PhD Training is No Longer Fit for Purpose - It Needs Reform Now
PhD Training is No Longer Fit for Purpose - It Needs Reform Now
If researchers are to meet society's expectations, their training and mentoring must escape the nineteenth century.
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Manifesto for Early Career Researchers
The Manifesto for Early Career Researchers calls for increasing the recognition of the research activity and fostering diversified research careers at a European level.
New Year's Resolutions of a Final-year PhD Student
Andrew Wood plans for a career-defining 12 months ahead, and what he needs to focus on.
Uninterrupted writing time is rare. That’s why I ‘microwrite’
As I learned to savor my limited slivers of writing time, my childhood love for it returned.
When Publishing Becomes the Sole Focus of PhD Programmes Academia Suffers
When Publishing Becomes the Sole Focus of PhD Programmes Academia Suffers
Reporting on their findings from qualitative research project focused PhD students across China, Hugo Horta and Huan Li explore how a culture of publication has become central to doctoral study and…
Ukraine Needs New Doctoral Schools or Risks Losing Generation of Scholars, Official Warns
Ukraine Needs New Doctoral Schools or Risks Losing Generation of Scholars, Official Warns
Ukraine urgently needs new doctoral schools to train its next generation of academics, according to a senior Ukrainian science administrator. He warned that, without that and other measures to stop "internal brain drain", many researchers are fleeing universities for better paid IT jobs in order to make ends meet. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, European countries have launched countless schemes and scholarships to help displaced Ukrainian students and academics.
Younger Scientists Are More Innovative, Study Finds
On average, researchers' impact dropped by a half to two-thirds over their careers.
The Career Insights I'm Bringing Back to Academia After a Year at Google
The Career Insights I'm Bringing Back to Academia After a Year at Google
Oliver Müller's brief tenure at the technology giant taught him that many skills acquired in academia are highly valued.
The Scandal of Researchers Paid Less Than a Living Wage
The Scandal of Researchers Paid Less Than a Living Wage
The cost-of-living crisis is a fundamental threat for PhD scholars and early-career researchers. They need to be paid properly.
'Not Even Enough Money for Food': Graduate Students Face Cash Crunch
'Not Even Enough Money for Food': Graduate Students Face Cash Crunch
The cost-of-living crisis is causing widespread financial distress among those in master's and PhD programmes worldwide.
How to get what you need from your Ph.D. or postdoc supervisor
For Ph.D. candidates and postdocs, the relationship with your supervisor can make or break a career. The onus for a positive and nurturing relationship should fall largely on the senior member.
In Academia, Lower Socioeconomic Status Hinders Sense of Belonging
In Academia, Lower Socioeconomic Status Hinders Sense of Belonging
Ph.D. students who belong to minoritized groups experience challenges with interpersonal understanding and social ties.
A Road Map Aims to Improve the Lives of Junior Scientists in Europe
A Road Map Aims to Improve the Lives of Junior Scientists in Europe
University associations, legislators, students and other stakeholders release a declaration on ways to recruit and retain early-career researchers in academia.
Network of Clubs is Building a New Pipeline of Science Policy Professionals
Network of Clubs is Building a New Pipeline of Science Policy Professionals
A grassroots network led by early-career scientists offers new pathways to policy careers.
Feeling Lonely in Research? You're Not Alone
Opening up about my feelings during my PhD was powerful and cathartic.
Spain Votes Through Overhaul of Research Careers
Spain is about to overhaul its research career structures, after the Congress of Deputies approved the final version of a reform to the country's 2011 science, technology and innovation law last week.
Bullied Abroad: How Foreign Researchers Can Fight Back
Bullied Abroad: How Foreign Researchers Can Fight Back
Most international scholars do not report experiences of bullying because they fear retaliation, including threats to cancel visas. But they can take action.
When I Hit Obstacles on My Academic Journey, I Learned to Keep Trying and Embrace the Unexpected
When I Hit Obstacles on My Academic Journey, I Learned to Keep Trying and Embrace the Unexpected
With perseverance and adaptability, this scientist found his way forward.
Research Culture: Highlighting the Positive Aspects of Being a PhD Student
Research Culture: Highlighting the Positive Aspects of Being a PhD Student
Articles about doing a PhD tend to focus on the difficulties faced by research students: here we argue that the scientific community should also highlight the positive elements of the PhD experience.
Lab Life: When Your PhD (almost) Falls Apart
As a chance observation threatens to unravel several years of work, a PhD student must choose what to do next.
Bullying in Science: Largest-ever National Survey Reveals Bleak Reality
Bullying in Science: Largest-ever National Survey Reveals Bleak Reality
A study of the culture in academic workplaces suggests that women and PhD students are most likely to be bullied.
Switching Labs During a PhD
Jonathan Park's scientific interests changed after caring for a cancer patient. He ended up bidding an amicable farewell to Mark Gerstein, a supportive supervisor who had taught him a lot.
Manifesto to Save 'Lost Generation' of Researchers
Research leaders have this week put their weight behind a manifesto calling for moves to make research careers more attractive in a bid to stop the brain drain away from science.
Share Your Experiences of Graduate-Student Life with Nature
The world has changed a lot since our last global survey of PhD students in 2019. This year's survey includes master's students for the first time.
PhD Students Face Cash Crisis with Wages That Don't Cover Living Costs
PhD Students Face Cash Crisis with Wages That Don't Cover Living Costs
As inflation rates soar, new data on the finances of US graduate students spark calls for action.
Young Scientists Should Help Shape STEM Education Policies
Early-career scientists should have a say in developing the policies that can help them in the short term as well as benefit the scientific system in the long term, writes Adriana Bankston.
How the Career Path to Principal Investigator is Narrowing
Lab leader roles are proving more elusive as trainees seek opportunities elsewhere, two studies find.
WEF Young Scientists Call to Address Missing Link Between Policy and Science
WEF Young Scientists Call to Address Missing Link Between Policy and Science
Scientists from the World Economic Forum's Young Scientists community want to see the social value of scientific research better recognised and acknowledged. Published today by Frontiers Policy Labs, a call has been signed by 52 scholars from some of the world's foremost academic institutions. The signatories say that for science to become rooted in decision-making, a new culture of engagement between policymakers and scientists needs to be established.
Spain Sets out to Overhaul Research Careers
Spain has set out to improve the lives of its researchers after years of hand to mouth existence and a brain drain that has significantly weakened the public research sector. A reform of a 2011 law will see young researchers getting permanent contracts, recognition of experience gained abroad and new labour rights. At the same time, there will be increased public spending on research.
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