Re-Imagining Post-PhD Research Careers
Post-PhD research careers are in need of a major overhaul. While Postdoctoral researchers’ labor has become indispensable to the advancement of public knowledge, postdoc positions across the US are insecure, undercompensated, and vulnerable to high rates of harassment and discrimination. After decades of increasing reliance on short-term research positions under the guise of additional training, the academic career pipeline is broken. It’s time to re-envision the role of early-career research positions in the academic landscape. While we welcome efforts by the National Institute of Health to address these issues, it is important to recognize that the greatest gains for early-career researchers have been achieved when we have a seat at the table.
In order to continue to advance the NIH’s public mission, we, the undersigned, invite the NIH to join us in making scientific research careers fair and equitable by:
Creating stable and sustainable careers in academia
Research workers need competitive compensation and benefits (healthcare, retirement, caregiving leave & support), and concrete support to develop stable careers in research for the public good. We call on the NIH to create funding opportunities to invest in stable careers beyond term-limited Postdoc appointments.
Committing to an equitable and accessible academia
Publicly-funded research should be undertaken by workers reflecting the diversity of the public they serve. We call on the NIH to develop grant and career pathways for international researchers; set basic standards for grant-funded institutions to protect researchers against discrimination, bullying, and harassment; support parents and caregivers; guarantee accommodations for disabled workers; and respect workers’ right to free speech, inquiry, and expression.
As a public institution, the NIH has a crucial role to play in ensuring researchers have a say over their working conditions. We call on the NIH to require employers to remain neutral when workers decide to form a union and to engage in collective bargaining without delay and in good faith as a condition of receiving federal funding.