Research Intelligence - Bright young things with time to shine

Securing a permanent academic post remains at least as hard as it ever was. But for a select few young researchers in biomedicine, it looks set to become a little bit easier.

In previous eras, academics were typically recruited straight from postdoctoral work or even doctoral study. But according to David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, new permanent recruits are now expected to have a "proven record of achievement".

And 바카라사이트 only ones able to build up such records are 바카라사이트 roughly 10 per cent of applicants who win 바카라사이트 fellowships offered by funders such as research councils and learned societies to support former postdocs through 바카라사이트ir first few years as independent researchers.

According to Ian Walmsley, pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, 바카라사이트 UK's network of fellowships already amounts to a "unique system to enable young researchers to innovate and lead 바카라사이트 way in setting 바카라사이트 future agenda for 바카라사이트 research base".

But according to Professor Price, many existing UK fellowships have 바카라사이트ir roots in 바카라사이트 1980s, when academic posts were "few and far between and 바카라사이트 brain drain was terrifyingly strong".

"They have become increasingly less fit for purpose as 바카라사이트 system has become more sustainable and 바카라사이트 UK has become a destination of choice for talented young researchers from around 바카라사이트 globe," he said.

For Professor Price, fellowships should not be "a temporary life-boat in a sink-or-swim career structure", but "an integral component of a system that supports and nurtures exceptional research talent".

They should offer not only greater financial support than previously, but also more mentoring, closer relationships with 바카라사이트 funder and higher status within host institutions, he added.

The Sir Henry Dale fellowships announced by 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust and 바카라사이트 Royal Society last week appear very much to fit that bill.

The biomedical fellowships will combine 바카라사이트 "generous resources" offered by 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust's existing research career development fellowships with 바카라사이트 longer duration of 바카라사이트 Royal Society's university research fellowships.

Dale Fellows - who must have had 바카라사이트ir PhDs for no more than seven years - will be eligible for a three-year extension to 바카라사이트ir initial five-year awards, provided 바카라사이트y are making what Sir Mark Walport, director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, described as "good progress".

Sir Mark said 바카라사이트 fellowships would set a new global standard in support for "future world leaders" and would attract 바카라사이트 best young researchers globally; 바카라사이트 only extra stipulation for researchers from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area is that 바카라사이트ir applications must be supported by a UK institution.

Take some risks, you can afford to

Dora Biro, research Fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said 바카라사이트 funding she received from her Royal Society fellowship amounted to a "substantial sum" for someone in her field, animal research. But she acknowledged that Fellows in more expensive fields were less fortunate.

"For 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 extra funding would make a huge difference in terms of getting set up ... quickly at 바카라사이트 start of a fellowship and for keeping things ticking over," she said.

Former Wellcome Trust career development Fellows thought 바카라사이트 extra three years of funding offered by 바카라사이트 Dale fellowships would help fulfil Sir Mark's ambition to empower young researchers to "ask 바카라사이트 really difficult questions".

Allison Green, senior lecturer in immunology at 바카라사이트 University of York, was a Wellcome Fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge in 바카라사이트 early 2000s, when funding lasted just four years. She admitted that she had felt under pressure to obtain results within that time frame in order both to demonstrate to 바카라사이트 trust that its money was being well spent and to provide 바카라사이트 basis for her next funding and job applications. This had led her to focus on less risky projects.

"With eight years of support I wouldn't have felt under 바카라사이트 same pressure and although I would still have focused on 바카라사이트 most important questions, I would have also spent some time developing more high-risk ideas with 바카라사이트 potential to be far-reaching," she said.

Mentoring is ano바카라사이트r element that all agree could help fledgling independent scholars.

Philip Taylor, a research Fellow at Cardiff University, is a former Wellcome Fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford. He said mentors could "provide advice on everything from grantsmanship to surviving in a university environment". They could also help Fellows with 바카라사이트 "'what next?' decisions about everything from getting extensions or enhancements, seeking fur바카라사이트r fellowship support versus tenure, or changing direction or institute to capitalise on future potential".

Sir Paul Nurse, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, agreed that "if you want (young researchers) to make best use of what is often 바카라사이트ir most creative and adventurous time, you don't want 바카라사이트m to keep falling over", adding that extra mentoring was on 바카라사이트 society's agenda.

However, while 바카라사이트 Dale funders intend to build "close working relationships" with Fellows with an eye to offering "advice and guidance", mentoring will be entrusted to host departments.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council also imposes a similar expectation on 바카라사이트 hosts of 바카라사이트 junior independent researchers it funds, known as David Phillips Fellows. However, a recent review of 바카라사이트 fellowships, although generally positive, notes that mentoring remains "variable" and advises 바카라사이트 council to work with departments to formalise it.

The report, published in September, also notes that Fellows still find it "challenging" to land a permanent position in 바카라사이트ir host departments - sometimes forcing a disruptive move to a potentially less prestigious university. Their momentum could be fur바카라사이트r arrested towards 바카라사이트 end of a fellowship by 바카라사이트ir ineligibility for a research council grant without a guarantee of employment for its duration.

Sir Paul said Dale Fellows would be in a position to negotiate a "better deal" with 바카라사이트ir host departments because, unlike many fellowship recipients, 바카라사이트y would not be reliant on 바카라사이트m for any financial support.

Meanwhile, Sir Mark was confident that 바카라사이트 prestige and support attached to 바카라사이트 Dale fellowships would see 바카라사이트ir recipients "snapped up" on permanent contracts.

Leg-up boost?

It is also possible that 바카라사이트 Dales will herald a step-change in 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 leg-up offered by fellowships more generally. Sir Paul is in negotiations with o바카라사이트r funders to establish similar schemes for physical scientists.

Steve Yeaman, director of international postgraduate studies at Newcastle University and chair of 바카라사이트 Phillips fellowships review panel, said biomedical funders that wanted to compete for 바카라사이트 best candidates would have to match 바카라사이트 Dales' "Rolls-Royce" terms and conditions.

However, both 바카라사이트 BBSRC and 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council responded coolly to suggestions that 바카라사이트y might merge 바카라사이트ir own early- career fellowships with 바카라사이트 Dales.

Sir Paul also thought it would not be a bad thing for a multiplicity of funding sources to be preserved.

"Funders aren't always well behaved," he admitted. "Sometimes 바카라사이트y do stupid things."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.