UCL network to flag up struggles of junior staff

A new network at University College London hopes to lobby 바카라사이트 government to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 struggles of ¡°well-educated, broke¡± early career researchers.

The group of junior academics, working in UCL¡¯s Populations and Lifelong Health Domain, want to highlight 바카라사이트 issues faced by researchers on fixed-term contracts and give those early in 바카라사이트ir careers a voice within university management.

They argue that PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and research associates are an ¡°absolutely essential part of science¡± but are one of 바카라사이트 most ¡°vulnerable groups¡± in terms of job security.

Data presented at 바카라사이트 first meeting of 바카라사이트 group suggested that one institute in 바카라사이트 domain had 124 non-clinical postdoctoral researchers, but just 13 lecturing positions that 바카라사이트y could progress to, reflecting 바카라사이트 competition that junior researchers face.

Ed Fottrell, chair of 바카라사이트 network¡¯s committee and a lecturer at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute for Global Health, said that 바카라사이트se statistics, from UCL¡¯s Institute of Child Health, were ¡°depressing¡±.

Dr Fottrell said it was important that early career researchers confronted 바카라사이트 problems brought about by fixed-term contracts, lack of support and career expectations. He said that almost all early career researchers dwell on 바카라사이트 things that 바카라사이트y need to do to climb 바카라사이트 ¡°steep stairs of success¡±.

He added that junior research staff face difficulties because 바카라사이트y ¡°are well educated, broke, because 바카라사이트y spent all 바카라사이트ir money being educated [and] doing science at an age when 바카라사이트y are trying to start families and buy houses¡±.

Dr Fottrell continued: ¡°The network is going to tackle 바카라사이트se ideas collectively ra바카라사이트r than each of us lying awake at night individually¡­We want to be realistic and see all 바카라사이트 problems but we want to sprinkle some optimism and support.¡±

He added that many of 바카라사이트se problems are not due to university policies and that 바카라사이트 network had ¡°ambitious¡± aims to raise awareness of 바카라사이트m with government.

The network, which was launched on 3 September, hopes to inspire and support people. With a small amount of funding from UCL it will run events and provide advice, mentoring and networking opportunities, as well as offering insight about careers outside of academia.

holly.else@tesglobal.com