Is academia a good career path for autistic adults interested in research?
Introduction
Working in academia can be a double-edged sword for autistic adults. On one hand, this career path can nurture our monotropic tendencies and allow us to deep dive into a niche research topic for months, if not years. It can also offer some autonomy over our workload; where, aside from teaching commitments, we can choose which research projects to get involved with.
On the other hand, there are some aspects of academia that can work against our neurotype. For example, a general lack of day-to-day structure, a heavy teaching load and administrative tasks or the impending sense of instability when employed on temporary teaching contracts. This is further compounded by systemic barriers within academia, such as the ‘hidden curriculum’ (Jones, 2023).
Studies reveal that autistic people and early career researchers, respectively, experience high levels of anxiety (Hwang et al, 2020; Hollywood et al., 2019). While there is little research on the experiences of autistic academics specifically, it is highly likely that they could experience potentially more anxiety from being both autistic and working in academia.
Academia seemingly has the potential to both complement and conflict with our neurotype. There are multiple advantages and challenges of working in academia as an autistic adult. Leaning on the lived experience of Sophie Longley, an autistic mentor and researcher, we explore whether it is a good career path for autistic adults who are interested in research.
My experience of working in academia as a late-diagnosed autistic researcher
Having spent:
a year studying for a Psychology postgraduate degree
just over a year as an Autism Research Assistant
and coming up to two years supporting academics with promoting their research
I gained deep insight into the quite often complicated and messy nature of academic institutions. I found that:
Reasonable adjustments take a long time to put in place. This is mainly due to approval processes and multiple teams involved in handling your case.
I was assigned an Autism Mentor to help with my university experience. But they didn’t really understand the complexities of being a late-diagnosed autistic adult in their thirties entering higher education after a 10-year break.
However, by having to independently advocate for my needs, I have picked up a few tools to help other autistic people thrive in an academic environment.
The benefits of working in academia for autistic adults
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Academia is probably the only place where your actual job is to deep dive into your special interest - and then talk to people about it!
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Compared to some careers which stress the importance of weekly team meetings, team projects, team lunches and working in an office, in academia you do have some freedom. Freedom, for example, in the topics you research, how your day is structured and whether you choose to work from home or not. Some autistic adults, including myself, are very self-motivated. We also value the sense of control we have in creating a routine that works for us.
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Most if not all UK universities have dedicated mental health support, mentors and neurodivergent groups on campus. This can create a sense of community, a way to build friendships and join neurodivergent-friendly events.
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Most UK universities have hybrid policies in place, meaning you can work from home when your capacity for social interaction is low. Having the option to work from home can also:
Aid with sensory overwhelm. You can work from a familiar environment and don’t have to contend with fluorescent lighting, weird smells and temperatures you can’t control.
Allow your monotropic and hyperfocus skills to shine without interruptions from colleagues.
The challenges that academia can present for autistic adults
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Temporary contracts, precarious funding opportunities and an uncertain workload; these can be stressful for autistic people who often work best in stable environments. Academia is considered more ‘flexible’ than a standard nine-to-five job. However, this ‘flexibility’ can translate into fluctuating income, and a workload that may spill into your weekends or evenings. This unpredictability can throw our executive functioning out of whack and we might not be able to plan ahead.
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While you would typically be part of a research team, a lot of the time, you would be writing research papers by yourself. Sometimes, research teams are spread across multiple universities. This means you may only ever interact with your colleagues on Zoom or e-mail. This may suit some autistic people. But for others working alone five (if not more!) days a week can take its toll on their mental health. It could also lead to feeling isolated.
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The ‘hidden curriculum’, a set of lessons which are not openly intended, is rife within educational institutions. Things like:
networking with the ‘right’ people
collaborating with the ‘right’ academics
attending the ‘right’ conferences
churning out the ‘right’ number of academic papers
are examples of implicit expectations that are placed on pretty much everyone in academia.
For many people, these hidden expectations seem to be universal knowledge to achieve career advancement. However, autistic adults sometimes struggle with these arbitrary rules - it takes a lot of effort for us to ‘figure out’ and anticipate the motivations of others. To avoid underachieving, we can feel pressured to go above and beyond what is expected and consequently burn out.
