Young researchers needs and expectations

Transcription

1 Young researchers needs and expectations Dr. György Székely Vice Secretary General Marie Curie Fellows Assocation CESAER seminar 2012 TU Delft, 18th of October, 2012

2 Questionnaire Topic Young Researchs needs, expectations, career plan, main concerns

3 Participants participants >200 (27) gender participating balance countries 43 49% 51%

4 Participants by career stage and experience 24% 25% undergraduate students 51% postdocs and experienced researchers doctoral candidates and early stage researchers >4 43% % <1 11% % %

5 Which career path to choose? high publication pressure flexible working hours funding issues strict deadlines only applied science stable financial background necessity to decrease the labwork along the career better structured research career advancement is needed Academia Industry

6 In search for excellent young researchers Career path: academia vs industry I don t know 22% Industry 17% Either one 26% Academia 35% Ranking of young researchers 53% 20% 25% Distingusing the needs and expectations based on these groups 1% 2%

7 Priorities Industry The best ( ) vs Academia ( ) Salary and bonuses State-of-the-art research Good work facilities Cordial boss and colleagues Training opportunities Family support Flexible working hours Networking / collaborations High impact factor publications Number of holidays Employer's reputation Administrative help Work environment Long term contract Team building activities General

8 Main concerns of young researchers mobility family balance money permanent position intellectual research freedom unfair treatment recognition work load publication luck

9 Main concerns of young researchers mobility Permanent position Family balance need to move Unfairness every 3-5 years to another place All in all, we are nomads roaming on Salary a seemingly barren and patchy pasture. switching countries drains a lot of energy and sometimes unfeasible Slavery Selfrealization Recognition Publications Luck Some jobs may require uprooting from home into another country and that wipes out a significant chunk of one's social life and emotional safety net. Would the wife/husband follow along? I'm not sure.

10 Main concerns of young researchers job security working contracts are very short, especially in academia Mobility permanent position Family balance Salary longer term contracts are needed for YR to live a secure life Unfairness Slavery Recognition no stable positions for young researchers Publications The world will struggle Luck with a burgeoning class of PhDs who were once excited, but exasperated with job opportunities.

11 Main concerns of young researchers have enough time and energy to take care of my children family balance welfare & child support as well as flexible working hours are needed lack of social life sacrificing my family time affording a meaningful personal and social life, given the extensive hours required during the tenure-track period how to reconcile having children and becoming a group leader

12 Main concerns of young researchers prospects are not as good as in management lack of proper funding policy ensuring continuity money researchers salary has to be as tempting as managers subject to economic fluctuations are stronger in research funding than other areas management, accounting, purchasing pay much better

13 Main concerns of young researchers Yes: 63% No: 37% Mobility Permanent position Family balance Are you satisfied with your group s authorship policy? Salary Selfrealization Unfairness high publication pressure Recognition unfair authorship policies Slavery publication Luck less importance to publications & evaluation based on actual results

14 Main concerns of young researchers to flourish and show my talents, having freedom to follow my ideas intellectual research freedom Mobility Unfairness Permanent position Recognition Family balance few perspectives of meaningful research (real innovation for practical purposes) let YR deploy their creativity, otherwise they are just technicians Salary Slavery Publications find a Luck suitable position which allows to perform independent research

15 Main concerns of young researchers unfair treatment recognition work load equal treatment is needed I don t want to do the job of others (no + or discrimination) discrimination based on nationality more respect from supervisors collegiality in the research group and social esteem is appreciated considering science as a real job enormous work load at least let them rest technicians are needed during the weekend taking advantage of our motivation

16 Concluding remarks Migration to management because it pays better, hence higher salaries are needed Support of balanced career and family life and more security is expected through flexible working hours, welfare and longer term contracts The best YRs aim for high impact factor publications and training opportunities on both technical and soft skills are expected Fair treatment, more respect and collegiality is expected from the supervisors Lower publication pressure and judgment based on the actual achievements is needed as well as fair authorship policies Better structured research career advancement is needed where researchers will not become managers along their career

17 Thank you for your attention! Dr. Gyorgy Szekely Vice Secretary General Marie Curie Fellows Assocation