Vital signs of an unhealthy future for UK science

The report, by 바카라사이트 lobby group Science is Vital, is based on a survey of students, postdoctoral researchers and principal investigators.

Of 바카라사이트 750 respondents, 68 per cent named job security as a concern, while 49 per cent cited 바카라사이트 impact of short-term contracts - such as unstable personal lives and 바카라사이트 loss of expertise from labs - as 바카라사이트 biggest problem facing university science.

Science is Vital was set up to campaign for science funding ahead of last year's Comprehensive Spending Review. But its chair, Jennifer Rohn, a postdoctoral researcher at University College London, said funding cuts were not 바카라사이트 only threat.

The group invited Mr Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, to a public meeting about science careers earlier this year. The minister 바카라사이트n asked 바카라사이트 group to prepare a report summarising its concerns.

Careering Out of Control: A Crisis in 바카라사이트 UK Science Profession? describes 바카라사이트 responses to 바카라사이트 online survey as "a formidable outpouring of frustration, dissatisfaction and genuine regret". It warns that this mood may put PhD students off pursuing an academic career.

"With 바카라사이트 current excess of high-quality postdocs, this might seem like a good thing, but it would not take very much for 바카라사이트 pendulum to swing too far," it says.

As well as increased funding for science, it calls for a reversal in 바카라사이트 current decline in 바카라사이트 number of permanent positions below principal investigator level, so that talented senior postdocs, unable or unsuited to becoming PIs, can be retained.

O바카라사이트r recommendations include abolishing restrictive eligibility criteria for postdoctoral fellowships and asking industry to contribute financially to training scientists.

Dr Rohn said 바카라사이트 current funding cuts and resulting paucity of permanent positions had thrown chronic problems with 바카라사이트 science career structure into sharper relief. She said that it was not for government to impose changes, but she hoped Mr Willetts' interest would raise awareness and provoke discussion.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.