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Short-term Contracts and Working for Free: Scientists in Germany Speak out

Short-term Contracts and Working for Free: Scientists in Germany Speak out

Scientists at German universities are speaking out against precarious working conditions. Job insecurity and a lack of support are also problems at universities in other countries.

Three Hard Truths I Learned Before Moving to a Non-Academic Career

Three Hard Truths I Learned Before Moving to a Non-Academic Career

Your new manager likely doesn't have a PhD, and she's higher on the food chain because experience is more valued than a doctorate. Tips on becoming a more pragmatic professional when transitioning to a career outside of academia.

Revisiting: Challenges for Academics in the "Global South"

Revisiting: Challenges for Academics in the "Global South"

Revisiting a 2018 post discussing that for social science and humanities researchers in many parts of the world there are significant barriers to conducting and sharing research, in some cases more so than for science and medicine. In this revisited guest post, Dr. Naveen Minai provides a perspective as a gender studies researcher in Pakistan.

Don't Hire Top Talent; Hire for Weaknesses!

Don't Hire Top Talent; Hire for Weaknesses!

Design your hiring process to find the right people to strengthen your teams' weaknesses, rather than trying to find the best people. Instead of "how can we find the smartest people?" think about "how can we find the people who will make our team stronger?"

Five Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Emotions to Build Flourishing Connections

Five Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Emotions to Build Flourishing Connections

Emotional intelligence is a crucial component of successful professional relationships. Here's how to boost yours.

Investigating the Association Between Publication Performance and the Work Environment of University Research Academics

Investigating the Association Between Publication Performance and the Work Environment of University Research Academics

This review highlights where academics’ performance needs support and how the work environment can be improved to bolster publication productivity.

How Universities Are Crushing Academics

How Universities Are Crushing Academics

Exhibiting a dogmatic faith in metrics, higher education executives are being guided less by rational considerations about educational values and more by the "snake oils" of efficiency, profitability, and accountability. But these dark arts exact a price. Due to increasing competition for funds and jobs, and with the jobs themselves becoming increasingly precarious, universities have become "anxiety machines" for academics.

100 Inspiring Hispanic Scientists in America

100 Inspiring Hispanic Scientists in America

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Christina Termini from UCLA presents a list of 100 Hispanic/Latinx scientists in America that all researchers can look to for inspiration.

Where Do Scholars Move? Measuring the Mobility of Researchers Across Academic Institutions

Where Do Scholars Move? Measuring the Mobility of Researchers Across Academic Institutions

This blog post demonstrates how scientometrics can help trace mobility patterns at the institutional level, using the Dimensions database.

University Vs. Research Institute? The Dual Pillars of German Science Production, 1950-2010

University Vs. Research Institute? The Dual Pillars of German Science Production, 1950-2010

The world's third largest producer of scientific research, Germany, is the origin of the research university and the independent, extra-university research institute. Its dual-pillar research policy differentiates these organizational forms functionally: universities specialize in advanced research-based teaching; institutes specialize intensely on research. This article discusses the future utility of the dual-pillar policy.

Unequal Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists

Unequal Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Scientists

COVID-19 has not affected all scientists equally. A survey of principal investigators indicates that female scientists, those in the 'bench sciences' and, especially, scientists with young children experienced a substantial decline in time devoted to research. This could have important short- and longer-term effects on their careers, which institution leaders and funders need to address carefully.

Former Harvard Researcher Who Harassed Postdoc Sparks Row at Italian Institute

Former Harvard Researcher Who Harassed Postdoc Sparks Row at Italian Institute

A research institute that appointed Pier Paolo Pandolfi as its scientific director has reversed its decision after internal protests.

Supporting Faculty Careers Amid a Season of Uncertainty

Supporting Faculty Careers Amid a Season of Uncertainty

As higher education experiences profound upheaval, colleges and universities need to double down on their efforts to better support faculty and their professional development, write Andrew Rosen and Jaime Lester.