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Precarious postdocs: A comparative study on recruitment and selection of early-career researchers

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  • Herschberg, Channah
  • Benschop, Yvonne
  • van den Brink, Marieke

Abstract

This paper investigates how the recruitment and selection for project-based postdoc positions are organised in the current academic landscape characterised by increasing temporary research funding and how principal investigators construct the ‘ideal’ postdoc. Our findings are based on a qualitative comparative multiple-case study in Social and Natural Sciences departments of universities in four European countries. This study contributes to the literature on the neoliberal university and academic staff evaluation by using a systemic, power-sensitive approach that examines how postdocs enter the academic system and how manifestations of precarity are exacerbated. Our critical analysis reveals three manifestations of precarity that the current academic system creates for postdocs, related to control, contracts, and careers. We discuss the effects for individual postdocs and their careers and the quality of knowledge production in public funded higher education institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Herschberg, Channah & Benschop, Yvonne & van den Brink, Marieke, 2018. "Precarious postdocs: A comparative study on recruitment and selection of early-career researchers," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 303-310.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:scaman:v:34:y:2018:i:4:p:303-310
    DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2018.10.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Maria Górska & Karolina Kulicka & Zuzanna Staniszewska & Dorota Dobija, 2021. "Deepening inequalities: What did COVID‐19 reveal about the gendered nature of academic work?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 1546-1561, July.
    2. Ilenia Picardi, 2019. "The Glass Door of Academia: Unveiling New Gendered Bias in Academic Recruitment," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Dominik Emanuel Froehlich, 2021. "Career Networks in Shock: An Agenda for in-COVID/Post-COVID Career-Related Social Capital," Merits, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-10, November.
    4. Jia Song & Zunwei Yang, 2023. "Striving Transition for University Academics: The Academic Role Identity of Young Postdocs at Universities in China," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.
    5. Anke Strauβ & Ilaria Boncori, 2020. "Foreign women in academia: Double‐strangers between productivity, marginalization and resistance," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(6), pages 1004-1019, November.

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