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Dementia Researcher Vodcast - At Breaking Point: Burnout in Academia
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At Breaking Point: Burnout in Academia

Dementia Researcher Vodcast

06/30/24

70m

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In this episode, Dr Fiona McLean, an Alzheimer's Research UK fellow at the University of Dundee, discusses the issue of academic burnout with three fellow researchers.

The guests, Dr Sarah Marzi, Dr Ian Harrison, and Dr Kate Harris, share their personal experiences with burnout, its impact on their work and personal lives, and strategies for managing and preventing it. They highlight the importance of setting boundaries, seeking mentorship, maintaining a work-life balance, and practising self-kindness. They also emphasise the need for a supportive and sustainable research culture.

Five Top Tips from the Show:

  1. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries in your work to manage expectations and workload effectively. Communicate these boundaries with your colleagues and superiors to ensure a sustainable work environment.
  2. Seek Mentorship: Engage with mentors both within and outside your institution. Mentors can provide valuable guidance, support, and perspective, helping you navigate the challenges of academic life.
  3. Maintain Work-Life Balance: Dedicate time to activities outside of work that bring you joy and relaxation, such as hobbies or exercise. This helps in preventing burnout and maintaining mental and physical health.
  4. Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with peers who understand your struggles and can offer support. Peer networks and friendtors (friendly mentors) can provide emotional and professional support, making you feel less isolated.
  5. Be Kind to Yourself: Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your achievements, setting realistic goals, and allowing yourself to rest. Recognise that it's okay not to be perfect and that your well-being is crucial for long-term success.

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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.

If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.

Leave us a tip:

https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support

Follow us on social media:


Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.

Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':

https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

Previous Episode

A weekly gathering to discuss careers and research topics, inspired by 17th and 18th century salons from Paris, with a modern twist. These sessions combine livestreams, guest speakers and group chat to exchange ideas, challenge, influence, inspire and educate. After the 30 minute livestream ends, you can join the host and speakers with our others and continue to discuss the topic for a further 30 minutes (you will find this in past events). Our very first gathering is scheduled for the 26th June at 12noon BST to explore 'Tackling Sexism in Academia'. Join us LIVE or join our community to catch-up when you have time: https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/tackling-sexism-in-academia-6284d2d8-3ddc-44f6-a618-8d7a3492f148 -- Sexism in academia is a significant issue that manifests through unequal opportunities, pay disparities, and underrepresentation of women, particularly in senior and leadership roles. Despite advancements in policies aimed at fostering equality, implicit biases and structural barriers continue to impede the progress of female academics. How can we claim to value intellectual diversity when half the population is underrepresented in academic leadership What message are we sending to the next generation of scholars if we continue to ignore the gender biases that permeate our institutions? Can academia truly progress if it fails to address the systemic barriers that prevent women from succeeding at the same rate as their male counterparts? In this salon session we will hear from our speakers and then give you the audience a chance to have your say. Speakers Georgina Menzies - is a Computational Biologist and Lecturer with a research portfolio in understanding DNA-repair and disease modifying coding mutations. Prior to this appointment Georgina held a Ser Cyrmu II Fellowship in the Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff. Georgina is involved in the Alzheimer's Research UK network in South Wales, and has helped drive the ECR steering committee for the UKDRI cross-centre theme on DNA repair and neurodegeneration into existence. Soumilee Chaudhuri - is a 3rd year doctoral candidate in Medical Neuroscience and Bioinformatics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, researching Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) in multiethnic populations. Soumilee was raised in Kolkata, India and graduated with double degrees in Neuroscience & Biochemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman as an International Merit Scholar. She works at the intersection of multi-omics and neuroimaging to characterize Alzheimer Disease (AD) therapeutics; she was competitively awarded the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Health Equity Scholar Program (ADNI HESP) fellowship. Her interests and experiences range from neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinformatics, to science communication, public health policy and diversifying academia & research spaces. She is the recent co-founder of IMPACT IN (Initiative for Mobilizing Public health Advocacy, Care, and Translational research for Alzheimer’s Disease in Indiana).

Next Episode

undefined - AAIC Preview 2024
AAIC Preview 2024

July 10, 2024

45m

Adam Smith chats with Dr Claire Sexton, Senior Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach from the Alzheimer’s Association. Discussing this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 28th July to 1st August (+preconference on the 25th – 27th).

Taking place in-person in Philadelphia and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease.

In this exciting edition, we will be giving you an exclusive sneak peek into one of the most highly anticipated events in dementia research conference calendar (also a world first exclusive on the location for 2025).

Join us as we explore into how you can attend, the scientific programme, extra events and just what the AAIC will deliver this year. With leading experts, visionary thinkers, and research pioneers gathering under one roof, this conference promises to not only showcase groundbreaking discoveries, but also be a place where you will get careers support, and unrivalled networking opportunities.

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A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.

If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and on our website.

Leave us a tip:

https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support

Follow us on social media:


Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.

Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':

https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

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