European research project on researcher careers

Ever wondered what research staff do when they move out of higher education?

If so, then we would really value your input into a major European research project.

The first phase of the ‘What do research staff do next?’ project is now complete and with over 1900 responses it has been a great success. Initial findings indicate that around  80% of respondents report that they are satisfied with their new careers and we have examples of researchers working in a wide variety of occupations and employment sectors. Further details about the project findings will be available in early 2015.

Vitae, in collaboration with Naturejobs, LERU, Science Europe, The Research Council of Norway and other partners, is now beginning the second phase of the project investigating the career paths of research staff (postdoctoral researcher, research fellow, etc) who left research posts in European Universities or Research Institutes to work in other occupations and employment sectors. 

The project is being conducted through an online survey. The results of the project will provide a valuable resource to aid current and prospective researchers to make well-informed career choices, to support organisations in the careers provision they provide to their researchers, and to help inform future policy-making.

If you know of individuals who have worked as a researcher in a European university or public research institute and has not followed an academic career route, please forward the link to the survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/wdrsdn-E and encourage them to share their #postacstory on Twitter.

The survey is now open and more information about the project is available here. 

Some comments from respondents about the project:

“It's a great initiative. I think it's important to tell a more informed and nuanced story of how and why researchers leave academia: it does not have to be due to lack of options or as a sign of defeat. For me, it was an active choice, which has given me great new career opportunities.”

 “Looking forward to results being public. Know plenty of researchers still in academia anxious that they can't do anything else. I think this will be a great resource for them.”