. 

As you work more and gain more opportunities, you will have to streamline the activities and projects you undertake, particularly those you do pro bono. This is where you need to refer back to that idea of: “I’m doing this, so that, in order to…”

Focus and forge your way forward

As your yeses focus and you start to build up your portfolio as an independent scholar, it can be helpful to look at what other people do. There are many freelance scholars; the National Coalition of Independent Scholars has profiles of many of its members, so you can see what others have done. For example, Helen Kara is a UK-based independent scholar who speaks regularly on her journey and produces resources to support others in their own careers.

Whatever pathway you settle on as an early career researcher is your pathway, no one else’s, but there are many people who will support you along the way and resources to guide you.

Helen Ross is a consultant and independent researcher. She is owner and founder of Helen’s Place education consultancy, which focuses on driving positive change in education for people with dyslexia and special educational needs. She is also a full member of the National Coalition of Independent Scholars.

Helen’s advice draws on insight she shared in the book ResearcHER: The Power and Potential of Research Careers for Women, authored by the Women in Academia Support Network.

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So, this resource is aimed at people who, like me, might be thinking about being an independent scholar. My name is Helen Ross and I got my PhD in 2017 from the University of Bath.

Subsequently, I have done a lot of policy work with the British Dyslexia Association.

I’m on the board of trustees now. I’ve done a lot of work with the Wiltshire Dyslexia Association, lots of consulting internationally, research projects commercially, some work with Swansea University, the most wonderful team of different researchers.

I’ve blazed my own trail. I never wanted to be a “real academic” in a university.

I spent a lot of time reading policy documents as a teacher in South Yorkshire when I started training and saw that a lot of people who were quoted on documents had PhDs or professor or university-type pathways, which was my motivation.

It’s not everybody’s motivation; everyone has a different journey and different reasons for doing the things they do, professionally or with a PhD.

This resource is just aimed at kind of nudging you along the way, like bumpers in a bowling alley, to get you thinking about the kind of processes that you might want to go through, the journey you might want to take.

And I’ve always had the phrase – and I blame my parents for this – “I’m doing this…so that…in order to…” It’s about having a reason to do stuff and sometimes it’s because it’s nice and that’s OK. Sometimes it’s to pay the mortgage.

There are so many different answers to questions. The key thing is the only answer that matters to you is your answer because we are all different.

Different people, different journeys, different contexts. And hopefully this resource will just give you some questions to ask yourself and to think over. I hope it’s useful. Take care.