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 

I trained as an historian but gradually moved toward archaeology, particularly the landscape, eventually taking up a position in an archaeology department rather than a history department. The shift was not a rejection of one field for another, but a recognition that my interests and strengths sat across both.

Moving between disciplines required confidence. Interdisciplinary research can feel difficult, particularly when established disciplinary traditions appear fixed and guarded. Early on, it can seem as though expertise in another field is sacred or unattainable. Over time, I learned that this is not the case.

If I could advise my younger self, I would say: trust your own instincts but take advice from those you trust. You have a unique skill set. That combination of training, methods and perspectives can be turned to your advantage.

Working across disciplinary boundaries has allowed me to add value in ways that might not have been possible had I stayed within a single track. When you cross the established lines of disciplines, you are often able to ask different questions and spark new ideas. That space between fields is intellectually productive.

As my career progressed, I learned to prioritise administrative roles that genuinely interested me. That selectivity enabled me to focus more meaningfully on postgraduate researchers, which has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.

Networks have also been crucial. They are enormously important but take time to build. Starting early matters. So does not being discouraged if things develop slowly. Many of the most valuable professional relationships are long-term ones.

Interdisciplinary careers may not follow the most straightforward path, but they can generate distinctive authority and influence.

Reflections I would offer now 

• If your work sits between disciplines, articulate clearly how your combined expertise adds value rather than apologising for not fitting neatly into one field.
• Do not assume that disciplinary expertise outside your original training is off-limits. Invest the time to learn what you need and build credibility through practice.
• When crossing disciplinary boundaries, use that position to ask questions others are not asking. That is where originality often lies.
• Be deliberate about administrative roles. Choose those that align with your intellectual interests or strategic priorities rather than accepting everything by default.
• Prioritise postgraduate researchers if that is where you feel you make the greatest impact. Be generous to colleagues but protect your time.
• Build networks early and maintain them consistently. Interdisciplinary work especially depends on long-term relationships.