Dr Fred Wilson-Spencer, a Senior Research Fellow from the University of Leeds, took part in our third Prosper Programme cohort. The programme is designed to support the career development of postdocs.

We talked to Fred about his experiences on the programme, how it impacted his career development and why he’d recommend it to other postdocs.

What motivated you to apply for the Prosper programme?

I had been working hard to find some security in my future academic career but was facing the end of my current contract as a postdoc. I had applied to various fellowships and faculty positions and knew that whilst success here was possible, it was far from guaranteed. I decided that I needed to consider non-academic options but simply didn’t know where to start. Whenever I went on job boards I would find opportunities that I was either unqualified for or disinterested in, which was very demoralising.

“The Prosper programme was the perfect solution, it offered guidance in exploring both academic and non-academic routes, dedicated time to do this and a collegiate atmosphere where the wealth of perspectives and experience from the other participants really helped move me forward.”

Which aspects of the programme did you find most valuable?

I found it helpful to explore both academic and non-academic positions and to get the perspectives of people in different fields to my own on what my transferable skills are. The people, especially the leaders, are the best asset of Prosper, where the sum is far greater than the parts.

How did participating in the programme influence your thinking about your future career path?

For me, the programme cemented that academia was the right path for me but also that there are research intensive non-academic jobs which would give me many of the same benefits.

What have you gone on to do following the completion of Prosper?

I have just won a NERC independent research fellowship which will provide me with 5 years of funding for my first research programme at Leeds.

Were there any specific skills or areas of development that the programme helped you to focus on that you hadn’t anticipated?

I did not expect to be doing personality tests. But, it turned out to be crucial because it really showed me that I didn’t just want to stay in academia, it is a field and lifestyle that works really well for my personality too.

What advice would you give to a postdoc who is considering applying for the Prosper programme?

Prosper is an excellent way to really focus on defining your future career direction. You are given time, space and like-minded colleagues to explore what you can do to get what you want in a way that simply isn’t possible with schemes which are delivered a few hours at a time.