Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) are critical to research. From operating specialist machinery to blowing the bespoke glass instruments that scientists use every day, RTPs bring unique skillsets and expertise to research teams.  Former Daphne Jackson Fellow Dr. Tim Tomkinson has successfully turned his UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council funded fellowship in Earth Sciences into a career as a technician.

After completing his PhD, Tim accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of Glasgow.  He spent four years working as a researcher, at which point his wife was offered a post in Bristol that she wanted to pursue for her career. This also meant that they moved closer to family just after the birth of their first child. Soon after moving, Tim declined a postdoctoral job in London that, despite positive initial discussions, could not accommodate flexible working. He then decided to continue his paternity leave and take a break from research to focus on childcare.

“My Daphne Jackson Fellowship opened the door back into academia at a point when my children were starting school and I was ready to resolve some of the questions my previous post had left unanswered. The whole Daphne Jackson team were so helpful and supportive from the point of first picking up the phone to now even after my fellowship has finished.”

His fellowship, “The history of Mars in a drop of water,” allowed Tim to return to research part-time while still being very involved in raising his children. The fellowship investigated minerals within meteorites formed by hot water flowing underground on Mars, providing key insights into the planet’s past climate.

“The fellows I met through conferences and training courses made this a unique experience, opening a massive network of not just peers but many friends who are all routing for each other.”

After finishing his fellowship in 2023, Tim realised that his skills met a demand for research technical professionals and started a permanent post within his department.  He now works as a teaching technician, allowing him to stay in research, keep his family in Bristol, and maintain a work-life balance.

“Following my fellowship I found the aspects of research I enjoyed were working with a team and assisting in the laboratory, on fieldtrips and with teaching. Furthermore, being able to switch off from work at the end of the day and having time for my family and friends is really important to me. My technician role affords me the perfect professional-personal balance, plenty of training opportunities, while expanding my skills and knowledge, time for my own research and scope for career progression.”

As the need for research technical professionals expands, the Daphne Jackson Trust has created a new RTP Fellowship to help return RTPs to their careers.

“RTPs are essential to pushing forward research across all disciplines, they have essential specialised skills and knowledge that support and progress research contributing to multiple projects and often carrying out their own research alongside it.  At the Daphne Jackson Trust we want to support as many research returners as we can and ensure that the knowledge and skills held by RTPs are not lost following a career break.” Morwenna Jones, Research Technical Professional Fellowship Lead at the Daphne Jackson Trust.

Are you interested in returning to research in a technical role?  Learn more about our new Research Technical Professional Fellowship here.