NEW: The session summaries are available from here.

“Are you worried you’re going to be a postdoc for the next 20 years?”

“Want to know how to get a permanent job?”

“Having problems with your career? Take a break in the rainforest!”

The Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) and other sponsors held the Second ASA Early Career Researcher Mentoring Workshop in 2014. The workshop took place over two days (2nd-3rd June) at Cedar Creek lodges on Tamborine Mountain in the Gold Coast Hinterland close to Brisbane, QLD. The purpose of the workshop was to address topics related to career progression for the future leaders in our astronomy community.

The workshop was aimed at postdocs, finishing PhD students and very junior faculty, that is anyone who is only just beginning to establish themselves and looking for career guidance. The sessions were not just talks, but included a large proportion of discussions and other activities. It was planned to be more ‘down to earth’ than ordinary astronomy meetings, with a great deal of participation and interaction.

Speakers at this workshop were:

• Brian Boyle* (Department of Industry)
• Matthew Colless (Mount Stromlo Observatory, ANU)
• Warrick Couch (Australian Astronomical Observatory)
• Stephen Hardy (NICTA)
• Carole Jackson (ICRAR/Curtin)
• Tara Murphy (The University of Sydney) 
• Alicia Oshlack (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute)
• Peter Quinn (ICRAR)
• Brian Schmidt (Mount Stromlo Observatory, ANU)
• Rachel Webster (The University of Melbourne)

*Brian Boyle has unfortunately had to pull out of this workshop.