Combatting Impostor Syndrome and Other Challenges

Early Career Researchers’ Network – free Zoom seminar

This session provides guidance on mental health challenges ECRs may face in academia, with a particular focus on impostor syndrome.

The first part will generate a general discussion about imposter syndrome from an ECR, a Professor and a Wellbeing Promotion Officer and their varying perspectives and will offer some helpful toolkits and self-reflective exercises for participants to practice independently.

Confirmed speakers:

Sir Keith Burnett
Chair of the Academic Council,
Schmidt Science Fellows

Dr Masoumeh Minou
Wellbeing Promotion Officer, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University

Dr Sarah Ward
Senior Lecturer in History, UWE Bristol

Chair:

Alex Hird
PhD Candidate in International Politics and Psychology, Aberystwyth University

After the panel discussion, there will be an opportunity to work in breakout rooms to identify areas of mental health and well-being where universities are currently doing well in providing training and support, and to pin-point areas which might need to be better addressed by Higher Education in the future. Notes from these breakout sessions may form an informal recommendation report for the Learned Society of Wales.

While this workshop is not designed to be a therapy / counselling session, there will be an additional trained University counsellor on hand in case the conversation is challenging for individuals.