Challenges Experienced By Early Career Researchers in Africa

Early career researchers (ECRs) can be on a tenure track position or not. Tenured track ECRs can be in the research institutes, universities, polytechnics or colleges. In African universities, the rank of ECRs ranges from assistant lecturers to lecturer or occasionally senior lecturers (in very rare circumstances). ECRs are called postdocs or postdoctoral fellows in developed countries. They are generally inexperienced researchers who require a lot of guidance, support, mentorship and motivation to ascend through difficult and challenging job, requiring the ability to maintain a balance between teaching, research and administrative responsibilities 1. African institutions do not pay much attention to ECRs; as a result, they easily get frustrated and lose interest in the job. Here I will discuss some of the challenges faced by the ECRs in Africa, with a focus on Nigeria.