Developing a Five-Year Research Plan

First of all, what is a research plan? I’m sure some of you have taken a stab at these already. In case you haven’t, this is a real personalized map that relates your projects to goals. It’s exactly what it sounds like, it’s a plan of how you’re going to go about doing your research. It doesn’t necessarily just include research.

It’s something that you need to put a little time and effort into in the beginning. And then, if you don’t revisit it, it’s really a useless document. It’s something that you need to come back to repeatedly, at least annually, and you need to make it visible. So it’s not a document that sits around and once a year you pull it out and look at it.

It can and should be designed, especially initially, with the help of a mentor or colleague. And it does serve multiple purposes, with different lengths and different amounts of detail.

I forgot to say, too, getting started, the slides for this talk were started using as a jumping off point Ray Kent’s talk from last year. So some of the slides we’ve borrowed from him, so many thanks to him for that.

But why do we want to do a research plan? Well, to me the big thing is the vision. Dr. Barlow talked this morning about your line of research and really knowing where you want to go, and this is where that shows up with all the nuts and bolts in place.

What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to contribute? Most of you are at the stage in your career where maybe you have started out with that you want to change the world scenario and realized that whatever you wanted your first research project to be, really, is your entire career. You need to get that down to the point where it is manageable projects that you can do—this is where you map out what those projects are and set reasonable timelines for that.

You want to really demonstrate your independent thinking and your own creativity, whatever that is that you then establish as a PhD student, postdoc, and beyond—this is where you come back to, okay, here’s how I’m going to go about achieving all of that.

This next point, learning to realistically gauge how long it takes to achieve each goal, this for most of us is a phenomenally challenging thing to do. Most of us really overestimate what we can do in a certain amount of time, and we learn the hard way that you can’t, and that’s another reason why you keep coming back to these plans repeatedly and learning over time what’s really manageable, what’s really doable, so we can still reach our goals and be very strategic about how we do that.

When you’re not strategic, you just don’t meet the goals. Your time gets sucked into so many different things. We need to be really practical and strategic.

Everything we do is going to take longer than we think.

I think this last one is something that maybe we don’t talk about enough. Really being honest with ourselves about the role of research in our lives. Not all of you are at very high-level research universities. Some of you have chosen to go elsewhere, where research maybe isn’t going to be playing the same role as it is for other people. The research plan for someone at an R One research intensive university is going to look quite different from someone who is at a primary teaching university. We need to be open and practical about that.

Explaining your 5-year future plan in research during an interview requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively communicate your vision:

1. Start with the Present:
• Briefly discuss your current research focus and any ongoing projects. Highlight key achievements or contributions you've made.
2. Connect Past Achievements to Future Goals:
• Demonstrate how your past research experiences have shaped your current interests and expertise. Emphasize any skills or knowledge gained that will be valuable for your future plans.
3. Define Your Research Interests:
• Clearly articulate the specific areas or topics you are passionate about exploring in the next five years. This should align with the goals of the organization or institution where you are interviewing.
4. Set Clear Objectives:
• Outline the specific goals and milestones you aim to achieve within the next five years. Make sure these objectives are realistic, measurable, and align with the broader goals of your field or discipline.
5. Discuss Potential Impact:
• Explain how your research could contribute to the advancement of knowledge in your field or address significant challenges. Discuss the potential impact your work could have on the scientific community, society, or relevant industries.
6. Highlight Collaboration and Networking:
• Mention any collaborations or partnerships you plan to establish with other researchers, institutions, or industry partners. Emphasize the importance of collaboration in achieving your research goals.
7. Address Potential Challenges:
• Acknowledge that research often comes with challenges. Briefly discuss any potential obstacles you anticipate and how you plan to overcome them. This demonstrates your ability to think critically and plan for contingencies.
8. Showcase Funding and Resource Awareness:
• If applicable, discuss your awareness of available funding sources and how you plan to secure resources for your research. This demonstrates that you are proactive and strategic in seeking support for your projects.
9. Demonstrate Flexibility:
• Acknowledge that research plans may evolve based on new discoveries, emerging technologies, or shifts in the field. Express your openness to adapting your plan based on the dynamic nature of research.
10. Conclude with Enthusiasm:
• Summarize your future plan with enthusiasm and confidence. Emphasize your commitment to making meaningful contributions to your field and express your excitement about the prospect of pursuing these goals.

Remember to tailor your responses to the specific context of the interview and the expectations of the organization or institution you are interviewing with.