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Getting a job in academia is brutal as roles are becoming increasingly scarce. This drives competitiveness and as a result, a more rigorous recruitment process. Multiple rejections can trigger our Rejection Sensitivity.
Dr. Nicola Martin, Professor of Social justice and Inclusive Education at London South Bank University, notes that panel members may misinterpret autistic communication styles. She suggests this stems from unconscious biases which may affect the hiring process.
What can help you thrive as an autistic researcher
1: Finding your community
Online groups like the Participatory Autism Research Collective and Autism Researchers Researching Autism are great ways to network online with other autistic researchers and share advice.
Your university may also have a Neurodiversity Staff Network to join.
I’d also recommend joining X (previously Twitter) and following the #AutisticsInAcademia hashtag.
2: Workplace training and online resources
Check if your university could organise and fund specialist neurodiversity or autism workplace training for staff in your team.
There are lots of excellent neurodiversity-affirming and free online resources that you can share with supervisors and others you work with. This can help them learn more about neurodiversity in the workplace. One resource I like is NeuroWork.
3: Specialist Autism Mentoring
While mentoring can’t solve the structural issues embedded in academia, it can help you identify the areas that may present hurdles for you - and how you can use your neurotype to navigate them.
A Specialist Autism Mentor with experience in academia, like me, can help you with:
Constructing a timetable to help manage your unpredictable workload
Help you to speak to your supervisor / HR about workplace adjustments
Academic interview tips, including PhD and research assistant roles
Identifying your strengths and areas of improvement. For example, you may enjoy public speaking at academic conferences but dislike the compulsory networking. Understanding your core strengths and learned and masked behaviours could be a good first step.
Discovering how you like to work and how to advocate for those needs - whether that’s reading research papers at home with no disruptions or preferring 1:1 supervision meetings instead of in a lab group.
The mentoring I offer to autistic adults in academia (and many other fields including corporate and teaching) doesn’t teach you to just ‘cope’ with autism by ignoring your needs or masking to ‘get by’; it will help you to thrive.
In addition, if you feel like you don’t quite know who you are or what skills and qualities nourish and energise you, Exploring Your Autistic Self can help give you more clarity on this to inform your career choices. Designed by Alicja Nocon, the course is aimed specifically at late-diagnosed / self-identified autistic and AuDHD adults.
Conclusion
Working in academia as an autistic adult can be a rewarding and satisfying career choice. Although not without its challenges, this type of career path and environment has the potential to suit our neurotype. Autistic adults can thrive in academia - and having an awareness of the possible challenges autistic adults might face is a great first step on that journey. Combining this awareness with the specialist support of an Autism Mentor or Coach, can help you overcome these challenges and thrive in your academic career.
About the Author (Guest Contributor):
Sophie Longley is an independent autism mentor and researcher. She works with late diagnosed (including self-diagnosed) autistic women who are stuck in a rut with their careers or need guidance navigating the workplace as newly diagnosed/identified. You can follow Sophie on LinkedIn and X (previously Twitter).
References
Autistic Researchers Researching Autism (ARRA). Autistic Researchers Researching Autism (ARRA). https://www.facebook.com/groups/236272016838118
Hollywood, A., McCarthy, D., Spencely, C., & Winstone, N. (2020). ‘Overwhelmed at first’: The experience of career development in early career academics. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(7), 998–1012. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2019.1636213
Hwang, Y. I. (Jane), Arnold, S., Srasuebkul, P., & Trollor, J. (2020). Understanding anxiety in adults on the autism spectrum: An investigation of its relationship with intolerance of uncertainty, sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviours. Autism, 24(2), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361319868907
Jones, S. C. (2023). Advice for autistic people considering a career in academia. Autism, 27(7), 2187–2192. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231161882
Martin, N. (2022). Autism and Employment in Academia. Autism and Employment in Academia. https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/lsbu-research-blogs/blogs/lss/2022/autism-and-employment-in-academia
NeuroWork Substack. NeuroWork Substack. https://neurowork.substack.com/podcast
The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC). The Participatory Autism Research Collective (PARC). https://participatoryautismresearch.wordpress.com/
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