Career pathway tracker 35 years of supporting early career research fellows Contents

President’s foreword 4

Introduction 6

Scientific achievements 8

Career achievements 14

Leadership 20

Commercialisation 24

Public engagement 28

Policy contribution 32

How have the fellowships supported our alumni? 36

Who have we supported? 40

Where are they now? 44

Research Fellowship to Fellow 48

Cover image: Graphene © Vertigo3d CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 3 President’s foreword

The Royal Society exists to encourage the development and use of Very strong themes emerge from the survey About this report science for the benefit of humanity. One of the main ways we do that about why alumni felt they benefited. The freedom they had to pursue the research they This report is based on the first is by investing in outstanding scientists, people who are pushing the wanted to do because of the independence Career Pathway Tracker of the alumni of University Research Fellowships boundaries of our understanding of ourselves and the world around the schemes afford is foremost in the minds of respondents. The stability of funding and and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships. This us and applying that understanding to improve lives. flexibility are also highly valued. study was commissioned by the Royal Society in 2017 and delivered by the Above Thirty-five years ago, the Royal Society The vast majority of alumni who responded The Royal Society has long believed in the Careers Research & Advisory Centre Venki Ramakrishnan, (CRAC), supported by the Institute for President of the introduced our University Research Fellowships to the survey – 95% of University Research importance of identifying and nurturing the Royal Society. to support early-career researchers. We have Fellowship and 88% of Dorothy Hodgkin most talented individuals. The results of our Employment Studies (IES). also been supporting early postdoctoral Fellowship recipients – were still working survey would suggest we have a pretty good researchers who need to work flexibly with our within academia. track record in doing that. Not only do the Data was collected through an alumni Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowships for 23 years. Our individuals believe they have benefited but survey carried out in late 2017 and goal with both schemes has been to identify Among those we have supported are the value to the UK’s research endeavour and early 2018. The findings from the the most promising early-career researchers a Nobel Prize laureate and a Fields to our wider society, at home and abroad, survey underpin this report, including and give them freedom to pursue new and medallist, and just under 70% of University is evident. quantitative data as well as qualitative more innovative lines of research. This support, Research Fellows and over 40% of Dorothy data and quotes. at a challenging career stage, has helped them Hodgkin Fellows in academia have become There is always room for improvement but to build independent research careers. Professors. They include hugely successful the track record over the first 35 years is a The full data report by CRAC, as well as entrepreneurs, researchers whose work has remarkable achievement. an electronic version of this report, are To mark the 35-year milestone we decided shaped domestic and international policy available for download from the Grants to ask those who have been supported by and scientists who inspire the public pages of the Royal Society website: the schemes what difference it made to them. to engage with the wonder of science. royalsociety.org/career-tracker. In scientific terms, we do not have a control group and the views of the respondents are The Royal Society intends to continue just that – their own perceptions of how they periodically tracking the career pathways have benefited from the schemes. of its research fellowship alumni.

4 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 5 Introduction

This report focuses on the professional, personal and societal Detailed answers from past fellowship- holders reveal a range of career paths and impact of two major fellowships granted by the Royal Society to “ It was simply the most important achievements with a very strong focus on offer long-term support to outstanding, early-career researchers. research leaders in academia. For example, career-defining moment of my among the alumni are a Nobel Prize laureate, professional life.” While there are many junior level scientists, relatives, or because of personal health a Fields medallist, 58 Fellows of the Royal University Research Fellowship recipient. making the jump from a postdoctoral reasons. This originally offered four years, Society, several best-selling scientist-turned- researcher to a senior position such as a going up to five years from 2012. science-writers, a winner of the US$1 million research group leader, can be difficult. This Eternity mathematics puzzle, a scientist has become more and more of an issue as the Together, these two fellowships have whose disease programme contributed to the “ The Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship number of doctoral students and postdoctoral supported over 1,600 individuals in their eradication of malaria from a country, a TV was absolutely critical in my career. presenter of popular science shows and the scientists in academic research has greatly careers, with about 1,400 individuals receiving I believe that I would not be a scientist increased in the last 15 years in the UK and the University Research Fellowship to date, founder of a spin-off company that was sold now without it. The ability to work part- globally, while the number of permanent, and over 200 individuals receiving the for US$600 million. senior roles has not. Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship. In recent years, time during when my son was an infant around 50 – 60 new fellowships have been While the fellowships appear to have was simply fantastic. I treasure that The fellowships aim to help talented awarded annually. At present, 370 individuals bolstered early-career researchers in a time in my career. It was instrumental practical sense – with the funding enabling individuals bridge this difficult career step. are being supported by the two schemes. in my success” The first is the University Research Fellowship, them to focus on their research and innovate – they also seem to have provided a significant launched in 1983, which celebrates its 35th This report, based on the first survey – Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship recipient. anniversary this year. Originally, it provided up in what will become a longitudinal study – psychological boost in terms of confidence, to ten years of funding. From 2008 to 2013, of researchers who received the fellowships, prestige and the enhanced opinions of others, funding was for eight years with the possibility will demonstrate how – for many scientists which seems to have had a positive knock-on of exceptional cases being extended to ten – the awards were pivotal, even life-changing, effect even where researchers did not remain years. From 2013, eight years became the in terms of the opportunities, prestige and in academia. maximum. The second is the Dorothy Hodgkin support they gave. Additionally, the vast Fellowship, launched in 1995, specifically majority of recipients have gone on to make aimed at supporting talented scientists significant contributions to the research needing flexibility in their careers, perhaps community, government and policy, and to care part-time for young families or elderly societal, commercial and public life.

6 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 7 Scientific achievements

The Royal Society’s mission is to encourage and develop the use The proportion of University Research of science for the benefit of humanity. Fellowship alumni publishing their first paper as principal investigator peaked around seven “ The University Research Fellowship 96% years before the end of their fellowship, I had gave some very useful freedom One of the ways we do that is by attracting The vast majority of alumni who responded to of University with 96% having achieved this by the end. For to try out a couple of new areas of and retaining talented researchers to UK the survey – 95% of University Research Research Fellows Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship alumni, who tend science. Our funding provides them with the Fellowship and 88% of Dorothy Hodgkin research. This was invaluable as have published their to be earlier in their career when appointed freedom to follow their best research ideas. Fellowship recipients – were still working within it really allowed me to reduce my first significant paper and are often part-time, the peak was about The study results suggest that the two academia. The results suggest that early-career perceived risk of doing something by the end of their three years before the end of the scheme, with fellowships support excellent researchers scientists supported by the schemes were able fellowship. 72% having published this key paper by the adventurous – and this worked out for and boost recipients in this fundamental aim. to reach what are considered markers of academic time they completed the fellowship. me extremely well… [with the] invention career success and research achievement. There are a variety of ways in which scientific of the ionothermal method of materials The other significant research milestone – achievement can be measured. For example, Alumni are likely to publish their first research securing a first significant research grant as synthesis. This paper (published in with discoveries which have changed the face paper as a principal investigator – a mark a principal investigator or research leader Nature in 2004) led to a whole new 80% of a particular field, or key research papers of scientific kudos – during their fellowship. – varied broadly in terms of timing between field in materials synthesis that really of University which have been cited by hundreds of other They are also likely to gain their first significant alumni in the survey. Overall, 80% of University Research Fellows researchers, feeding into their work. research grant as a principal investigator cemented my international reputation. Research Fellowship alumni reported that they had secured their during or soon after their fellowship The technique is used by many had secured their first significant research grant first significant Achievement can also be recognised in public as a principal investigator by the end of their researchers around the world. This research grant as a and prestigious ways, with the winning of fellowship. was published while I was a University principal investigator national and international awards, by many of by the end of their the fellowship alumni. These include: a Nobel Research Fellow.” fellowship. Prize; the Fields Medal (often called the Nobel Professor Russell Morris FRS, Professor Prize of Mathematics), the Sackler Prize in the of Chemistry at St Andrew’s University, Physical Sciences, and the MacArthur Award. University Research Fellow (1998 – 2006).

