There are already activities aimed at supporting junior researchers in their careers, both within and outside the University, but the range varies a great deal between faculties. The Faculty of Medicine’s active careers centre has served as a model for the new central concept, which is open to everyone, unlike previous initiatives that were intended for smaller groups and seldom for doctoral students.
“It is high time for a careers concept aimed at the vast majority and of course in English, as many postdocs and doctoral students have English as their working language”, says Åsa Thormählen, an international coordinator working on career development at LU’s Human Resources.

Common web page and new workshops

Thormählen has now gathered together existing activities for doctoral students, postdocs and research team leaders on the LU Staff Pages, under the heading Career development for academic staff. Funding for the next four years comes from the transition fund for which the University sets money aside every year. New workshops and seminars have also been added, such as “Academic productivity and stress management” (see related article below).
“There are several new activities, including a seminar series about how to use one’s academic qualifications towards a career outside academia”, says Åsa Thormählen.
Lunch seminars will also be organised on various themes. The first of these will be about the ethical risks associated with co-authorship, with reference to the Macchiarini affair.

• More information can be found under “Career development for academic staff”.