Opportunities and Outcomes for Postdocs in Canada

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges faced by postdoctoral researchers in Canada and proposes policy recommendations to improve employment conditions, access to funding, and sustainable hiring practices for an inclusive research community.

Contribution

It introduces specific policy recommendations aimed at reforming postdoc employment, funding access, and institutional support in Canadian astronomy research.

Findings

Postdocs face employment precarity and low benefits.

Revised hiring practices can improve inclusivity.

Supporting grants and sustainable positions benefits the research community.

Abstract

Currently, postdoctoral fellow (PDF) researchers in Canada face challenges due to the precarious nature of their employment and their overall low compensation and benefits coverage. This report presents three themes, written as statements of need, to support an inclusive and thriving PDF community. These themes are the need for better terms of employment and conditions, the need for access to grants by non-permanent research staff, and the need for a sustainable PDF hiring model that considers the outcomes for the PDFs. We make six recommendations: R1. PDFs should be hired and compensated as skilled experts in their areas, not as trainees. R2. Standard PDF hiring practices should be revised to be more inclusive of different life circumstances. - R2.1 Allow PDFs the option of part-time employment. - R2.2 Remove years-since-PhD time limits from PDF jobs. - R2.3 Financially support PDF hires for relocation and visa expenses. R3. CASCA should form a committee to advocate for and provide support to astronomy PDFs in Canada. R4. CASCA should encourage universities to create offices dedicated to their PDFs. R5. PDFs and other PhD-holding term researchers with a host institution should be able to compete for and win grants to self-fund their own research. R6. Astronomy in Canada should hire general-purpose continuing support scientist positions instead of term PDFs to fill project or mission-specific requirements. In short, we ask for prioritization of people over production of papers.