8 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 9 CASE STUDY

OF MONSTERS AND MOONSHINE Professor Sir Kostya (Konstantin) Novoselov FRS A mathematical conjecture that tied together Professor Julia Gog is a mathematician University Research Fellow (2006 – 2014) 1.7 two unlikely mathematical structures was who works on modelling the spread of key to establishing Professor Richard pandemics. Her work has helped to million Borcherds FRS (University Research Fellow, understand how the 2009 flu pandemic There are not many scientists who could say that their work has 1988 – 1992) as one of the world’s top spread across the globe and provides The average viewing opened up an entire new field of research, but this is a feat to mathematical minds. insights as to how we can tackle future figures for How to outbreaks. which Sir Kostya Novoselov FRS at the University of Manchester Grow a Planet, a In 1998 he was awarded the Fields Medal three-part BBC2 can lay claim. (often called the Nobel Prize of Mathematics) She told us the fellowship made a ‘massive’ series based on for his work in algebra and geometry, difference to her career, with impact on her Professor David especially for his proof of the so-called research on the mathematics of interacting Not only that, in 2010, while still a University Sir Kostya Novoselov’s research on graphene Beerling’s popular ‘Monstrous Moonshine’ conjecture. multiple strains. “This was my main area Research Fellow, he shared the Nobel Prize has led him to be named as one of the ‘hottest science book The before University Research Fellowship, in Physics with colleague Sir Andre Geim researchers in the world’ in terms of scientific Emerald Planet. Formulated in 1979 by John Conway and and I was able to continue this as the longest FRS, also at Manchester, ‘for groundbreaking citations. His work has been cited over Simon Norton, the conjecture was given active thread in my research career.” experiments regarding the two-dimensional 120,000 times, and his seminal 2004 Science this name because it married together material graphene’. paper on graphene is named as one of the top Professor Beerling, such vastly different mathematical entities. Professor Julia Gog, University of 100 papers cited in science ever, in all fields. FRS (University One partner in the conjecture is a gigantic Cambridge, University Research The pair isolated a one-atom-thick layer of Research Fellow, structure known as the Monster Group; a Fellow (2004 – 2012). ordinary carbon (such as that found in the He is currently at the University of Manchester 1994 – 2002) is purely mathematical object which captures graphite of pencil leads), and showed that where he is a Royal Society Research Professor Director of the a type of symmetry, and acts differently in it had extraordinary properties thanks to and director of the National Graphene Institute. Leverhulme Centre different dimensions. The other is modular quantum effects. Called ‘graphene’, this new Among numerous awards and honours, for Climate Change functions or ‘j-functions’, which are used to material is the thinnest, strongest conductor of Sir Kostya Novoselov is also a Fellow of Mitigation, as well model structures in two dimensions. heat known. Its properties have helped test the the Royal Society. as a leader in the theoretical foundations of physics, and offer Professor Borcherds, Professor of relatively new field of huge practical applications in electronics. Mathematics at the University of California, land-based carbon Berkeley, produced a proof showing the dioxide removal with two structures were linked, namely by croplands and rocks. harnessing string theory.

10 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 11 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Polina Bayvel CBE FREng FRS Professor Claire Spottiswoode University Research Fellow (1993 – 2003) Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow (2008 – 2013)

Professor Polina Bayvel’s ‘revolutionary’ research since the 1990s In 2011, evolutionary biologist Professor Claire Spottiswoode and her on the high-speed transmission of data over optical fibres contributed colleagues solved a 100-year-old conundrum about brood parasite to networks that underpin the internet, and digital communications birds like cuckoos and African honeyguides. infrastructure as a whole. These birds lay their eggs in the nests of other Bicentenary Medal from the Linnean Society of bird species, cheating them into doing the London for ‘excellent work done by a scientist As a cornerstone of modern communications, She has been awarded a CBE (Commander work of bringing up their babies. The parasites under the age of 40 years’. In 2012, she was optics network research has been pivotal in of the British Empire) for her ‘services to manage this by laying eggs that physically given a L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science the massive societal and economic changes engineering’. She is also a Fellow of the mimic the eggs of their host species, but UK award, and has also received a European of the last 20 years. Royal Academy of Engineering and a Fellow how individual birds within the same parasitic Research Council Consolidator Grant. of the Royal Society. species manage to inherit egg mimicry of Now Professor of Optical Communications and different hosts was a much-theorised mystery. Professor Spottiswoode told the survey that Networks and Head of the Optical Networks She said of the University Research Fellowship the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship “has been group at University College London, a group scheme: “[It] has been invaluable in allowing Professor Spottiswoode and her team’s absolutely crucial to my career”. which she founded in 1994, Professor Bayvel me to establish research independence, ‘groundbreaking’ field work confirmed that has received numerous accolades for her a world-leading research group and the African Greater Honeyguide has achieved She explained: “It allowed me the freedom influential research. experimental laboratory.” this for millions of years through maternal to properly establish my own independent inheritance of egg mimicry via the female research systems (in the field in Africa) … and (or W) chromosome in birds. to focus almost completely on research for long enough to do things as well as I could: both to Based at both the University of Cambridge, start new projects and to see them through to and the University of Cape Town, Professor completion (and to think and to write…). This Spottiswoode has received recognition for her in turn made it relatively straightforward to be research, winning a 2017 Scientific Medal from granted subsequent research funding and the Zoological Society of London and a 2017 grow these projects further.”

