Funding shortages could force out early and mid career researchers

Funding shortages caused by the coronavirus could decimate the ranks of early and mid career researchers.

Funding shortages caused by COVID could force a mass exodus of early and mid career researchers.

A “mass exodus” of early- and mid-career researchers that will weaken the national science effort will be the consequence of the COVID-19 crisis unless they receive immediate assistance, an Australian Academy of Science forum has warned.

A survey of 333 of the next generation of research leaders has found they are doing it tough, with their mental health straining under the combined weight of insecure employment, increased duties as caregivers and a perceived loss of career prospects.

The early- and mid-career researcher (EMCR) forum is calling on the federal government to extend the JobKeeper allowance to the university sector and to other employers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields currently ineligible.

The findings coincide with the release of a survey of 1000 scientists and researchers by Professional Scientists Australia and Science & Technology Australia showing that while about 60 per cent believed Australians now rated science and scientists more highly, employment and conditions have taken a hit.

About 5 per cent have taken pay cuts and 10 per cent have lost hours of paid work because of the crisis. The May survey, conducted before universities announced major job losses, showed 0.9 per cent had lost their jobs, 2.9 per cent had not had contracts renewed and 0.9 per cent had been stood down without pay.

Michael Bowen, who chairs the academy forum, said the researchers were “the lifeblood of Australia’s STEM sector” and “critical to our nation’s current and future prosperity”.

“It is essential that government, employers and funding bodies work together to prevent the loss of a generation of EMCRs and irreparable damage to the sector,” he said.

A forum deputy chair, Vanessa Wong, predicted “a mass exodus”, leading to “a substantial brain drain and lost future capacity and capability to provide solutions to future challenges, such as the next pandemic.” With research activities being displaced by more teaching and administration responsibilities, there is also concern about how universities can fairly evaluate candidates for promotion.

Female researchers with caring responsibilities and those who reduced their working hours were most affected by the pandemic, backing up the findings of a May report from the Rapid Research Information Forum.

Of respondents, 89 per cent said the crisis had disrupted the way they work, with the principal problems identified as the loss of opportunities to attend conferences and to undertake international and interstate research, as well as the inability to do laboratory work and to travel to collect data.

More than 80 per cent had been forced to work at home and felt the combination of changes to their working arrangements had rendered them less productive.

The forum also recommended that government formally monitor the impacts of COVID-19 on these researchers to help develop policies and programs that mitigate potential attrition and pay special attention to its impact on equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM.