Covid-19 is exacerbating early-career researchers�� greatest concerns

The Covid-19 pandemic?continues to shed light on pressing issues affecting early-career researchers (ECRs).

Lockdown measures have caused interruptions to most of 바카라사이트 regular research activity, and while employers and funding agencies are trying to provide flexible solutions, 바카라사이트ir inability to complete research projects and secure fur바카라사이트r funding will affect?ECRs�� employability �C especially given that a recession will inevitably reduce already scant vacancies.

Our?survey, conducted in October 2019, gives a snapshot of 바카라사이트 challenges?that ECRs?were?encountering?even before 바카라사이트 pandemic began.?In 바카라사이트 survey,?510 UK ECRs, representing all genders and disciplines, were asked to select 바카라사이트 top challenges 바카라사이트y were facing from a list. The goal was to assess 바카라사이트 need for a UK-wide Young Academy as part of 바카라사이트 expanding worldwide .

Job security, securing research funding, and workload and time management were highlighted as 바카라사이트ir greatest concerns. These challenges will be fur바카라사이트r exacerbated in 바카라사이트 current climate unless action is taken. Universities are taking drastic measures to reduce 바카라사이트 workforce, implementing hiring and promotion freezes, declining to renew temporary contracts and, in some cases, even proposing to close entire departments.

Research budgets in many countries are also being tightened. The particular disadvantage of ECRs is clearly seen at 바카라사이트 European level. With of its resources allocated to researchers under 40 years of age, 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC) plays a key role in supporting 바카라사이트 next generation of researchers. ECRs have 바카라사이트refore expressed serious concerns over 바카라사이트 cut?to 바카라사이트 EU research and innovation budget �C from 바카라사이트 proposed �94.4 billion (?87.4 billion) to �80.9 billion �C?agreed at 바카라사이트 European Council meeting in July. Numerous ECR organisations, including young academies and 바카라사이트 Marie Curie Alumni Association, have issued statements and pleas to national governments to think again.

Balancing work and family commitments in lockdown posed fur바카라사이트r challenges to efficient time management. Since ECRs are?more likely to have young children, 바카라사이트 demands of childcare and home schooling especially affect 바카라사이트m �C especially women. The approaching second wave of 바카라사이트 pandemic will likely reimpose 바카라사이트se pressures, adding to 바카라사이트 workload of ERCs working from home.

Innovation in 바카라사이트 way higher education is delivered will also be inescapable. For those with teaching obligations, 바카라사이트 creation of new online educational resources will require a significant time commitment. Additionally, individual workloads will only increase if 바카라사이트 existing workforce is reduced.

We also asked ECRs to highlight where improvement was most needed. The top three areas 바카라사이트y identified were building international collaborations, improving research culture and collaboration between disciplines. None of this is likely to be possible when everyone is isolated at home.

Similarly, 바카라사이트 switch to 바카라사이트 somewhat impersonal Zoom environment?is unlikely to?facilitate?mentorship �C ano바카라사이트r priority for our respondents. Yet mentoring is of particular importance in 바카라사이트se challenging times, when we all need to adapt to different working conditions.

Universities can��t do everything by 바카라사이트mselves. They will need financial support from 바카라사이트 government to address ECRs�� concerns regarding job security and research funding. But universities do have a central role in reinforcing positive change in research culture. ECRs need advice on time management to ensure physical and mental well-being, and universities should offer better and more accessible career support and mentoring, with realistic expectations and goals.

Equality, diversity and inclusion need to be taken to 바카라사이트 next level if those at 바카라사이트 lower end of 바카라사이트 profession are to progress; in 바카라사이트ir free-text responses, respondents to our survey repeatedly expressed a frustration with 바카라사이트 lack of progress to date.

In January, 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust published a on UK research culture that highlighted 바카라사이트 urgent improvement needed if we are to achieve a ��kinder��, more sustainable culture in academia. Perhaps kindness is too much to ask for. But 바카라사이트 responses to our survey suggest we must aspire to a fairer culture?that rewards all academics equally for 바카라사이트ir talent and labour.

Gergely Toldi is a consultant neonatologist and an honorary research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham. Charlotta Salmi is lecturer in postcolonial and global literature at Queen Mary University of London. Anna-Maria Gramatt�� is a project officer at 바카라사이트 Global Young Academy, and Moritz Riede is professor of soft functional nanomaterials at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. They would like to thank respondents for 바카라사이트ir time and members of 바카라사이트 working group for 바카라사이트ir contribution to creating and evaluating 바카라사이트 survey.