12 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 13 Career achievements

If career achievements can be measured by a person’s seniority of There were also some notable gender “ It was thanks to differences with 73% of male University employment, their ability to gain a permanent, tenured position in “ I would not have stayed in the fellowship Research Fellows and 58% of female University that I managed academia where many posts are contract-only, the speed of their Research Fellows having become Professors. academia without the fellowships. to negotiate a progression up the career ladder, the management of other staff and It also appeared to take women longer to Moreover, with the help of the permanent post progress to senior roles, with women taking fellowships I have been able to success outside academia, then the University Research Fellowship 5.8 years from completing their fellowship to in the University focus on a specific research topic of Cambridge. become a Professor, and men taking 4.6 years. and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship schemes seem to go hand-in-hand without having to switch every few Thanks to the time with career success. I could devote to Almost three-quarters of University Research months following a new focused research, I had Fellowship respondents to the survey call for funding…” many publications The study suggested that over two-thirds of Nearly four-fifths of University Research were male, while 95% of Dorothy Hodgkin and grants, which University Research Fellowship alumni are Fellowship, and over half of Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship respondents were female. Professor Nicole Grobert, Professor subsequently helped currently either Professors or in a role more Fellowship alumni who stayed in academia had of Nanomaterials at the University me get promoted to senior than a Professor (Heads or Directors of managed to secure a permanent post before of Oxford, Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow full Professor faster.” centres and institutions). Among the Dorothy they completed their fellowship, or in that (2003 – 2006) and University Research Hodgkin Fellowship alumni, who tended to same year. Fellow (2006 – 2014). Professor Anna have a shorter fellowship and to be earlier in Korhonen, University their career when appointed and are often The vast majority of alumni of both schemes

Research Fellow (2005 part-time, over 40% of those working in successfully supervised a doctoral researcher Professor Grobert is working on nanomaterials – 2010), Professor academia were at Professor level or higher during or soon after their fellowships. and their potential use in healthcare, energy of Computational (see figure 1). Linguistics at and other industries. She has advised the the University of British Government, is on the European Cambridge and holder Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific of a European Research Advisors and is currently a Royal Society Council Consolidator Industry Fellow. Grant. Her CRAB text mining system assesses the cancer risk of chemicals.

14 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 15 Figure 1: Current level of employment

Current employment levels of 780 University Research Fellowship respondents

50% 45% Level Description Example job title or descriptor

40% A Head of institution Vice-Chancellor

B Highest level of manager Deputy/Pro Vice-Chancellor 30% reporting to Head of institution

20% 19% C Head/Director of major academic Executive Dean; Dean, Head of College; area; Director of function/s Finance Director; Director of Research 9% 9% 10% 8% D Head of an academic centre Head of Department; 5% 3% Associate Dean; Director 0% 2% 0% 0% 0% Non L K J I F E D C B A E Head of small centre; Director; Division Leader; senior function head Head of Human Resources

Current employment levels of 96 Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship respondents F Professor; function head Professor; Functional Manager

30% I Senior academic lead Associate Professor; Reader; Principal Lecturer; Principal Research Fellow

23% J Senior academic staff Assistant Professor; Senior Lecturer; Senior

20% 19% Research Fellow; Royal Society Research Fellow 16% 16% K Academic staff Subject Lecturer; Postdoctoral Research 10% Fellow; Research Fellow; Research Associate 10% 8% L Academic staff Lecturer; Researcher; Postdoctoral Research 4% 2% 2% Fellow/Associate/Assistant; Research Officer 0% 0% 0% Non L K J I F E D C B A

16 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 17 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Dr Maxine Gowen Professor Andrew Cooper FRS University Research Fellow (1986 – 1992), University Research Fellow (1999 – 2006), Professor President and Chief Executive Officer of Trevena, Inc. of Materials Chemistry, University of Liverpool and Director of Materials Innovation Factory (MIF). Dr Maxine Gowen spent 15 years at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in key leadership roles before founding her own biotech company, New materials – especially porous organic materials for energy Trevena, Inc. She also held a tenured academic post in the School applications, are the key focus of Professor Andrew Cooper’s group of Pharmacology at the University of Bath from 1989 – 1992. at the University of Liverpool.

While at GSK, Dr Gowen established a team Her team at Trevena, Inc filed a new drug His scientific work and publications have Physics, with over 120 academics and over of 40 scientists working on all aspects of application with the US Food and Drug influenced the way other research teams 1,200 students) with growth of my research bone and cartilage disease. She and her Administration for a novel drug for severe design materials and have garnered hundreds activity in the period 2007 – 2011. I still don’t team researched more than a dozen novel acute pain (which is currently being reviewed), of citations, but Professor Cooper’s career know how I did this.” molecular targets as potential approaches for and has two other drug programmes in the achievements extend beyond the purely the treatment of osteoporosis, rheumatoid pipeline. Trevena, Inc has raised more than scientific. Made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015, arthritis and osteoarthritis, publishing more US$350 million to finance this research. Professor Cooper has received numerous than 75 papers. He joined the University of Liverpool in 1999 honours and awards including the Macro She said of her fellowship: “It enabled me to as a recipient of the University Research Group Young Researcher’s Award in 2002 get a start as an independent researcher, to Fellowship, and is now Academic Director and the Royal Society of Chemistry Corday focus my grant-writing efforts on building a at the University’s MIF, which has around Morgan Medal in 2009. He has also held a research team, rather than having to fund my 100 industry researchers and 200 academic Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award, own research and salary or be dependent on researchers. He said this is the single largest and was listed as one of the world’s ‘Top 100 another senior researcher for funding.” industry-university collaboration in chemistry material scientists’ of the past decade by in the UK. Thomson Reuters in 2011, 2014 and 2017.

As well as this, Professor Cooper added: He said of the University Research Fellowship: “I combined the role of Head of Physical “It allowed me to get started independently at Sciences in Liverpool (Chemistry, Maths and a very early stage in my career.”

18 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 19 Leadership CASE STUDY

Career success often comes not only from academic talent, but Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell DBE FMedSci FRS 90% also from strong scientific leadership skills. The ability to lead and University Research Fellow (1984 – 1992) The proportion of successfully manage staff – both individuals and teams – is another Professor Rothwell FRS became the first woman to lead the University survey respondents key dimension that the study investigated. currently supervising of Manchester when she became its President and at least one postgraduate The study has highlighted the fact that Heads Another key facet of scientific leadership is Vice-Chancellor in 2010. At that time she was the only female researcher. and Deputy Heads of universities or academic the recruitment of a first team member, or a vice-chancellor of a Russell Group university. Under her leadership, societies and CEOs of private companies all ‘direct report’ to line manage. Again, a greater feature among recipients of the two Royal proportion of University Research Fellowship the university has grown its income significantly. Society fellowships. alumni – over 80% – had done this by the year they completed their fellowships. It was After being awarded a University Research She is currently co-chair of the Prime Minister’s 33% For academic scientists, managing your own also achieved by 56% of Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship in 1984, she relocated to Manchester Council for Science and Technology, a Deputy postgraduate research student through to Fellowship alumni. Many alumni identified in 1987. She became chair in physiology at the Lieutenant for Greater Manchester, a member of University the successful completion of their own PhD the success of their students and postdocs university in 1994 and held a Medical Research of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Research Fellowship is a significant career milestone. The survey as among their proudest achievements, Council research chair there between 1998 Board, and a member of the Greater respondents had looked at when our alumni achieved this. including one whose student had gone on and 2010. She is still active as a Professor Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, trained more than to become a Chancellor in one of the top of Physiology, and the research focus of her among other posts. ten postdoctoral It found that the vast majority – 98% – of universities in Shanghai. scientific group is on stroke, brain haemorrhage research staff. University Research Fellowship alumni and injury. Professor Rothwell is a Fellow of the working in academia had supervised a Royal Society. doctoral student through to gaining their PhD. Professor Rothwell has held numerous For Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship alumni in leadership roles in the past including having academia, 83% had achieved this milestone. been founding President of the Royal Society of Biology, serving as President of the British Neuroscience Association, being a council member of the Medical Research Council, BBSRC and Cancer Research UK and serving as a non-executive director of AstraZeneca.

