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[britmom]

A bit of background:

- I've been in my post at a British University for 7 years (first apppointment). I'm in the Humanities.
- I was entered in the last RAE.
- I've had 2 maternity leaves and a long-term period of sickness that have been bl**dy disastrious for my research. It basically stopped for 5 years. I'm now back on track, and should be entered for REF. (Everything indicates that I will only need to submit 2 items).
- Nevertheless, I have a massive gap in my publication record. This isn't helped by the fact that, when all this happened, I was only just finished with my PhD.
- My teaching is, according to my department, top-notch. I've also taken on some fairly high responsibility admin roles.

I know I need to build up a publication history, and therefore I'm stuck in this place for a while. What I'm wondering is: how long?

Could a clear set of publications for the next REF (2014+) period do enough to persuade appointment committees that the gap was not indicative of poor research ability, but an isolated period?

Or perhaps it's going to take longer for me to overshadow that period? Ten years of good quality research outputs? Twenty years?

I realise this is all field-specific, and its likely that only those working in the Arts/Social Sciences could address this question with any authority.  I'm really looking for some opinions on what your gut reaction would be when faced with a CV like mine now/in 5 years/10 years, especially from those who've sat on appointment committees in the past.

[totoro]

I'm in Australia rather than the UK, but here no-one would be surprised to see a gap on your CV especially if you're a woman and explain that you were on maternity leave. The Australian Research Council has a section in each grant application where you discuss your opportunities for doing research. So it would be surprising if in the UK this stuff was ignored. As you see the REF allows reduced submissions in your case.

[babbinacara]

Given that you have a crystal clear and recognized reason for a period of lower research production in maternity leave, I would not assume for a moment that you have poor research ability.

But the question would be whether you can successfully juggle childcare and a return to research productivity. For me, five years of consistent good quality stuff each year from now would show this. (Any more than five years, i.e., 12 years along in your UK job, might make you, in fact, too old and expensive to consider anyway).

But Russell Group to Russell Group might be different than Plate Glass to Russell Group.

[expatinuk]

I'm also going for reduced pubs in the REF... not coz of maternity leave ... but because of dealing with a parent's illness then two long term injuries/illnesses on my part. It's just how it goes from time to time.

[britmom]

Thanks, so a bit more positive than I feared.

I'll be claiming one item reduction due to maternity leave, and the second due to the 4-year long illness. (I obviously didn't have this whole time off work, but it did greatly limit my ability to do research. I have a ton of evidence to back all of this up.)

But surely appointment committees look beyond REF items? I don't have any publications since 2005. (So, on paper, I actually haven't done any research in 7 years, although I did get some grants that allowed me to undertake travelling/research during this time. All of that work is now ready to be written up. I've got my first book coming out this year, and I have 5 articles waiting to be written, plus a second book project for the longer term.)

Babbincara - I was thinking/hoping that would work. I'm thinking I should aim to get my items out for this REF, plus have all/most items ready for the middle of the next research cycle. That would take me to about 2017. My only concern then is that I will be right at the top of the lecturer scale, but I'm not sure that I could make a strong enough case for appointment to Senior Lecturer at that point.  As you say, it depends on the type of University. I'm really not fussed about moving up to a Russell Group Uni. (I'm at a pre-92/mid-range place at the moment and enjoy teaching here.) Thinking about it - a decent grant would presumably give me brownie points, too.

Perhaps I should be more worried about committees questioning whether I can do the family/research thing. (Now that's a doddle in comparison to the impact of illness.)

[scotia]

Thanks, so a bit more positive than I feared.

I'll be claiming one item reduction due to maternity leave, and the second due to the 4-year long illness. (I obviously didn't have this whole time off work, but it did greatly limit my ability to do research. I have a ton of evidence to back all of this up.)

But surely appointment committees look beyond REF items? I don't have any publications since 2005. (So, on paper, I actually haven't done any research in 7 years, although I did get some grants that allowed me to undertake travelling/research during this time. All of that work is now ready to be written up. I've got my first book coming out this year, and I have 5 articles waiting to be written, plus a second book project for the longer term.)

Babbincara - I was thinking/hoping that would work. I'm thinking I should aim to get my items out for this REF, plus have all/most items ready for the middle of the next research cycle. That would take me to about 2017. My only concern then is that I will be right at the top of the lecturer scale, but I'm not sure that I could make a strong enough case for appointment to Senior Lecturer at that point.  As you say, it depends on the type of University. I'm really not fussed about moving up to a Russell Group Uni. (I'm at a pre-92/mid-range place at the moment and enjoy teaching here.) Thinking about it - a decent grant would presumably give me brownie points, too.

Perhaps I should be more worried about committees questioning whether I can do the family/research thing. (Now that's a doddle in comparison to the impact of illness.)

I have sat on appointment committees in the social sciences (also at pre-92s, one of which is a Russell Group, though I am in an under-supplied field). In your situation we would be looking for a solid trajectory that would show you were getting back into the groove after maternity leave and illness. If you can show that you made a contribution to this REF and (assuming it has a successor) that you are well set up for the next REF, with a pipeline to take you into the one after that (ie you have realistic expectations of continuing to be productive) we would look at you very seriously. Grant income would help.

[britmom]

Thanks, so a bit more positive than I feared.

I'll be claiming one item reduction due to maternity leave, and the second due to the 4-year long illness. (I obviously didn't have this whole time off work, but it did greatly limit my ability to do research. I have a ton of evidence to back all of this up.)

