So, I've finally finally come out of the other end of the PhD just about alive. I'd been doing it alongside RA posts for the last 7 years. I hope this is an appropriate forum to discuss this issue.

I've worked for 3 different universities, always for health science /social research type departments, I don't have a clinical background, I have a health sciencey type degree, and a PhD in the role of culture in evidence based practice. Without a PhD I felt that I had to work wherever would take me and have ended up with quite a varied CV without much continuity (qualitative/quantitative data analysis, development of an online survey, recruitment to an RCT, development of patient information)

Until now I've never given any thought to how to describe myself (I left this bit blank on my work twitter!). Now I find it almost restrictive, I am asked this quite regularly in my current role: "Are you a Health Psychologist? Sociologist?, what's your background?"

I struggle with this - what defines us as researchers? At a recent careers workshop I broached this subject and got told to look at my CV and 'retrofit' so that I can talk about a theme to employers.

I wondered if there are any other people struggling with this issue? My colleagues seem to have a stronger sense of identity which dictates which research group they associate with.

M

Why not looking at it from a different angle! Since you have different background interests and experiences, this can be viewed positively. Try to identify yourself with the thing which you master the most, with what makes you called upon when needed.