20 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 21 CASE STUDY

Professor Tanya Monro, University Research Fellow (2000 – 2005) Professor David Price Professor David University Research Fellow (1983 – 1988) Professor Monro is Professor Monro has over 600 scientific Collison, Professor of currently Deputy publications to her name and has had a Inorganic Chemistry Vice-Chancellor very significant impact in the field of optical at University of Now Vice-Provost of Research at University College London (UCL), Research and fibre technology. She is also a Fellow of Manchester (University Professor David Price joined the university in 1983 as a mineral Innovation at the the Australian Academy of Science, the Research Fellow 1984 physicist on a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. At the University of South Australian Academy of Technology Science – 1994) describes Australia in Adelaide. and Engineering and the Optical Society one of his proudest young age of just 33 he was appointed as a Professor by UCL. of America. achievements as: She is a member of the Prime Minister’s “ Training of a large His leadership role has developed alongside He is a council member of the UK’s Commonwealth Science Council (CSC); Speaking about her fellowship she said, number of research his scientific successes. He was pivotal in Science & Technology Facilities Council, a board member of Australia’s national “I cannot overestimate the impact the Royal students who have establishing the field of computational mineral Chair of the Vice-Rectors for Research science body, CSIRO (the Commonwealth Society University Research Fellowship had success in many physics, and has published over 250 research Committee of the League of European Science and Industrial Research made to my career. As an early-career different fields, papers or chapters, which have garnered over Research Universities, and is Chair of Panel Organisation); the South Australian Defence researcher it gave me the mark of prestige e.g. academia, 12,000 citations. B (Physical Sciences, Engineering and Advisory Board; and the South Australian and credibility that was irreplaceable as a publishing, teaching, Mathematics) for REF 2021. Economic Development Board. 27-year-old female in a male-dominated law, computing, Professor Price’s other leadership roles have area. It gave me the confidence to pursue chemical industry, included being President of the Mineralogical my research ambitions. Without it, I would research institutions, Society of Great Britain and Ireland from 2004 never have been a full (tenured) Professor engineering, to 2006, and having been a Vice-President of at age 31.” analytical science.” the European Mineralogical Union.

22 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 23 Commercialisation

While the vast majority of scientists From revolutionary DNA sequencers, to flexible plastic electronics, Dr Annabel Cartwright, ‘bendy’ displays and ‘sonic nets’ which stop birds colliding with responding to the survey – 95% of University Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow (2007 – 2011) “ It gave me an important Research Fellows and 88% of Dorothy and significant ‘kick- aircraft, many of our fellowship alumni have commercialised their Hodgkin Fellows – currently work in Dr Cartwright start’ in my research research with major economic and societal impacts. academia, there was also some evidence that is Director of career,” said one male the fellowships had a positive impact on the Undergraduate scientist awarded a careers of those who left academia – in some Studies, School University Research A number of spin-off companies in a variety The majority of recipients of the fellowships cases to launch their own companies. of Physics and Fellowship in 2002. of fields have resulted from the work of also tell us they take part in some kind of Astronomy, “ Longer term, as I moved alumni in this study; some with multi-million, ‘knowledge exchange’ or commercialisation FLUID MECHANICS TO FINANCE University of Cardiff from academia into the even multi-billion net worths. on a regular basis. Just under two-thirds of pharmaceutical industry, alumni did this at least once a year, with those It may not seem like an intuitive step but The Society is also keen to ensure that it earned respect. Now who had completed their fellowships over Dr Paul Wilmott went from a University career pathways are not too rigid and I have left research and 20 years ago, doing this more frequently. Research Fellowship in fluid mechanics to to promote research careers that move am establishing my setting up several businesses, all based between business and academia. Dr own company, I can FIGURE 2: KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND COMMERCIALISATION around mathematical finance, including an Cartwright founded a company called see that the early boost % of respondents who work in academia engaging in knowledge exchange or commercialisation. education programme in quantitative finance Oxford Metrics before she was awarded to my confidence the and a magazine publishing original research. her Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship. fellowship gave me A mathematician by training, he is also an was also valuable.” KEY Dorothy Hodgkin author of mathematical textbooks and a She said: “In my early career I co-founded 35% 25% 41% Comments from alumni Fellowship > 1 per year financial consultant for many organisations. a company called Oxford Metrics which working in industry 1 per year is now publicly quoted. We were the first University Research suggest that their 35% 30% 35% As well as applying mathematics to in the world to manufacture 3D motion Fellowship Never experiences of being finance, he has also done a variety of capture equipment, a technology now a fellow helped them University Research media work, including working as an ubiquitous in movies, computer games 31% 27% 42% establish themselves Fellowship 2008+ undercover reporter for the investigative and medical research. It is fantastic as independent TV documentary series Dispatches to see technology I worked on in its University Research 38% 32% 30% researchers as well Fellowship <1998 examining corruption in political parties. infancy now used all over the world, as giving them the Dr Wilmott is a trustee of the charity Maths and contributing to a very healthy confidence to succeed 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% on Toast, which promotes mathematics for manufacturing sector in the UK.” in commercial ventures. families and the community.

24 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 25 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FMedSci FRS Professor Henning Sirringhaus FRS University Research Fellow (1993 – 1998) University Research Fellow (1998 – 2000)

When Sir Shankar Balasubramanian FRS and his colleague Professor Research into the fundamentals of organic semiconductor transistors David Klenerman FRS at the University of Cambridge launched their lead Professor Henning Sirringhaus at the University of Cambridge spin-off company Solexa in 1998, they had to convince their investors to co-found his company, Plastic Logic Ltd, in 2000 to develop that there would be a market for their products. ‘plastic electronics’.

