Please note: This story reflects the personal experience and perspective of its contributor. Academic careers vary widely, and others may experience different challenges and opportunities. 

Career Story 

My career has involved moving between institutions, countries and research directions. After my PhD, I was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in Japan, working in a field related but quite different from my doctoral work. Moving into a new language, culture and discipline at the same time was a significant professional reset. It felt, in many ways, like beginning again.

The first phase required perseverance. Establishing methods, understanding a new research landscape and building collaborations took time. Publications did not appear immediately. However, later in the fellowship – and even after it had formally ended – the work began to bear fruit.

A subsequent move to the US involved a similar shift in field and environment. Although the language was familiar, the professional transition still required rebuilding systems and approaches. Again, it took time to get experiments working and establish momentum. The outputs followed later.

Looking back, those experiences reshaped how I think about career progression. Outputs do not always align neatly with effort in the short term. A period that appears quiet on paper can be deeply productive in terms of skill, resilience and intellectual development.

I was initially very concerned about publication gaps during these transitions. What I have since learned is that publications are not everything. The experience gained from working across systems, cultures and disciplines has proved far more valuable in the long run.

I have also learned that impact often comes from stepping outside your immediate field. Speaking to the end-users of what you develop, and attending conferences beyond your disciplinary comfort zone, forces you to explain and position your work differently. Those conversations have sharpened my research towards delivering what the end-users really need, and opened up unexpected applications.

Collaboration has also evolved for me. Early on, I sought out leaders and well-known names in the field. Over time, through some trial and error, I found that I work best with people whose approach and values align with mine. It can be more challenging to shape ideas across different expertise, but when you genuinely enjoy working together, you can be confident the work will get done.

International moves and shifts in direction are demanding. But given time, they can fundamentally strengthen both research and perspective.

Reflections I would offer now 

• Allow time to settle into new institutions or research directions. Momentum does not always translate immediately into outputs.
• Do not overinterpret short-term publication gaps during periods of transition. Development is not always visible in real time.
• Step beyond your disciplinary comfort zone: attend conferences outside your immediate field and engage directly with the end-users of your work. Those conversations can reshape how you frame and prioritise your research.
• Choose collaborators based on trust and working style, not just reputation. Long-term alignment often matters more than prestige.