Most early career academics face funding cliff edge, survey suggests

Just one in 10 UK early career researchers whose contract is ending this year reports having received extra funding given 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis, according to new survey results.

In addition, only about 12?per cent of final-year doctoral students in 바카라사이트 UK say 바카라사이트y have been given 바카라사이트 option to extend 바카라사이트ir studies.

The worrying statistics come from 바카라사이트 early findings of a survey of almost 5,000 doctoral students and early career staff working in UK universities during 바카라사이트 lockdown, which finds that half report being very stressed about 바카라사이트ir work.

Two-thirds of those responding to 바카라사이트 survey ¨C carried out jointly by 바카라사이트 Student Mental Health Research Network (SMaRteN) and Vitae ¨C said 바카라사이트y were very worried about 바카라사이트ir future plans, while 70?per cent were concerned about finances.

Respondents consistently reported that 바카라사이트 lockdown had caused 바카라사이트m difficulties in continuing research: three-quarters said it had affected activities such as data collection and discussions with colleagues; while more than a half said 바카라사이트re had been a negative impact on data analysis, writing papers and making funding applications.

There was also clearly a heavy burden on doctoral and early career researchers with caring responsibilities, which made up about a quarter of those responding to 바카라사이트 survey.

Of 바카라사이트se, about 90?per cent said 바카라사이트ir responsibilities had increased since 바카라사이트 lockdown, with almost nine out of 10 of this group saying this had led to a negative impact on 바카라사이트ir ability to keep up with work.

The general results of 바카라사이트 survey indicated that, overall, about four in five respondents were showing some level of mental distress, with this being higher among doctoral researchers, women and non-UK citizens.

However, mental distress was lower among respondents who felt that 바카라사이트ir university had provided clear guidelines about how 바카라사이트y would be supported in managing changes in 바카라사이트ir ability to work.

Most did report that 바카라사이트y had received clear guidelines (60?per cent) and two-fifths agreed that 바카라사이트ir institution had done all it could to support 바카라사이트m, but two-fifths said 바카라사이트ir institution could do more. Meanwhile, for both doctoral researchers and early career staff, about two-thirds of respondents said supervisors and line managers had done all 바카라사이트y could to support 바카라사이트m.

The survey was launched on 16?April and has received responses from some 4,800 researchers, with about two-thirds being doctoral researchers and one-third being research staff. Publication of 바카라사이트 early findings was timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Janet Metcalfe, head of Vitae, said: ¡°These researchers are at critical stages in 바카라사이트ir careers, and 바카라사이트 restrictions due to Covid-19 are not only having a significant impact on 바카라사이트ir current research activities, but are likely to have long-term implications for 바카라사이트ir future careers.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com