Hello,
Just curious - with a couple of papers under your belt (2 from PhD, 2 from undergrad) how likely is it to find a teaching academic position in science/genetics in UK universities?

My personal circumstances makes it difficult for me to stay down south (London/Cambridge/Oxford is where genomics is flourishing right now) and so I may have to relocate back to Midlands where I can be with my family.
Having worked so hard for my PhD (still half way through :-) ) and enjoying my subject so much, I do not want relocation from where the 'hub' is to mean an end to a potential good career I can have in the field.

So after lots of thinking, I feel the best option would be to find a relevant teaching position at a university in East/West Midlands and then maybe after a couple of years when my family situation settles a bit more, move down south or overseas for better opportunities with my family.

So my question is - is it impossible for a recently graduated PhD to find an academic position directly? What if I can introduce a new module at a prospective university for the undergrads/Masters? Would that work or am I dreaming and need at least 1-2 post-docs under my belt before aiming so high?

Thanks in advance!

Yes go for it! Depends on your field and stuff but in mine they recently have been advertising lectureships that don't require the person to have done a postdoc.

Thanks pm133.
I would have applied for a post-doc if there was anything relevant to my field in the Midlands but it's a very new field and so most academics doing what I am specialising are either down south or abroad.
but fellowship sounds like a good idea - I totally did not realise it was an option for me! Thanks!

Thanks Tudor_Queen! Hope so :)

I've got a teaching position in genetics. I have got a bit of post doc experience and more papers than you though. Still, find the right uni and they are easy enough to get. They do seem to go to previous PhD students in the department though IMO. Suggesting a new module is a good idea; they will probably ask you about this at interview anyway. Oh, and be prepared to be treated as a second class academic, by students and lecturers alike. Pay is good though.