Introduction

Due to the financial organization of academic research, which is for a large share funded on a temporary and project-basis, junior academics find themselves increasingly in precarious situations. In this paper, we are presenting the aggregated experiences of 676 postdoctoral researchers in the Netherlands. Our first analysis (Van der Weijden & Teelken, 2023), based on quantitative analysis, demonstrated high stress levels, and serious mental health problems due to their lack of academic career prospects, the publication and grant pressure, work-life imbalance, and lack of institutional support.

 The meaningful findings of our first analysis and the substantial data provided, stimulated us to carry out a secondary data analysis, by using a more open and exploratory approach. In this second investigation, we are taken a closer look at the explanations provided by the respondents, which we have analyzed in a qualitative manner. This approach helped us to distinguish the various discourses. Our research provides a more nuanced, but no less alarming picture of the current situation of early career academics in the Netherlands.

Research Context: Postdocs trends in the Netherlands

Postdocs are employed and have a temporary contract with their university, University Medical Center or research institutes in the Netherlands. A postdoc is not an official position described in the Dutch university collective labour agreement (UFO), but they are part of the group “other academic staff,” including lecturers and other researchers on temporary contracts. (van der Weijden et al, 2016).

The number of postdocs employed by Dutch universities was 2,146 fte in 2005. In 2021, this number had grown to 3,810 fte (Rathenau Instituut, 2023a). The proportion of female postdocs rose from 34% in 2005 to 41% in 2021, with the share of non-Dutch postdocs increasing from 46% in 2006 to 67% in 2021 (Rathenau Instituut, 2023a). For a researcher recently awarded a doctorate, a postdoc position provides an opportunity to stay and perhaps to advance in academia. However, the academic job market is highly dynamic. More than one in four leave every year, with only a relatively small proportion (18%) moving to a more senior position in the university (Rathenau Instituut, 2023b).

Research methods: We distributed the questionnaire with help of the staff at the department of Human Resources at 9 out of 14 Dutch research-oriented universities, amongst all disciplines. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. A sample of 676 postdocs, 51% male, 48% female and 1% gender neutral, responded to the questionnaire. The average age of the respondents was 34 years, with on average 31 months as postdoc experience. 46% had the Dutch nationality, and 54% were international postdocs from different countries. 32% of the respondents had children. Postdocs worked in different fields: distributed amongst the natural sciences (31%, including agricultural sciences), social sciences & humanities (30%), medical and health sciences (21%), engineering and technology (17%). Nearly all respondents (97%) obtained their PhD between 2009 and 2019. The quantitative findings of the data are already published (Van der Weijden & Teelken, 2023), reporting high stress levels amongst the respondents. In addition to the closed questions, several open questions were part of the survey, and these supplied a lot of material for further analyses. 372 respondents provided 3049 pieces of text al together, some of substantial lengths, up to about 200 words. With help of a research assistant, we transferred the data from SSPS towards Atlas.ti and coded these responses as openly as possible, which, after some rearranging of codes, resulted into 189 codes (e.g. academic work climate, support from supervisor), which were subsequently merged into 6 code groups.

Findings In general, we discovered that the employment situation of the postdocs is more diverse than expected. 38 respondents of our sample mentioned that they already have permanent contract, at least parttime or have clear prospect for such a position. 1) The Postdocs’ Passions The postdoc’s satisfaction with their work: these sources involve the content of work, the supportive atmosphere provided by their supervisors and direct colleagues. It is remarkable to see how passionate the postdocs are about their work (mentioned 28 times), they generally love science and love doing research. Several mention that they enjoy working hard (7 times). They state that they feel priviledged to do their curiosity driven work which is ‘interesting and fun’, and they are rewarded with ‘incredible energy and motivation (#297)’ from their work which is often mentally refreshing (#275). Second source of satisfaction involves the supportive atmosphere experienced by the respondents, in terms of good relations with colleagues and supervisors. 2) (Lack of) Work-Life Balance Seventynine of the respondents mentioned explicitly that their personal life is being affected by their work as a postdoc. They feel a direct effect on their personal life, for example would have liked more time for their children, or are unable to buy a house. 3) Dark side of Academia A substantial group of responses (161) involved a (very) negative experience. Major sources of dissatisfaction involved the lack of perspectives, the extensive amount of work pressure, especially the pressure to obtain grants and (high impact) publications is mentioned by 28 respondents. Other categories of difficulties arise from the large variety of tasks postdocs have to perform, the lack of transparency of selection procedures (27 times), nepotism (16 times) and manipulation are also mentioned as features of the academic culture.

References •Rathenau Instituut (2023a). “Postdocs”. Factsheet. Sciences in Figures. https://www.rathenau.nl/en/science-figures/personnel/university-staff/postdocs •Rathenau Instituut (2023b). “Academic careers of researchers”. Factsheet. Science in Figures. https://www.rathenau.nl/en/science-figures/personnel/university-staff/academic-careers-researchers •Teelken, C., and I. van der Weijden. 2018. “The employment situations and career prospects of postdoctoral researchers”. Employee Relations 40 (2): 396-411. doi.org/10.1108/ER-12-2016-0241 •Teelken, C., and I. van der Weijden. 2020. “Precarious careers: postdoctoral researchers in the Netherlands”. EUA Council for Doctoral Education. https://www.eua-cde.org/the-doctoral-debate/159:precarious-careers-postdoctoral-researchers-in-the-netherlands.html •Inge van der Weijden & Christine Teelken (2023) Precarious careers: postdoctoral researchers and wellbeing at work, Studies in Higher Education, 48:10, 1595-1607, DOI: 10.1080/03075079.2023.2253833