UKNPAW
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
"Early career research staff, commonly known as Postdocs, are vital to the success of
research and innovation in UK universities. They deliver the research funded by grants
and ensure research is of maximum benefit to society. Postdocs plan, carry out, and
analyse a wide range of research across all subject areas; share findings through
research papers, research conferences, media and public engagement events. They are
also crucial to the wider activity in universities, developing knowledge and research skills
of students. All this whilst navigating short-term contracts and career uncertainties,
despite being highly trained, and the majority educated to PhD level. Without postdocs we would not have research impact, but their hard work often goes under the radar. The initiative in this nomination, ‘Postdoc Appreciation Week’ (PAW), is about raising awareness and celebrating the contribution this community makes to university life and wider society. However, whether a postdoc gets celebrated is highly dependent on their institutional funding, and whether they have circumstances that preclude participation. Therefore, the UK National Postdoc Appreciation Week (UKNPAW) flagship event, an online, free and recorded event, was created to ensure all postdocs, regardless of their background, personal circumstances, employment, etc.,gets to enjoy an uplifting event that is also useful. It helps researchers recognise their valuable contribution, and raises awareness amongst other groups, including university staff and students. Since 2020, around 1000 postdocs have attended these events live; recordings created as watch-on-demand resources for researchers who missed the live events also attracted over 840 views."
research and innovation in UK universities. They deliver the research funded by grants
and ensure research is of maximum benefit to society. Postdocs plan, carry out, and
analyse a wide range of research across all subject areas; share findings through
research papers, research conferences, media and public engagement events. They are
also crucial to the wider activity in universities, developing knowledge and research skills
of students. All this whilst navigating short-term contracts and career uncertainties,
despite being highly trained, and the majority educated to PhD level. Without postdocs we would not have research impact, but their hard work often goes under the radar. The initiative in this nomination, ‘Postdoc Appreciation Week’ (PAW), is about raising awareness and celebrating the contribution this community makes to university life and wider society. However, whether a postdoc gets celebrated is highly dependent on their institutional funding, and whether they have circumstances that preclude participation. Therefore, the UK National Postdoc Appreciation Week (UKNPAW) flagship event, an online, free and recorded event, was created to ensure all postdocs, regardless of their background, personal circumstances, employment, etc.,gets to enjoy an uplifting event that is also useful. It helps researchers recognise their valuable contribution, and raises awareness amongst other groups, including university staff and students. Since 2020, around 1000 postdocs have attended these events live; recordings created as watch-on-demand resources for researchers who missed the live events also attracted over 840 views."
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Joan Chang (Principal Investigator) |