But surely appointment committees look beyond REF items? I don't have any publications since 2005. (So, on paper, I actually haven't done any research in 7 years, although I did get some grants that allowed me to undertake travelling/research during this time. All of that work is now ready to be written up. I've got my first book coming out this year, and I have 5 articles waiting to be written, plus a second book project for the longer term.)

Babbincara - I was thinking/hoping that would work. I'm thinking I should aim to get my items out for this REF, plus have all/most items ready for the middle of the next research cycle. That would take me to about 2017. My only concern then is that I will be right at the top of the lecturer scale, but I'm not sure that I could make a strong enough case for appointment to Senior Lecturer at that point.  As you say, it depends on the type of University. I'm really not fussed about moving up to a Russell Group Uni. (I'm at a pre-92/mid-range place at the moment and enjoy teaching here.) Thinking about it - a decent grant would presumably give me brownie points, too.

Perhaps I should be more worried about committees questioning whether I can do the family/research thing. (Now that's a doddle in comparison to the impact of illness.)

I have sat on appointment committees in the social sciences (also at pre-92s, one of which is a Russell Group, though I am in an under-supplied field). In your situation we would be looking for a solid trajectory that would show you were getting back into the groove after maternity leave and illness. If you can show that you made a contribution to this REF and (assuming it has a successor) that you are well set up for the next REF, with a pipeline to take you into the one after that (ie you have realistic expectations of continuing to be productive) we would look at you very seriously. Grant income would help.

Thanks, Scotia. That's very useful. I'd hate to think that I'll be stuck here for ever more....  I'm in an under-supplied part of an over-supplied field. I've been keeping my eye on the job advert's recently and there have been a good number of posts advertised asking for people working in my area/time period. However, all but one have been at lecturer level. I'm not really sure where I'd fit in to the job scales in a few years. Anyway, I've got a while before I need to worry about that.

Edited to add: from the nature of the replies, I'm assuming that the consensus is that I should bring the maternity leaves, and especially the illness, to the attention of any appointment committees? I'm just wondering how I would do that. Part of the cover letter, perhaps?

[totoro]

Illness might be a concern, if we wonder if it will return. You could also write on your CV next to your position - "on maternity leave 2005-9" or whatever are the dates if you are concerned about it.

[britmom]

Illness might be a concern, if we wonder if it will return. You could also write on your CV next to your position - "on maternity leave 2005-9" or whatever are the dates if you are concerned about it.

That's exactly my concern, but the gap in my CV just doesn't make sense without that information. Hmm. I think I'll probably have to throw it all out there and hope I find a department/University that realises everyone faces some sh!t in their life.

[scotia]

Illness might be a concern, if we wonder if it will return. You could also write on your CV next to your position - "on maternity leave 2005-9" or whatever are the dates if you are concerned about it.

That's exactly my concern, but the gap in my CV just doesn't make sense without that information. Hmm. I think I'll probably have to throw it all out there and hope I find a department/University that realises everyone faces some sh!t in their life.

Others may disagree, but I don't think there is any need to bring up illness or having kids in a CV or letter. From what you say, by the time you want to go on the market you should have a profile that shows you have been consistently publishing for 5 - 6 years. Let your record at that point speak for itself, rather than trying to explain a gap that others may not even have noticed or questioned.

[britmom]

Illness might be a concern, if we wonder if it will return. You could also write on your CV next to your position - "on maternity leave 2005-9" or whatever are the dates if you are concerned about it.

That's exactly my concern, but the gap in my CV just doesn't make sense without that information. Hmm. I think I'll probably have to throw it all out there and hope I find a department/University that realises everyone faces some sh!t in their life.

Others may disagree, but I don't think there is any need to bring up illness or having kids in a CV or letter. From what you say, by the time you want to go on the market you should have a profile that shows you have been consistently publishing for 5 - 6 years. Let your record at that point speak for itself, rather than trying to explain a gap that others may not even have noticed or questioned.

Hmm, yes, it's difficult to know what to do.

I've been thinking that I also need to give some attention to reestablishing links with other colleagues, especially those who could write references. My absences have also affected this aspect of my research.

[hegemony]

I know that in the UK people move around a lot, but you may know that in the US most people do not move after the early years of their career.  So basically you're in the same position as most US academics.  I also agree that what people will look for is recent productivity -- if it's clear that you're back in the groove, then that's the most important thing they need to know.

[totoro]

I don't really think there is a need to make a big deal out of it. I'd assume you were on maternity leave if I saw a gap like that.

[babbinacara]

I'd go for indicating the reason for the gap very very briefly on your cv (e.g,  Term A 200x- Term B 200y, maternity leave), but don't bring it up in your cover letter, which should be all about your recent and future research (and some teaching and admin). That way, if someone does notice, they won't need to speculate.

Yes to re-establishing colleague links. You will need at least three letters of ref and might or might not want those to come from within your current institution.
I suppose if you are still concerned about the cv gap, you might ask if one of your referees would address it, if you trusted him/her to not make a big deal out of it. Ideally their wording would be something like "I am very happy to have seen that after time out for maternity and sick leave, Britmom has returned at top strength. Her recent article on the phenomenology of acquiring basket materials offers a unique and valuable approach to this subject and I am looking forward to her book on All Things Reeds." And so on.