What No One Tells You About Academic Careers

Interview with Professor Giovanni Straffelini on the occasion of the publication of the book What No One Tells You About Academic Careers (published on Amazon).

Professor Straffelini, how did the idea for this book come about?

It originated from a question I have been asked many times over the past few years, especially by master’s students, PhD candidates, and early-career researchers: How does an academic career actually work? While the formal rules are easy to find, many important aspects can only be learned through experience: how to choose a supervisor, how to build a network of collaborations, how important international mobility is, and how to navigate publications, research projects, and academic recruitment. My experience as Coordinator of the Doctoral School in Materials, Mechatronics and Systems Engineering at the Department of Industrial Engineering also led me to reflect frequently on these issues and on the questions young researchers face. I felt it was worthwhile to bring these experiences together in a single volume.

Who is the book intended for?

First and foremost, it is aimed at those considering an academic career, with particular attention to PhD candidates and early-career researchers, who are at the most critical stage of the journey. However, the book is also intended for anyone who is simply curious about how academia works from the inside. The goal is not to provide a formula for success, but to offer the most realistic possible description of the academic path.

What is the book’s main message?

That an academic career is far more complex than it may appear from the outside. Scientific excellence remains essential, but it is not enough on its own. Equally important are the ability to work in teams, build collaborations, secure research funding, communicate one’s research effectively, and, increasingly, thrive in an international environment.

The book places strong emphasis on the international dimension. Why?

Because it has become increasingly common for researchers to complete different stages of their careers in different countries: a master’s degree in one country, a PhD in another, and postdoctoral research somewhere else. For this reason, I have described the main features of the world’s leading academic systems, drawing also on the valuable contributions of many international colleagues. The Italian academic system is only briefly discussed, as it will be the focus of a separate volume devoted entirely to the structure and functioning of academic careers in Italy, scheduled for publication in the autumn.

What do you hope this book will achieve?

Above all, I hope it will be useful. If it helps even a few young researchers better understand the academic landscape, avoid some common mistakes, and make more informed decisions about their careers, then it will have achieved its purpose.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – Understanding the system 

(before entering it)

What Does It Mean to Be a Professor?

Academic Roles and Career Paths

Chapter 2 – NOT ALL DEGREES ARE EQUAL

Chapter 3 – THE OFFICIAL PATH

Master’s Degree: The First Turning Point

The PhD: The First Real Barrier

Going Abroad: Necessary or Not?

The Precarious Years

Different Systems (A Short Guide)

Chapter 4 – THE PART NO ONE EXPLAINS

PROPERLY

Publishing (Without Getting Lost)

Academic Networking (The Word No One Likes)

The Unspoken Side of Departments

Working Abroad and Returning (or Not)

The Plan B

Chapter 5 – ENTERING THE SYSTEM

From Profile to a Tenure-Track Position

Senior Academic Positions

New Academic Landscapes

Chapter 6 – PRACTICAL ADVICE

The 20 Unwritten Rules of Academia

Practical Strategies

Is it Worth It?

A Final Reading