Education & Research
Academic Researcher
Conducts original research within a university or research institution.
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What this career is
Academic research produces new knowledge in a discipline, subject to peer review and published for the wider scholarly community.
- Typical education pathway
- Master's degree followed by a Ph.D. in the chosen field
What professionals typically do
- Define research questions and methodology
- Conduct experiments, fieldwork or theoretical work
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Apply for grants and collaborate with other researchers
Typical education pathways
- Undergraduate and master's study in the discipline
- Ph.D., often followed by postdoctoral research
Important skills
- Research methods
- Critical thinking
- Writing
- Persistence
Suitable student interests
- Curiosity
- Independent work
- Reading and writing
Related careers
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