It turned out that their fast, accurate and At Solexa they developed a commercial DNA He and his team had developed a way to ‘print’ Professor Henning Sirringhaus noted in his affordable DNA sequencing tools were sequencer. And once they were with Illumina, transistors which led to them commercialising response to our study that a key research ‘game-changing’ for private companies, they developed a ‘parallel sequencing’ the process to develop lightweight, flexible paper he published in the journal Science in research and society at large. method to analyse fragments of DNA electronic displays. Unlike other types of 2000, cited more than 2,000 times by other simultaneously, thus massively slashing the screens, these are not based on glass, but scientific publications, was pivotal in launching Solexa was acquired by US company Illumina costs and time needed for sequencing. rather paper-thin bendy plastic sheets, with his spin-off company. Inc in 2007 for US$600 million. And Illumina’s which Professor Sirringhaus hopes to transform latest valuation, in June 2018, puts the Today, Sir Shankar Balasubramanian and the way people consume information. He says of his Royal Society fellowship: company’s total market share value at nearly Professor Klenerman’s next generation DNA “The University Research Fellowship provided US$40 billion. sequencing technology is used the world Products by Plastic Logic Ltd include me with the opportunity to build up an over, and has been transformative for biology smartphone accessories, eReaders and ‘smart’ independent research programme for which When the pair set out on their venture, the and medicine. jewellery which allows wearers to change the I became internationally recognised.” idea of sequencing an entire genome quickly displayed design on, for example, a bracelet, to and cheaply was unimaginable. However, with Sir Shankar Balasubramanian was knighted in match their mood and outfit. Plastic electronics Professor Sirringhaus is a Fellow of the the Human Genome Project to map out human 2017 for ‘services to science and medicine’, is expected to become a multi-billion pound Royal Society. DNA in full swing in the late 1990s, the pair and is a Fellow of the Royal Society. He still global industry in the next few years. realised their fundamental science research runs a research group which studies the into DNA could have a valuable application. fundamental science of DNA and RNA at the University of Cambridge.

26 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 27 Public engagement

Public engagement is a vital part of the Royal Society’s objective to The levels of public engagement activity University Research Fellowship alumni Brian demonstrate the importance of science to everyone. It is an activity in were similar for the least and most Cox and Marcus du Sautoy both received “ My first popular experienced recipients of the fellowships. OBEs for their ‘services to science’ and are science book, which many of the fellowship recipients have actively participated. both past recipients of the Society’s Faraday How to Clone a The alumni of the schemes include some Award for public engagement. Mammoth, was Their activities are diverse and broad in The vast majority – almost 90% – of all notable public science communicators well received scope, from engaging in outreach with recipients in the survey said they did some including physicist and presenter Brian around the world, schools, giving public lectures or participating kind of public engagement activity at least Cox (see box), mathematician, author and SCIENCE IN THEATRELAND winning several in public debates, writing both textbooks once a year, if not more. presenter Marcus du Sautoy, author Sarah- prizes including the Biophysicist Professor Brian Sutton, and popular science books, and presenting Jayne Blakemore (see box), broadcaster AAAS [American King’s College London (University television programmes, to advising on a The most active group were the Dorothy Lucie Green and author Beth Shapiro. Association for the Research Fellow 1983 – 1987), found West End play. Hodgkin Fellowship alumni and women Advancement of himself as an adviser to Photograph 51 scientists who had received the University The alumni have also gained prestigious Science] award for – a play starring Nicole Kidman as DNA Research Fellowship – almost two-thirds of honours for their public engagement work. best popular science pioneer Rosalind Franklin in 2015. The them did some kind of public engagement For example, chemist Colin Pulham (University book of 2016, and play ran in the West End and garnered work more than once a year. Research Fellowship alumnus), who is the the Prose Award.” current chair of the Science and Technology critical acclaim, scooping a best actress Facilities Council’s advisory panel for public theatre award for Kidman. Beth Shapiro, FIGURE 3: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT engagement, was awarded the Royal University Research % of respondents who work in academia involved in public engagement. Society’s Kohn Award and the Tam Dalyell Professor Sutton, who won the King’s Fellow (2006 – Prize for science communication, among other Award for Most Significant Contribution 2007), evolutionary KEY accolades. Professor Lucie Green has been to Public Engagement in 2015, said: molecular biologist Dorothy Hodgkin 57% 37% 6% ‘Several public engagement events at the University Fellowship > 1 per year awarded the Royal Society’s Kohn Award were associated with this advisory role of California, Santa University Research for Excellence in Engaging the Public with 51% 41% 9% 1 per year Fellowship Science and became the first ever female and the subject of the play.’ Cruz. Her next book, Never University Research presenter of BBC’s The Sky at Night. Wild(dish) Life, will be Fellowship women 64% 28% 8% published by Basic University Research Books in 2019. Fellowship men 47% 44% 9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

28 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 29 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Brian Cox OBE FRS Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore FBA University Research Fellow (2005 – 2012) Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow (2004 – 2007) and University Research Fellow (2007 – 2016) Professor Brian Cox FRS, a University Research Fellowship alumnus and the Royal Society’s Professor of Public Engagement in Science Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore’s work on teenage brains has has presented a number of successful BBC science programmes, brought her into the public’s consciousness in a variety of ways. including the Wonders of… series, and Stargazing Live which he A Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College co-hosts with comedian Dara Ó Briain. London (UCL), Blakemore has received a number of awards for her academic work. Professor Cox is also a prolific author, and has Speaking about his fellowship he said: sold over one million popular science books “The University Research Fellowship gave me She is active in public engagement and often Her latest book, Inventing Ourselves: worldwide. His sell-out 9,000-seat show held freedom – freedom to research, to think, and gives talks at schools, and public lectures. She The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain, has at Wembley Arena in London in 2017 holds the also to spend time doing less-conventional acted as a scientific consultant on the BBC been shortlisted for the Royal Society Guinness World Record for the largest science but I think equally important things; writing series The Human Mind in 2003 and co-wrote Insight Investment Science Book Prize and show ever performed. books, making television and radio programs, a book called The Learning Brain: Lessons for has stimulated much public discussion on and engaging with politicians and the public Education with Professor Uta Frith in 2005. issues to do with the adolescent brain, such Now Professor of Particle Physics at the to advance the cause of science in the UK. as risk-taking, sleep and mental illness. University of Manchester, he teaches The aim of the scheme is to produce the next But it was Professor Blakemore’s 2012 TED The book has gained widespread media quantum physics and relativity and continues generation of scientific leaders – perhaps talk on the adolescent brain that sparked a lot attention, with excerpts running in the to pursue his research at the Large Hadron also cultural and political leaders – and the of public interest. She went on to work on a Sunday Times Magazine. Collider at CERN. breadth and scope of career a University play called Brainstorm, written and performed Research Fellow is able to craft because of by teenagers at the Islington Community Professor Blakemore is also a member of the freedom the award confers is crucial to Theatre, which then went on to run at the the Royal Society’s Public Engagement that aim. It is a uniquely valuable award.” National Theatre in London. Committee and has recently been elected a Fellow of the British Academy.

