Join UK-HyRES online on Wednesday 2nd December, 13:00–14:00, for the findings of our national PhD and early career researcher surveys and a discussion of what needs to change at our webinar ‘Keeping Talent in UK Research’.
The webinar will be led by Dr Sibimol Luke, Research Fellow in Hydrogen Technology Innovation, University College London. She will present what the recent surveyed doctoral and early career researchers feel is holding their careers back, what is working, and what would make them stay in research.
Opening the conversation
The responses were remarkably consistent across different institutions and provide a stark insight into some of the challenges that are faced.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of early career researchers have considered leaving academia. Mainly due to job insecurity, or limited progression and salary, rather than a loss of interest in research. Around four in five PhD researchers named funding, stipends or the cost of living among their most significant challenges that are faced. For postdocs, the top concern raised was surrounding short-term contracts, particularly a concern for international researchers, where a contract ending can also put their visa at risk.
Dr Sibimol Luke, recent Chair of the UK-HyRES ECR Network says: “Researchers aren’t asking for more training. They want leadership and authorship opportunities, access to funding and a clear route to independence. Right now, there is real inequality in who progresses, and that’s why we need to talk about building fairer, institution-wide support.”
What you’ll hear
Dr Luke will walk through the headline findings from both surveys, including the extra visa, cost and mobility barriers faced by international researchers. She’ll share what researchers say works well, from supportive supervision to leadership opportunities and external networks, and set out recommendations for funders and government, universities, doctoral training programmes and PIs. The session will finish with an open Q&A.