Unleashing the Power of Postdocs

Postdoctoral researchers are at the heart of university research. This highly motivated and talented group are ambitious and passionate about research and keen to develop an academic career. Very few achieve this call and far too many end up suffering with mental health issues, feeling used by a system where others benefit most from their efforts and that by not becoming an academic they have somehow failed. For the academy to thrive and diversify this culture has to change, and evidence is clear that investing in the training, culture and opportunities for postdoctoral researchers will yield extraordinary rewards, not only for those researchers, but for their academic managers, departments and institutions. Training, inclusion and the opportunity to develop independence are all highly valued by postdoctoral researchers but there is also a need for research funders to look at how they can be major facilitators of change.