This summer (August 2026) I (Alice Bullas) am undertaking an international research secondment at the John A. Shepherd Research Laboratory within the University of HawaiĘ»i Cancer Center. Supported by my UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship. This is blog 5 of 6. For more background content please see my introductory blog (blog 1 of this series).Â
Week 4: Space to think
As I sit down to reflect on the final week of my secondment in Hawaiʻi, the dominant feeling is not actually about research outputs, collaborations or technical skills.
It is about space.
Space to think.
Space to reflect.
Space to remember why I enjoy research.
The week itself was anything but straightforward. A tropical storm disrupted plans across the island, leading to power outages, university closures and a final week that looked very different from the one I had carefully mapped out. Instead of squeezing every last drop from the placement, I suddenly found myself dealing with practical challenges such as finding electricity, securing accommodation arrangements and keeping two children occupied during unexpected disruption.
Yet, in an odd way, that disruption became part of the learning experience.
One of the most valuable moments of the week was presenting my work to the research group. Sharing my background, discussing my research and answering questions provided an opportunity to reflect on how far my work has progressed over the years. Like many researchers, I occasionally struggle with imposter syndrome. Presenting to an internationally recognised group naturally amplified those feelings. At the same time, it reminded me that the expertise we have developed at Sheffield is both valuable and distinctive.
The week also included several important conversations about leadership.
Throughout the secondment, I have tried to use every opportunity not only to learn about research, but also to learn from researchers. Discussions around expectations, training, onboarding and team development generated ideas that I am eager to explore when I return home.
One question I find myself returning to is how we help people succeed. Not just through technical training, but through culture, support, communication and clear expectations. That theme emerged repeatedly throughout the placement and perhaps more strongly during this final week than at any other point.
Stepping away from Sheffield for several weeks has also provided something unexpectedly valuable: perspective. Like many academics, I had gradually become consumed by day-to-day pressures, administrative demands and wider uncertainty within the sector. These challenges had begun to overshadow the reasons I entered research in the first place. Being surrounded by people working on similar problems, hearing different perspectives and being exposed to alternative approaches gave me the mental space to reconnect with my own enthusiasm for research.
Perhaps the most significant outcome of the secondment is not a paper, a project or a collaboration. It is the reminder that I genuinely enjoy this work.
The experience has reinforced my passion for anthropometry and body composition research. It has highlighted opportunities for future collaborations. It has generated new ideas for leadership, training and student development. Most importantly, it has reminded me that the world is much bigger than our own institution. You can be on the opposite side of the planet and still encounter researchers wrestling with the same scientific, organisational and leadership challenges.
As the secondment comes to an end, I leave Hawaiʻi with new contacts, new perspectives and renewed enthusiasm. That feels like a pretty good outcome.