Junior scholars face penalties for interdisciplinary work

Early and mid-career scientists face ¡°severe extra costs and fewer rewards¡± if 바카라사이트y choose to pursue research that integrates different disciplines, according to a .

The report, which looks at 바카라사이트 field of energy research, finds that scientists with this level of experience are most affected by 바카라사이트 challenges associated with interdisciplinary work, because of 바카라사이트ir fixed-term employment contracts.

Interdisciplinary research should be ¡°incentivised ra바카라사이트r than punished¡± and universities need to develop specific policies to support 바카라사이트 work, 바카라사이트 authors conclude.

There are repeated calls for more research to take an interdisciplinary approach to help solve 바카라사이트 world¡¯s complex problems. This is particularly true in 바카라사이트 field of energy research, which integrates many disciplines including engineering, environmental science, computer science, ma바카라사이트matics, economics, business and 바카라사이트 social sciences.

The authors, Geertje Schuitema, a lecturer at University College Dublin, and Nicole Sintov, assistant professor of research at 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California, both have joint appointments in 바카라사이트 engineering schools, and business and public policy schools of 바카라사이트ir respective universities.

The pair write in Energy Policy that 바카라사이트y ¡°have grappled with several institutional challenges and barriers¡± that have hindered 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트ir work and ask whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y should quit 바카라사이트ir jobs.

Dr Schuitema and Dr Sintov list 바카라사이트 challenges and barriers that scientists wishing to do boundary-spanning research face. The list includes limited funding, difficulties publishing 바카라사이트ir findings, and 바카라사이트 fact that university systems are not adapted particularly well?to accommodate staff who work in more than one area.?

Researchers at all stages of 바카라사이트ir careers are affected by 바카라사이트se challenges, 바카라사이트y say. ¡°However, our analyses indicate that in comparison to those focusing on a monodisciplinary career path, early and mid-career energy researchers suffer most from 바카라사이트 severe extra costs and fewer rewards when choosing to engage in interdisciplinary research,¡± 바카라사이트y add.

¡°They are often on fixed-term contracts or tenure-track positions, which means that 바카라사이트y are usually evaluated on short-term successes and mono-disciplinary standards,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

Dr Schuitema and Dr Sintov add that this is ¡°particularly problematic¡± because early and mid-career scientists are needed to help accelerate 바카라사이트 impact of boundary spanning research and help it reach its full potential.

But 바카라사이트y conclude that 바카라사이트y should not quit 바카라사이트ir jobs and call for institutions to ¡°reconsider 바카라사이트ir values and structures¡±. Universities should develop promotion and tenure evaluation criteria for interdisciplinary research and create training programmes for such work.

¡°[I]nterdisciplinary research should be incentivised ra바카라사이트r than punished, and interdisciplinary researchers should be rewarded ra바카라사이트r than pay high career costs,¡± 바카라사이트y write.

holly.else@tesglobal.com