I began a new phase of my academic career yesterday with the start of my first lectureship. I am now a Lecturer in the Creative and Social Informatics group in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University and a member of the Centre for Social Informatics research group.
This role is a teaching and research role. I will be contributing to the school’s existing curriculum, including modules I helped to deliver during my PhD studies. I will also have the opportunity to contribute towards the development of new modules and degree programmes in e-health and informatics in general. From the research side, I will continue with my overarching research focus on information sharing and use in online environments, especially as it relates to everyday life and “lived” or real-world experiences. This is likely to build on some of my PhD and post-doctoral research activities with a little tweak here and there as I build my larger research portfolio.
I will spend the next few weeks settling into the new role. That will include setting up my various accounts and IT equipment, working through induction materials, developing a work plan for my research and teaching objectives, preparing for teaching in the new year, and meetings. Lots and lots and lots of meetings!
In many ways, this new job is a return home for me. Regular visitors to this site may know that Edinburgh Napier University is where I did my PhD and some of my post-doctoral work. But what you might not know is that I also did a year’s study abroad at Napier way back in 2001/2002 (when it was called Napier University) as part of my undergraduate studies. (I met my late husband during that year abroad, so Napier has always had an incredibly special place in my heart.)
And, in many ways, I never really left. I did clear out my desk about 3 weeks after graduation, but I was still there working 1-2 days a week as I finished some post-doctoral work. And I was still working on the DISIPRAC project when the COVID19 pandemic forced us all to work from home. Indeed, locked away in my old office desk are some anonymised research files that I will have to clear out when I finally make it back to campus (later this week, I think).
It feels weird returning when I never quite left, but mostly it feels comfortable. I don’t have the nervousness of starting a new job and wondering if I made a mistake. I don’t have the uncertainty about processes and procedures. Although I do have a lot of additional headaches from re-activating old accounts (which is more difficult than starting afresh).
For anyone else looking to make the move to Edinburgh Napier University, there are seven (7) exciting new vacancies in the School of Computing. The deadline for applications is 9 January 2022. You can contact me if you want an informal chat about the school’s culture.