30 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 31 Policy contribution

Former University Research Fellows and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows Just over 40% of University Research The study revealed alumni who had advised have also helped shape the way national governments make policy Fellowship alumni told the survey they were national governments, including those of the UK, US involved in senior level policymaking at least and Australia, and other bodies with the power to decisions in a variety of areas. once a year. A slightly higher proportion of make and change policy including the World Health Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship alumni also did so. Organization (WHO) and the Intergovernmental Pandemic planning, bioterror-related smallpox the schemes have had a major input, both Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). outbreaks, eradication programmes for nationally and sometimes internationally. diseases including malaria and rubella, the Professor Jason Hall-Spencer, potential effects of climate change on marine The most active group to take part in University Research Fellow (2001 – 2008) ecosystems, research on traffic congestion policymaking at a national level was, Career milestone and networks informing government policy unsurprisingly, the most experienced group Professor Hall- Professor Hilary Ranson, on ‘big data’ and ‘machine learning’ and of University Research Fellowship alumni, Spencer is a Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow (2001 – 2004) education and gender equality in science are of whom among half took part. Professor of Marine just some of the areas in which scientists from Biology at the “ Influencing WHO policy on the use of Universities of bednets that are more effective against FIGURE 4: POLICYMAKING Plymouth (UK) and insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. This was Tsukuba (Japan), % respondents who work in academia active in policymaking at national level. the cumulation of approximately ten years of Professor Jason Hall-Spencer’s research work, and included both the generation and KEY has informed policy and debate around Dorothy Hodgkin evaluation of evidence. I presented in multiple 17% 30% 53% Fellowship the protection of marine life and the high WHO committees and this eventually resulted > 1 per year University Research seas. As well as impacting on policies to in a policy change. I have also been elected Fellowship 17% 24% 60% 1 per year protect deep-sea coral reefs and other as a member of one of the key decision- University Research Never fragile habitats in the north-east Atlantic, making bodies for malaria policy as a result. Fellowship women 20% 25% 55% his work has also informed high-level I am proud of this as I believe it will have a University Research 16% 23% 61% discussions on climate change. Fellowship men major impact on malaria cases across much University Research of Africa.” 12% 22% 66% “Informing UK and US governments, Fellowship 2008+ and the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel University Research Professor Hilary Ranson is based at the 28% 24% 48% on Climate Change] process to inform Fellowship <1998 Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where discussions around the Paris Agreement she is Head of Department of Vector Biology. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% to help avoid dangerous climate change.”

32 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 33 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Neil Ferguson OBE FMedSci Professor Janet Hemingway CBE FMedSci FRS University Research Fellow (1997 – 2005) University Research Fellow (1984 – 1993)

Pandemic influenza, Ebola and Zika, BSE/vCJD, foot and As an adviser to Sri Lanka’s malaria-control programme, mouth disease, SARS and MERS – Professor Neil Ferguson has entomologist Professor Janet Hemingway helped establish a mathematically modelled some of the biggest disease threats to resistance-management programme, which made a significant public, indeed global health, in recent decades. contribution to the country eliminating malaria.

A Professor of Mathematical Biology at Professor Ferguson’s research has been With almost 40 years of research experience She is also a Fellow of the UK Academy of Imperial College London, Professor Ferguson informing public health policy following the on tropical diseases and the control of their Medical Sciences, a Foreign Associate of co-founded the MRC Centre for Outbreak BSE outbreak in the UK and his work helped ‘vectors’ or carriers, she has had numerous the US National Academy of Sciences and Analysis and Modelling in 2008 in order contain the foot and mouth outbreak in roles advising policymakers in Africa and a Fellow of the Royal Society. ‘to consolidate and enhance our work on livestock in 2001, which had a devastating South America, as well as the WHO. emerging infections and its translation to impact on rural UK economies – costing the Professor Hemingway said the University public health policymaking’. public purse some £3 billion and the private She has been director of the Liverpool School Research Fellowship scheme gave her sector over £5 billion. Professor Ferguson of Tropical Medicine since 2001, and has the “freedom to set up an independent As well as modelling how an emerging received an OBE in 2002 for his role in helped make it a world-leading research research programme with a relatively long infectious disease might spread, he and informing measures to control the outbreak. centre. The institute has 650 staff based in stable timeline”. his colleagues examine different scenarios Liverpool, Malawi and other tropical centres. and containment strategies. This work, He has also advised the UK government, in collaboration with major public health the European Union and the US government Professor Hemingway’s major scientific organisations such as the WHO, US Centers on potential bioterror and smallpox events/ contribution to policies combating the spread of Disease Control and Prevention and Public outbreaks. of tropical diseases was recognised in 2012 Health England, has fed into national and when she was awarded a CBE for ‘services global public health policymaking. Professor Ferguson is a Fellow of the UK to the control of tropical disease vectors’. Academy of Medical Sciences.

34 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 35 How have the fellowships supported our alumni? The University Research Fellowship and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship “ [The fellowship] appear to have guided early-career researchers to success, and in had an enormous “ It allowed me to take risks that I couldn’t have done impact in terms of many cases have been career-transforming. otherwise. Some of those risks failed. Others paid off Over prestige, flexibility, spectacularly.” not having to teach They have achieved this in a number of ways. One of the main benefits the study reported 90% unless I wanted to, Mathematician Professor Marcus du Sautoy FRS “ The Royal Society’s warmly The proportion of generously funded was that the schemes gave researchers the on his University Research Fellowship (1995 – 2005). University Research without too much time and freedom to pursue innovative research supportive yet unbureaucratic approach Fellowship and paperwork. All – and to take the calculated risks needed for was just brilliant – I really appreciated Dorothy Hodgkin this made me feel scientific discovery and creativity. Because of the trust that the Royal Society places Fellowship valued and gave the fellowships’ long duration and flexibility of in its research fellows. I think this respondents (in me true freedom location, they offered this benefit while also “ It enabled me to take greater risks and therefore also supportive yet light-touch approach is academia) that felt and confidence to reducing the worry over funding that plagues to reap bigger returns in terms of innovative research, their fellowship had explore my research many scientists on short-term grants. a really excellent and clearly productive and has allowed me to focus on a bigger research made a significant wherever it took me strategy by the Royal Society… when theme than that which is feasible in a three-year research difference to their without worrying The fellowships also conferred important I requested a shift to a part-time salary… – but less tangible – benefits such as grant. Undoubtedly it has made my career by allowing career path including about the short term.” the grants team were very helpful boosting confidence, giving prestige and me the intellectual freedom to pursue a more long-term facilitating faster Professor Shahn and understanding. career progression. allowing researchers the space to develop research goal.” Majid, mathematician as independent leaders. at Queen Mary I really hope that the Royal Society Professor Nina Wedell, Professor of Evolutionary Biology and University of London, will continue to invest in its fellowship In the case of the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Director of Research, University of Exeter, on her University on his University scheme, which has flexibility built into it so that schemes.” Research Fellowship (2000 – 2009). Research Fellowship recipients can work part-time – perhaps to look (1993 – 2003). after young children or elderly relatives or for Professor Claire Spottiswoode, Evolutionary health reasons – being awarded the fellowship Biologist at the University of Cambridge sometimes stopped talented researchers and the University of Cape Town on her leaving science altogether. Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (2008 – 2013).

