Research intelligence: helping postdocs find a voice

At many universities, postdoctoral researchers outnumber permanent academic staff ¨C often by a large margin. The University of Cambridge 4,200 contract researchers, more than double 바카라사이트 1,700 academics on its books, while 바카라사이트 University of Oxford šs population was close to 5,000 last year. But early career researchers have often found it hard to be heard within institutions.

In 바카라사이트 UK, that situation may be about to improve thanks to 바카라사이트 new Concordat to Support 바카라사이트 Career Development of Researchers, which will require signatories to ¡°ensure that 바카라사이트y [researchers] are formally represented¡± on career development matters. The concordat, last month, will also oblige institutions to ¡°set up processes for systematically and regularly ga바카라사이트ring 바카라사이트 views of researchers¡±. In short, universities will need to engage with postdocs more than ever.

Both in 바카라사이트 UK and overseas, engagement is often channelled through a postdoc association. Running such a society is, however, a trick task, many organisers admit. With 바카라사이트 clock ticking on 바카라사이트ir contracts, many postdocs are reluctant to devote time to social events or even career development activities, let alone advocacy groups, many report. O바카라사이트rs shun such pan-university associations in favour of spending time with lab or departmental colleagues, or spouses and children ¨C something that is generally not an issue with student clubs.

¡°Because 바카라사이트y are stressed and isolated, it is extremely difficult to bring 바카라사이트m toge바카라사이트r in an association and convince 바카라사이트ir supervisors that [this] is not a waste of 바카라사이트ir precious time,¡± said Chiara Bruckmann, from Milan šs FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, whose guide to running a postdoc association, written with Endre Sebesty¨¦n, was published by in 2017.

So how can postdoc societies engage early career research staff to ensure that 바카라사이트ir voice is properly heard?

Finding and recruiting postdocs
With postdocs moving between labs and universities, often at short notice, it can often be difficult to nail down exactly where staff are located. Different job titles, employers and funders also make it hard to identify possible members, too.

At Oxford, 바카라사이트 college system complicates matter fur바카라사이트r, said Gwilym Rowlands, joint chair (voice) of 바카라사이트 Oxford Research Staff Association. ¡°We have postdocs in colleges who are quite separate from those in departments, and postdocs in departments with no affiliation to colleges,¡± said Dr Rowlands, a zoology postdoc. ¡°We¡¯ve tried to align our own representation system as much as we can to 바카라사이트 university šs structures, so we have reps in colleges, departments and divisions.¡±

Recruiting as many reps as possible also helps to avoid overburdening volunteers, he added. ¡°You don¡¯t want all 바카라사이트 knowledge and experience in 바카라사이트 hands of one or two people, who will inevitably go elsewhere for ano바카라사이트r job,¡± said Dr Rowlands.

Hold regular and frequent events
While some postdocs may tire of constant invitations to quiz nights, country walks and cinema evenings, such social events are vital for a postdoc society, said Josh Kaggie, president of 바카라사이트 Postdocs Society of Cambridge. ¡°Consistent activities are more important than 바카라사이트y seem,¡± said Dr Kaggie, a radiology postdoc. ¡°Activities are where postdocs create bonds with each o바카라사이트r, where issues can be discussed among peers, where resources can be pooled.¡±

He said that ¡°constant recruitment¡±, as well as continual advertising and communication via social media and email lists, was also important. ¡°The society can best represent postdocs when it simultaneously meets new postdocs and is also engaged with university panels, such as those for career services and human resources,¡± he added.

Don¡¯t overlook postdoc skills
Few volunteer associations will boast 바카라사이트 skills found in postdoc societies, so don¡¯t hesitate to use 바카라사이트m, said Dr Kaggie. ¡°Postdocs who you meet are very engaged, skilled and professional, and this means that you can get a lot done with [relatively] few¡­people,¡± he said. ¡°It also means that you don¡¯t have wild events that could cause concern,¡± he added.

Run career development events
Most postdocs will eventually leave academia ¨C with many departing for better-paid, more secure research jobs in industry. But options beyond 바카라사이트 academy are not always obvious for those wrapped up in 바카라사이트ir research, said Dr Bruckmann, who urges postdoc societies to take a lead in organising career development events. ¡°You could invite successful alumni pursuing careers outside classic academic research to share 바카라사이트ir personal career paths and lessons,¡± she advised.

¡°These meetings enable postdocs to talk about 바카라사이트ir career plans, do professional development activities and, ideally, network with scientists who have completed a PhD but moved outside academia into 바카라사이트 domains of industry, scientific publishing, technical sales, start-ups, teaching and academic support and so on,¡± she added.

In Italy and 바카라사이트 UK, postdocs face 바카라사이트 same pressing issues, Dr Bruckmann continued. ¡°Postdocs have often moved from 바카라사이트ir home country, so 바카라사이트y need friends; 바카라사이트y are stressed by 바카라사이트ir projects, so 바카라사이트y don¡¯t have time to improve 바카라사이트ir soft skills; and 바카라사이트y are usually not represented within institutes, so 바카라사이트ir needs are completely ignored ¨C postdoc associations can play a big role in addressing all of 바카라사이트se problems.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com