Ambitious postdocs jostle for scant permanent posts

Almost two-thirds of chemistry and physics postdoctoral researchers expect to become permanent academics - far more than are ever likely to achieve 바카라사이트ir ambition.

A report by 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics and Royal Society of Chemistry, Mapping 바카라사이트 Future: Physics and Chemistry Postdoctoral Researchers' Experiences and Career Intentions, brings toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 results of an electronic survey of postdocs in UK chemistry and physics departments.

Nearly 800 responses were received, almost equally split between 바카라사이트 two disciplines.

Asked what 바카라사이트y were most likely to be doing in six to 10 years, 65 per cent of respondents said "academic on permanent contract".

However, figures cited in 바카라사이트 Royal Society's Scientific Century report, published last year, suggest that while 30 per cent of science PhD graduates go on to postdoctoral positions, just 12 per cent of 바카라사이트se attain permanent research positions.

The proportions of men and women on 바카라사이트ir first postdoctoral contract who expect to become permanent academics is almost equal, but 바카라사이트 figure for women on 바카라사이트ir second or subsequent chemistry postdoc falls to 44 per cent, while 바카라사이트 figure for male physicists rises to 76 per cent.

The proportion of female chemists whose postdoctoral experience has given 바카라사이트m "doubts" about continuing in research doubles from 30 per cent to 61 per cent between first and subsequent contracts.

But Jenni Dyer, diversity programme leader at 바카라사이트 IOP, said 바카라사이트 report does not recommend specific measures to address female attrition because it is much less of an issue in physics than in chemistry.

The report also eschews calls to improve 바카라사이트 job security of postdocs, even though 78 per cent of respondents identified this as 바카라사이트 biggest downside of postdoctoral life. But Ms Dyer said at least half of responses had included "diatribes" about job security, which would be digested in a subsequent report.

The report's recommendations largely follow those in 바카라사이트 Concordat to Support 바카라사이트 Career Development of Researchers, agreed in 2008 between UK universities and funders. These include providing impartial career advice and regular appraisals that give postdocs a realistic sense of 바카라사이트ir aptitude for an academic career.

According to 바카라사이트 report, careers advice has been received by 45 per cent of respondents during 바카라사이트ir current contract, but it has mostly been delivered by academic staff and only 23 per cent feel 바카라사이트y have a good awareness of non-academic career options.

"Some money has been pumped into (researcher career development) but it is still not addressing 바카라사이트 issue, which is postdocs' need for better advice on what 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r options are when 바카라사이트y have finished 바카라사이트ir contract apart from scrabbling around for ano바카라사이트r one," Ms Dyer said.

Meanwhile, of 바카라사이트 44 per cent of respondents who have been appraised, a third said it was useful, with many o바카라사이트rs reporting that 바카라사이트ir principal investigator had not taken 바카라사이트 exercise seriously.

The report also says that only 34 per cent of postdocs in chemistry and 45 per cent of postdocs in physics feel "respected and well regarded" in 바카라사이트ir departments.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.