I am looking for some very blunt, realistic advice.
Now that I have passed my PhD, I want to do a post doc, but I have no publications from the PhD. I can't really publish much from the thesis. There are things that are publishable, but due to the fall out with my supervisors, I am unwilling to work with them any longer. They have effectively scuppered my scientific career. I cannot get decent references from them. Long story short, the university can give me a HR type reference and are still investigating my complaint against my supervisors.
However, I have written a research proposal. During the PhD I was not allowed to pursue a specific topic, and I believe it has merit. I want to approach my old supervisor from my old institution. Last year I contacted him to ask if he had any post-doc positions, and he said he didn't and he didn't have any funding. If I were to go to him again, this time, with a specific project in mind, how likely would it be for him to apply for funding on my behalf? Or would I have to apply for funding myself? Since I am no longer at a university I can't apply for any grants.
I have looked at a lot of funding bodies in the UK and from what I can see, I have to be at a univeristy before I can apply for funding. In an ideal world, I would apply for funding with the research idea, go to my old super and say "I have funding and a research topic, can I come here?" but I do not know if this is in any way realistic.
If I can't do this, my scientific career is over and I am doomed to be a medical writer forever. I like the job, but I miss the lab so, so much. I don't see myself in my current role for more than 6 months. My heart truly is stuck in research. I love it too much to give up on it.