Developing a research career: advice from occupational therapy researchers

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy research
• Academic career development

Background:

• Faculty in occupational therapy often require guidance to establish productive research programs.
• Developing a research program is crucial for academic career progression, including publication and securing funding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the strategies employed by successful occupational therapy faculty in establishing research programs.
• To identify key factors contributing to the development of a sustainable research career in occupational therapy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured telephone interviews.
• Interviews conducted with nine established occupational therapy researchers.
• Thematic analysis of transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Essential advice includes completing doctoral education and securing mentorship.
• Collaboration with colleagues sharing similar research interests is highly recommended.
• New researchers should develop resilience by learning to take risks, accept criticism, prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and understand institutional research support systems.

Conclusions:

• The experiences of seasoned occupational therapy researchers offer valuable insights for novice faculty.
• Guidance derived from this study can assist occupational therapy faculty in initiating and growing their research programs.