Top three tips to start Your Path In Research.

Today the NIHR launches the Your Path In Research campaign. Better research leads to better services for the public. That’s why we want to encourage organisations and social care and public health professionals to play an active role in research, as a way to deliver even better services.

Our Your Path in Research campaign highlights how people can make research part of their careers. Some amazing researchers have shared their experiences, how they started in research and what advice they can give to researchers that are considering adding research to their careers.

Today Pascal Landindome Navelle, FRSPH shares his experience. His advice? A passion for the "why?" question and accessing the right mentorship.

My research story, by Pascal Navelle.

After working as a clinician for several years, I felt that?my impact on service users was limited. Thus, upon a thorough reflection, I was inspired to progress into public health research, where I felt I would have a broader impact on society.?

What inspired me most? My passion for research comes from always asking the ‘why’ question. Only in this way could I take responsibility for the content I would offer to the research community.?

I find research work fascinating as it provides a clear pathway to contributing to advancing the knowledge of the disciplinary sector to which I am dedicated. The importance of research should go beyond conceiving theoretical works that would only find a physical location in a library. Research should be "living", circulating, interacting, multidisciplinary, and impacting the environment.?

What I enjoy about research is that it allows me to pursue my interests, learn something new, hone my problem-solving skills and challenge myself in several unique ways. Working on a faculty-initiated research project enables me to work closely with a mentor–a faculty member, and other experienced researchers. With a self-initiated public health research project, I can leave the community with a service that represents the distillation of my interests and studies and, possibly, a real contribution to knowledge.

There are many training and support systems I have found most valuable during my career. Researchers usually embark on increasingly diverse careers, where collaboration, networking and interdisciplinarity have become more important. Critical reading, academic writing and critical analysis are valuable training and support required of a researcher. Transferable skills (e.g. effective communication and problem-solving abilities) have helped me operate more effectively in different work environments.

Starting a research career can be daunting but exciting! The challenge of getting the support needed to achieve my dream came true when I enrolled at University for a research degree. I had the opportunity of getting mentorship and some academic resources to enhance my knowledge. I connected and contacted very experienced researchers in the field of public health who supported my interest in growing as a research professional. Through the people I’ve met, I have had the opportunity to work on exciting but substantial research projects that have had a massive impact on the public health community.

The top three tips I would share with somebody starting out in research would? be;

1. First and foremost, one should be motivated, passionate, and curious about your research topic – do it for science, not tenure! No one ever became a successful scientist with the sole premise of being awarded the Nobel Prize. And remember that plans rarely work out the way you thought they would. But according to Laureate Aaron Ciechanover, the key to success is: “Do something you are passionate about, something that you love, and your instincts tell you, you are good at! Then success is inevitable.”
2. Secondly, be prepared for a challenging career. Research is ever-changing. Be prepared for the change that research comes with strengthening your problem-solving skills to enhance the fun aspect of research. Problem-solving skills refer to handling difficult situations and overcoming complex business challenges. They involve breaking a problem down into its parts, thinking critically about each element, analysing the information you find and using that information to form an effective solution. Having strong problem-solving skills will help make you an asset in your research practice and help you advance your research career.
3. Finally, be proactive, network and connect more with like-minded professionals: Sometimes, the key to getting to places is not what you know but whom you know. We can learn a lot from talking to peers and senior colleagues. Attending symposiums, seminars and conferences is a great way to meet people who share common interests with you, but have different experiences.?

The NIHR have supported my career development as a skilled research workforce through the?provision of training, access to leadership development opportunities, networking events, mentoring and guidance on research funding.

Take your first step in research today.