Postgraduate scientists in Britain have a new national programme devoted to personal and career development. Vitae — the latest incarnation of the UK GRAD Programme — will cater to both postgraduate students and postdocs (often called 'research staff' in Britain), whose needs, notably job security, often get overlooked by government and institutions.
With 4,500 members, Vitae wants to become academia's national policy instrument for research career development, and to get employers and postgrads talking constructively.
It recently released an updated concordat, with seven principles spelling out expectations and responsibilities. These include employers recognizing the need to retain and value good researchers, and researchers sharing the responsibility and taking up lifelong-learning opportunities. Endorsed by funders, universities, professional societies and the European Commission, the concordat is a clear statement that the development of researchers is as important as research output, says Vitae chair Janet Metcalfe. She notes that many currently end up with an unsettling series of two-year contracts.
Researchers' independence deserves attention as well, says John Bothwell, co-founder of the UK National Research Staff Association. Instead of spending five to ten years working on a mentor's ideas, Bothwell suggests that young investigators need targeted funding to develop their own research. Vitae may help such proposals by establishing metrics for fledgling scientists' accomplishments that could be used by funding bodies.
"The most effective thing Vitae could do is encourage postdocs to look up from the lab bench and think about their career direction beyond simply publishing papers," says Bothwell. Vitae's website (www.vitae.ac.uk) has links to interactive tools to assess sector-specific skill competencies as well as discussion forums. Its 2008 programme of events includes three- and four-day courses to help postgraduates learn to manage career choices, and two-day Effective Researcher workshops on project management and leadership skills. Vitae will also host networking days for researchers interested in the drug or biotechnology industries.
"Vitae is one of several ways to ensure that Britain's research infrastructure stays world class, even in the face of competition from places such as China and India," Metcalfe says.