Dr Manuel Heckel is an ESRC fellow in the Department of Geography and investigates the commercialisation of development funding in the water and sanitation sector in Kenya. He gained his PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Sheffield. Manuel has taken part in a number of training sessions and workshops at the Postdoc Academy.
How long have you been a postdoc?
I’ve been a postdoc for 1 year and am coming to the end of my contract soon, when I’ll be returning to Germany.
What first led you to explore what PdA has to offer?
I researched training before I arrived in Cambridge, then quickly discovered PdA was only 2 minutes away from my accommodation.
Which events have been the most useful to you?
PdA training has been the most useful across the university! I have enjoyed the training related to preparing for the future, such as workshops on leadership, working with groups, and developing a research vision. Those on grant writing and pensions were also really helpful, and I particularly enjoyed Steve Joy’s and Katia Smith-Litiere’s sessions.
What have been some of the positives of PdA, outside of the training?
I didn’t have the smoothest start at Cambridge, but PdA provided valuable assistance while my IT account was being set up, and everything else worked out.
I like PdA’s newsletters - they’re concise and contain useful information about affiliations and upcoming training.
The PdA mentor scheme was also great! It was really supportive and helpful to have the additional perspective. They explained a lot about Cambridge and the colleges and invited me into other colleges for talks as their guest. Seeking a college affiliation was also a good recommendation from my mentor.
I have enjoyed networking and making new connections while at Cambridge.
Have you used the rest of the postdoc centres?
Yes, BMC and Eddington.
Do you have any recommendations for new postdocs?
Aim to engage with PdA early on. Check their website, read the Bulletin - you’ll find plenty of useful information and resources available.
It’s good to have different places to work such as from home, the centres, and your School building.
Before I arrived at Cambridge, I made a plan for the training I wanted to attend, to make the most of my time here. I knew I would only be here for a year, so this was important for me. I would suggest taking this approach as well, as your contract can go quickly!
What have you found to be the main challenges of being a postdoc?
It was sometimes challenging being here with a family. This initially made finding accommodation difficult, as many places did not allow children to live there. I also didn’t have much time for the more social side of things.
It took a while to understand Cambridge. It’s a completely different place to other cities I’ve lived in, such as Sheffield. It took a few months to understand how things work, including the collegiate system.
Finding a sense of belonging can be a challenge at first.
However, other universities don’t have the same level of support for postdocs as they do at Cambridge.
Is there anything else you would like us to highlight?
I really enjoyed my year here. This was largely because of the PdA community support, and the training offered. This helped me think about my career and put in place my next steps. Without this year, I would've been more unsure.
Steve Joy said PdA had a huge role in making more accommodation available for postdocs, for which I’m grateful.