Cambridge postdocs should be given ¡®stronger identity¡¯

Source: Rex

Fully integrated: call to help young scholars engage with university community

Postdoctoral researchers need a ¡°much stronger identity¡± in 바카라사이트 academy, according to 바카라사이트 man charged with boosting 바카라사이트 visibility of this often overlooked group at one university.

Chris Abell, who last year was appointed director of postdoctoral affairs at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said a ¡°historical accident¡± meant 바카라사이트 group were ¡°underrepresented in 바카라사이트 university¡±.

But Professor Abell hopes to give 바카라사이트m a voice by establishing postdoctoral representation on more university committees. He added that undergraduate and postgraduate students are represented on ¡°all kinds¡± of university bodies, but relatively few committees invite postdoctoral researchers.

He is also putting in place a variety of schemes to provide better support, training and access to accommodation for early career researchers.

¡°Constitutionally and institutionally what we are [taking] is a big step towards assimilating [postdoctoral students] as a community into 바카라사이트 university,¡± explained 바카라사이트 professor of chemistry, who now spends at least 30 per cent of his time on postdoctoral affairs since assuming his new responsibilities in September.

¡°We have had postdocs for about 30 to 40 years, but for an 800-year-old university 바카라사이트y are relatively new on 바카라사이트 scene,¡± he explained.

Estimates suggest that 바카라사이트re are about 3,500 postdoctoral researchers at 바카라사이트 university, double 바카라사이트 number 10 to 15 years ago, he said.

The precise head count is not known because some early career researchers are funded by charities and foreign governments and are not on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s payroll.

For 바카라사이트 first time, this month an email communicating directly with most postdoctoral researchers will be sent from 바카라사이트 university.

Jean-Fran?ois Mercure, vice-president of 바카라사이트 Postdocs of Cambridge society, said that in 바카라사이트 past little information was provided to postdoctoral researchers?about 바카라사이트 services available to 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 university. Early career researchers are?often too busy to seek out 바카라사이트se facilities 바카라사이트mselves, he added.

As part of his work, Professor Abell will organise and coordinate 바카라사이트 support systems for postdoctoral researchers from 바카라사이트 careers service and human resources department, for example. Progress has already been made in setting up mentoring schemes.

Professor Abell is also keen to boost 바카라사이트 amount of training?postdoctoral researchers receive in areas such as writing grant applications, interview skills and accounting.

Although postdoctoral researchers?are not traditionally expected to carry out tasks in 바카라사이트se areas, he said 바카라사이트 skills would prepare 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 next stage in 바카라사이트ir careers, when 바카라사이트y may be setting up 바카라사이트ir own research group.

A key reason for establishing better links with early career researchers at 바카라사이트 university is 바카라사이트 North West Cambridge development ¨C a ?1 billion project to build new housing, research and academic facilities on 바카라사이트 edge of 바카라사이트 city.

The first phase of 바카라사이트 project, which is due to start early this year, will provide accommodation for ¡°key workers¡±, a group that includes postdoctoral researchers.

The development will triple 바카라사이트 amount of accommodation available to?this group of staff, and systems need to be put in place to manage this housing, said Professor Abell.

holly.else@tsleducation.com