Halmos Faculty Publishes Nature Article: Evolving Postdocs Important to Academics
Postdoctoral scholars comprise an invaluable component of global research communities, yet their support and training systems are poorly aligned with today’s job market. These issues are widely discussed in academia and in lengthy reports and op-eds; still, there is glaring lack of succinct, data-driven publications that provide clear and feasible corrective steps.
To address this deficiency, a team of 13 current and former Michigan State University (MSU) postdoctoral researchers co-authored the paper entitled “Academic ecosystems must evolve to support a sustainable postdoc workforce”. It was published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution and outlines strategic reforms to better support the world’s growing postdoctoral workforce.
“The project sprang from several informal meetings among the study co-authors during overlapping postdoctoral appointments,” said Eben Gering, Ph.D. a former MSU postdoctoral researcher who is now an assistant professor in Halmos College and senior author of the paper. “From there, it continued to gain momentum as interest grew around the issue.”
Following intensive analyses of relevant literature, data and personal experiences, the group identified five overarching goals:
- Align career development with job markets
- Sustain wellness and work-life balance
- Enhance mentoring
- Develop administrative support
- Increase broader support.
To achieve these goals, the group recommended progressive changes that target levels of organization ranging from principle investigators to broader communities that fund and support postdoctoral positions.
About half of the paper’s co-authors have moved on to diverse jobs around the globe. According to the team, the publication’s fruition illustrates two important points.
First, all stakeholders in postdoctoral success (including postdocs themselves) can advocate for reform to enhance the quality and productivity of shared workplaces.
Second, the authors note, progressive aspects of their home institutions ultimately facilitated their success in a collaborative research and writing process.
In addition to facilitating a high-profile publication, the supportive climate appears to have fostered an enduring network of interdisciplinary scholars. The team recently met again on Zoom to toast the final acceptance of the manuscript.