36 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 37 In some cases, both fellowships have stopped SCIENCE AND PARENTHOOD FIGURE 5: MOST HIGHLY VALUED BENEFITS “ I was one of the a ‘brain drain’ either away from science, or Benefits of holding a Royal Society research fellowship most highly valued by respondents. first generation of away from the UK. For many Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship University Research alumni, an additional benefit of being 95% Many alumni, especially Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows and it awarded the fellowship was that it enabled The proportion of Fellowship recipients and women University KEY enabled me to stay them to progress in their research career University Research Research Fellows, particularly valued the 1%0% in the UK when Very valuable Fellowship alumni opportunity their fellowships gave to access alongside parenthood. More time to focus otherwise I would 83% 14% 1% who felt their fellowship the Royal Society’s training and social on research Valuable have moved to the “My Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship enabled was valuable in: peer networks. Not very US where I held a me to combine an academic career with 4%1% – offering freedom Not at all faculty position. Even where alumni did not stay on in academia, Flexibility of funding to pursue innovative starting a family – I had two periods of 70% 22% 4% Otherwise my career the fellowships seemed to have brought maternity leave during my fellowship arrangements N/A research. would have been about benefits in terms of self-development, and changed to part-time employment. – boosting their very different and confidence, prestige and leadership. Without this flexibility I would probably 4%1% self-confidence. Prestige of having RS not UK-based.” 58% 37% 1% have left academia at this stage.” research fellowship – giving flexibility Overall, being awarded a University Research of funding. Professor Dame Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship recipient Fellowship or Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Athene Donald (1999). – conferring on seemed to result in scientists making the leap Opportunity to access FRS, Professor of 17% 36% 32% 7% 9% them prestige. to permanent positions; gaining professorships RS training and networks Experimental Physics or senior roles early on; publishing research at the University of papers as principal investigator relatively Cambridge, on Opportunity to interact with quickly; managing graduate and postgraduate 14% 33% 40% 8% 4% her University RS research fellow peers researchers successfully and engaging in other “ [The] Royal Society fellowship was Research Fellowship 70% important spheres. the most valuable and defining (1983 – 1985). The proportion of opportunity in my career. It is the Dorothy Hodgkin 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% This includes high levels of engaging with the best scheme of its kind I have ever Fellowship alumni who public on science, contributing to or informing seen in any country.” had taken at least one government policy, engaging with commerce break for maternity and exchanging knowledge with industry, and University Research Fellowship recipient or paternity at some innovation – with some alumni founding spin- (2007). point in their career. off companies.

38 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 39 Who have we supported?

The Royal Society is committed to increasing diversity in science, Overall, just under 5% of UK survey SPACE AND TIME technology, engineering and maths by seeking out participation from respondents for both fellowships identified as BAME. While this reflects an under- It was while Professor Shahn Majid was a under-represented groups, in order to build and develop a world in representation of these communities in Royal Society University Research Fellow which studying and working in science are open to all. academia, it is low in comparison to the that he wrote a 640-page textbook called current make-up of the UK population (13% the Foundations of Quantum Group BAME), and to students in higher education Over the 35 years of our University Research For the Dorothy Hodgkin Fellows, the gender Theory, which opened up new horizons (about 20% BAME). Fellowship scheme, the diversity of under- balance was very different. In the early years in the subject and, almost 25 years later, represented groups in science which have been of this scheme – which offers flexibility so is still considered a standard text. Of the UK domiciled alumni who responded awarded the University Research Fellowship has that scientists can work part-time in their to the study, none were black. gone up slightly but not enough. research careers – women were specifically Now a Professor of Mathematics at encouraged to apply. Not unexpectedly, about Queen Mary, University of London, his Just over 3% of alumni responding to the Overall, about three-quarters of University 95% of Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship alumni in research work focuses on the structure survey said they currently had a disability, Research Fellowship respondents to the study the study were women. of space and time. He has also been while 2% preferred not to say whether they were men, and about a quarter were women. involved in bringing science to the did or not. Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) public with debates on the nature Before 2007, other Society sources suggest scientists were under-represented in the of space and time, popular science The survey has highlighted ongoing problems that about one-fifth of University Research schemes. The proportion of those awarded essays and blogs. with diversity in the scientific workforce. This Fellowships were awarded to women. a University Research Fellowship before 1998 is something that is well recognised and the The slightly higher proportions of women who identified as BAME was less than 2%, He was born in Patna, India and moved Society, along with many others in the science University Research Fellowship alumni before rising slightly to 5% after this date. with his family to the UK when he was five. community, is committed to trying to address 1998 seen in the study may be an artefact of these issues. their higher response rate to the survey.

40 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 41 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Sharon Ashbrook FRSC FRSE Professor Dame Carol Robinson DBE FMedSci FRS Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow (2003 – 2007) University Research Fellow (1995 – 2004)

As a Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of As well as pioneering the application of mass spectrometry techniques St Andrews, Professor Sharon Ashbrook’s work on nuclear to understand the structures of some of life’s vital molecules, Dame magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy – the powerful Carol Robinson has scooped two notable firsts in her career. She analytical tool used widely in chemistry on solid state materials was the first female Professor of Chemistry at both the University – has won her multiple academic awards. of Cambridge and then the University of Oxford.

But she has also been lauded for championing She said of her Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship: Now she holds the Doctor Lee’s Professorship She was made a Dame Commander of the the achievements of women in science. In 2017 “I believe the fellowship allowed me to of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and Order of the British Empire in 2013 for her she won a Suffrage Science Award following develop an independent research programme her research team’s work is focused on using ‘services to science’. Dame Carol Robinson her work on a booklet titled Academic Women without the pressure of too much teaching mass spectrometry to reveal and understand is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Foreign Now, which discusses the experiences of mid- (although I did have the opportunity to the 3D structures of proteins, and how they Associate of the US National Academy career women in Scotland. do choose to do some), the need to get interact and function. of Sciences and is President of the Royal significant funding ASAP [as soon as possible] Society of Chemistry. In 2016 she was made a Fellow of the or to publish ASAP. In 2004, Dame Carol Robinson received Royal Society of Edinburgh in recognition of the Royal Society’s Rosalind Franklin I could actually think about the science both her academic work and her contribution Award – which recognises outstanding I wanted to do. I was able to show to education and the promotion of women contributions to science and promotes independence and independent research, in science. women in STEM (Science, Technology, which I think was vital in getting my next Engineering and Mathematics). position (an RCUK fellowship). I have been at St Andrews ever since, and was promoted to Reader in 2008 and Professor in 2013.”

42 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 43 Where are they now?

