This unique, practical guide for postdoctoral researchers and graduate students explains how to build and perfect the necessary research tools and working skills to build a career in academia and beyond. It is based on successful training workshops run by the authors: first, it describes the tools needed for independent research, from writing papers to applying for academic jobs; it then introduces skills to thrive in a new job, including managing and interacting with others, designing a taught course and giving a good lecture; and it concludes with a section on managing your career, from how to manage stress to understanding the higher education system. Packed with helpful features encouraging readers to apply the theory to their individual situation, the book is also illustrated throughout with real-world case studies to enable readers to learn from others' experience. It is a vital handbook for everyone seeking to make a successful scientific career.

'This handbook should be useful to many of those students who are not clear which path to follow, or if they have made a choice, what practical steps they can take to improve their chances of success. The book is designed as a concise and easy-to-use reference, covering all the main aspects of developing and maintaining an academic career. The book is exceptionally well organized … the writing is clear and to the point, making frequent use of checklists for later reference. In summary, this is an excellent book which should be useful to its target audience.'

William R. Green Source: The Leading Edge

'The authors explicitly target early-career scientists, although I think this book is of use to a wider academic audience … I found the chapters of Part I to be a useful reminder and the clear treatment of complex personal interactions of Part II to be particularly enlightening. At the other end of the career spectrum, this guide will be an excellent aid to academic advisors, especially those willing to organize workshops for early-career scientists.'

Spencer Koury Source: The Quarterly Review of Biology

'… embraces the topics linked to psychological/sociological and managerial matters, which are not always treated with the same attention in the other books … the authors' style is nice, and their explanations are always clear. … Undoubtedly, the book by Gabrys and Langdale is enriching.'

Source: Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie