Senior academic roles offer opportunities to lead research, teach the next generation and shape the future of dentistry.
At this stage, many senior dental academics follow one of two common pathways depending on their interests and career goals:
- Continue clinical training while developing a robust research portfolio, this pathway is ideal if you want to maintain your clinical skills alongside advancing your research and academic profile.
- Focusing on clinical training combined with teaching and educational research, this pathway suits those who want to primarily contribute through teaching excellence and academic leadership in education.
Both pathways can lead to appointments such as Senior Lecturer or Senior Clinical Teacher, with some roles including Honorary Consultant status. It’s common for senior academic staff to spend more time on research and teaching than on clinical work.
Academic and professional development
While not always required at the outset, many university teaching roles will require you to complete a formal teaching qualification, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) or achieve a Fellowship with Advance HE, soon after starting a role. This is often offered by the university while you are working.
You will also need:
- a track record of research and published academic work is highly valued and often expected, especially for roles that combine teaching and research
- to maintain NHS-recognised clinical competency to match your peers in clinical practice
Advancing your academic career
As you develop in your role, you can aim for more senior titles:
- Reader: A Reader is an established academic recognised internationally for their research excellence and contributions to the field.
- Professor: The highest academic rank, awarded to leaders who have made a significant, lasting impact on dental research, education, and practice.
Senior academic roles require ongoing professional growth such as:
- seeking mentorship and coaching to refine leadership and management skills
- engaging in leadership development programmes tailored for academic clinicians
- staying current with innovations in research methods, education techniques and clinical practice
- actively contributing to professional networks, societies and policy forums
Stepping into senior academic roles allows you to shape the future of dental research and education, influence health policy and inspire the next generation of clinical academics.
