REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH. As young researchers, it is beneficial to be able to think outside the box. This was the recurring theme during Future Faculty’s anniversary seminar. Several speakers mentioned that development moves slowly in the world of university – the queries that were topical when the organization was created ten years ago are just as relevant today.
Future Faculty wants to see clearer career paths for researchers without permanent employment. This was the first contribution when the organization was officially created in January 2006, and it is also the central issue for Future Faculty today. Vice-chancellor Pam Fredman, who in her role as Dean of the Sahlgrenska Academy supported the creation of what is now known as Junior Faculty, gave an introductory speech at the anniversary event. Creating better opportunities for researchers to create a career path is something she holds dear, but she said that the situation has not changed much since 2007.
“The Swedish Research Council [VR] invested in research assistant roles, and many people initially got the wrong impression that these would lead to permanent employment.” Researchers who got these roles were disappointed when this was not the case, as Pam recalled:
“In these ten years past, we have not found a solution that provides better opportunities for researchers to gain a foothold in the industry, and the situation actually seems to have worsened. We must achieve a career path, and I will fight for a tenure option, where someone can get a temporary job as an assistant professor which is then converted into a permanent position, provided that the clear and transparent conditions are met.”
Want to see creation of more similar networks
The Sahlgrenska Academy is currently the only faculty at the University of Gothenburg that has an established Future Faculty, but it is hoped that the Science faculty will be next, as it has plans to create a similar organization. Pam Fredman emphasizes that Future Faculty has a key role to play, and that she would like to see more faculties creating similar networks for researchers.
“It is, of course, you who can give us the true picture of what the reality is like among researchers who have not yet got permanent positions or the opportunity to establish themselves as an independent researcher. If you do get a change in employment, you have to organize yourselves together with other universities, so that questions can be raised at the national level,” was Pam’s message.
Marie Kalm, until recently co-chair of Future Faculty, responded that an umbrella organization similar to that which Pam was requesting, the National Junior Faculty, was founded a few years ago.
For its tenth anniversary, Future Faculty had invited a number of previous chairpersons who gave stories of their experiences and also provided an insight into the paths of their own academic careers. Several of these past chairs showed how they had changed direction, either in their research or by investing more energy on administrative and organizational tasks.
Alexandra Krettek, who in 2007 was involved and created the Junior Faculty, has made a complete U-turn in her research. 13 years after defending her Doctoral thesis, she still had no permanent role, but got a lectureship in public health at the Nordic School of Public Health NHV. The job involved her moving from the laboratory environment towards a population perspective. She also chose to get involved in several assignments at her new university.
“I want to encourage you not to be too narrow-minded and just fixate on your own research. There are many other experiences that will be useful to you in the future. Find those additional details to help you move forward,” she said in part of her speech.
New forces are beginning
For the last few years, Future Faculty has been governed by a pair of chairpersons, so that the role is not too time-consuming for any one individual. When Marie Kalm finishes her two years as chair, Cecilia Bull will take over from her.
Previous career paths will also continue to be a key question for Future Faculty, confirms Cecilia Bull, researcher at the Institute of Sciences:
“We want to try and predict the needs which will arise for employees over time, when they move forward in their career, and give suggestions on how academia can meet these needs.”
Future Faculty will also help its members to find their way in the labor market, by providing information on the opportunities available within the university, within the industry and in the region.
“Another exciting proposal we are running at Future Faculty is the creation of a network of PhD ‘coaches’ who PhD students can turn to during research for support and advice, in respect of queries related directly to the project and also other issues,” explains Cecilia Bull.
On several occasions, Future Faculty has mapped the employment situation at Sahlgrenska Academy through surveys sent out to members – the most recent was about equality at the Academy. The surveys are used as the basis for change proposals and may also be published in scientific journals so that everyone can benefit from the results.
Regular meetings with management
Membership in Future Faculty is free of charge and requires no commitment from the member’s side. It is easy to become a member by sending a email tofuturefaculty@sahlgrenska.gu.se.
Future Faculty works both locally and at the national level to highlight issues affecting young researchers. At Medicinareberget, the organization has regular meetings with faculty management, and organizes several seminars on how to write a good application, how to improve a CV and other things that are good for those who want to establish an academic career. The seminars also create networks between young researchers in different parts of the Academy.
Read more about the Future Faculty at the Sahlgrenska Academy here: http://sahlgrenska.gu.se/english/research/future_faculty
Read more about the National Junior Faculty here: http://www.nationaljf.se/
TEXT AND IMAGES: ELIN LINDSTRÖM CLAESSEN