Over the years the majority of those in the schemes have been from A handful of University Research Fellowship Research Fellowship, and over 85% of Dorothy the UK (84%) but there has been a shift in recent years, partly as a alumni, whose normal place of residence was Hodgkin Fellowship alumni were currently the UK, had lived and worked abroad for as involved in at least one international research result of changing eligibility criteria but also reflecting the increasing long as 25 years. project in which they were a ‘co-investigator’. 3 years international nature of science. The average (mean) Scientists who had received the fellowships A wide number of such collaborations were time a University were also extremely active in international reported by the scientists, and the average Research Fellowship While 14% of the overall number of alumni are collaborations. Over 90% of University number for each fellowship was around four. alumni, domiciled from other EU countries, that has gone up to “ During my University Research Fellowship, in the UK, spent around a quarter of those completing their I was very proud to represent the UK on working abroad. fellowship in the last ten years. various panels for the International Ocean FIGURE 6: LOCATION OF EMPLOYMENT Discovery Program (IODP) - an international Overall the UK has had a small net ‘brain gain’ collaboration that uses scientific ocean World map showing the employment location for 876 respondents. with more non-UK nationals staying to work drilling to understand the history and here than UK nationals who are currently structure of the ocean basins. Through this working overseas (in countries which include Europe Europe work I feel I have helped shaped the efforts the US, Australia, South Africa and Singapore). EU non EU by my community to further our knowledge 58 11 of how the ocean and climate systems have International collaboration has been a strong operated in the past; thereby highlighting theme, with University Research Fellowship UK the unprecedented nature of climatic and 725 and Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship alumni environmental change that we are observing North Asia collaborating widely with international America 7 at the present day.” colleagues. 44 Dr Stuart Robinson (University Research Oceania The study showed that overall more than Fellow 2005 – 2013), Associate Professor South 27 Africa half of alumni had spent a ‘significant’ of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy at the America 3 period of their career living and working in University of Oxford. 1 another country that was not their home. This ranged from a minimum of three months to many years. Nationality of the same 876 respondents UK 672 Other EU 133 Rest of world 31 Unknown 40

44 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 45 CASE STUDY CASE STUDY

Professor Artur Ekert FRS Professor Krzysztof Koziol University Research Fellow University Research Fellow 2008 – 2016, Professor of (Royal Society Howe Research Fellow) 1994 – 2001 Composites Engineering and Head of the Enhanced Composites and Structures Centre, Cranfield University. His groundbreaking work on quantum technology led Professor Artur Ekert to Singapore. He is the founding director of the Centre Having been awarded an MSc in Chemistry from the Silesian for Quantum Technologies at the National University of Singapore, University of Technology in Poland, Professor Koziol moved to set up in 2007. Cambridge, where he completed his PhD. In 2008 he was awarded a University Research Fellowship. The Singapore centre has over 200 staff and His invention of cryptography based on the students, and its focus is harnessing quantum properties of ‘entangled’ particles lead to The fellowship allowed him to further specialise Speaking about his fellowship, Professor phenomena for technology and devices. a plethora of research efforts worldwide to in carbon-based nanotubes and in developing Koziol said: “The fellowship gave me full harness this phenomenon. the production of graphene. independence to take my career forward, Professor Ekert, also Professor of Quantum the way I wanted it to go. I was able to focus Physics and Cryptography at the University He is a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has started ten spin-off companies on research of my choice and succeed with of Oxford, is a co-inventor of quantum and headed UltraWire, a €3.3 million EU a speed that I would not have been able cryptography – which harnesses quantum development consortium with industry to otherwise. This freedom allowed me to properties for carrying information and promises partners including National Grid, PSA develop a deep scientific understanding super-secure communication networks. Peugeot Citröen and some of the world’s which I used as a foundation to open largest cable manufacturers. new research directions for my academic colleagues, delivering real materials on a Cambridge Nanosystems (CNS), one of large scale to enable solutions for industry Professor Koziol’s start-ups, with multimillion and benefits to the wider community. pounds investment and deployment of University Research Fellowship is the best full production factory in 2015, is now one research program which I had the privilege of the largest manufacturer of graphene, to experience in my academic career.” operating on a global scale.

46 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 47 Research Fellowship to Fellow

Professor Fraser Professor Frances Professor David Sir Shankar Professor Martin Professor Andrew Professor Brian Cox FRS Professor Gideon Dame Athene Professor Marcus Armstrong FRS Ashcroft FRS Attwell FRS Balasubramanian FRS Barlow FRS Cooper FRS University of Manchester Davies FRS Donald FRS du Sautoy FRS University of Oxford University of Oxford University College University of Cambridge University of British University of Liverpool University of York University of Cambridge University of Oxford London Columbia

Professor Polina Professor David Professor Jean Professor Jonathan Professor Richard Professor Artur Professor Jeff Professor Lynn Professor Alan Professor Roger Bayvel FRS Beerling FRS Beggs FRS Blundy FRS Borcherds FRS Ekert FRS Errington FRS Gladden FRS Grafen FRS Hardie FRS University College University of Sheffield University of Edinburgh University of Bristol University of California, University of Oxford Newcastle University University of Cambridge University of Oxford University of Cambridge London Berkeley

Professor Tom Professor Neil Professor Michael Professor David Professor Tim Professor Janet Professor Peter Professor Edward Professor Laurence Professor Malcolm Bridgeland FRS Burgess FRS Cates FRS Charlton FRS Clutton-Brock FRS Hemingway FRS Holland FRS Holmes FRS Hurst FRS Irving FRS University of Sheffield University College University of Edinburgh University of Birmingham University of Cambridge Liverpool School University of Oxford University of Sydney University of Bath Kings College London London of Tropical Medicine

48 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 49 Professor Edith Yvonne Professor Peter Professor Jane Professor Malcolm Professor David Professor Michael Professor John Professor Sarah (Sally) Professor Sheena Professor David Jones FRS Keightley FRS Langdale FRS Levitt FRS Lilley FRS Payne FRS Pethica FRS Price FRS Radford FRS Richardson FRS University of Oxford University of Edinburgh University of Oxford University of University of Cambridge University of Cambridge University of Oxford University College University of Leeds University of Southampton London Southampton

Professor Andrew Professor Yadvinder Professor Angela Professor Gilean Professor Paul Dame Carol Dame Nancy Professor Henning Professor Timothy Professor Adrian MacKenzie FRS Singh Malhi FRS McLean FRS McVean FRS Midgley FRS Robinson FRS Rothwell FRS Sirringhaus FRS Softley FRS Sutton FRS University of St Andrews University of Oxford University of Oxford University of Oxford University of Cambridge University of Oxford University of Manchester University of Cambridge University of Birmingham Imperial College London

Professor Russell Sir Konstantin Professor Andrew Professor Miles Professor Tracy Professor Richard Professor David Professor Colin Morris FRS Novoselov FRS Orr-Ewing FRS Padgett FRS Palmer FRS Thomas FRS Wales FRS Wilson FRS University of St Andrews University of Bristol University University of Glasgow Dundee University Imperial College London University of Cambridge Victoria University Manchester

50 CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER CAREER PATHWAY TRACKER 51 The Royal Society is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. The Society’s fundamental purpose, as it has been since its foundation in 1660, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity.

The Society’s strategic priorities emphasise its commitment to the highest quality science, to curiosity-driven research, and to the development and use of science for the benefit of society. These priorities are: • Promoting excellence in science • Supporting international collaboration • Demonstrating the importance of science to everyone

For further information The Royal Society 6 – 9 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AG T +44 20 7451 2500 E [email protected] W royalsociety.org/grants

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