Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Career Challenges for Young Independent Researchers in India


Affiliations
1 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bengaluru 560 065, India
2 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Mohali 140 306, India
3 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151 401, India
4 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
5 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi 110 067, India
6 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Institute of Chemical Technology, NM Parikh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019, India
7 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751 013, India
8 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda 151 001, India
9 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Kashmir 190 015, India
10 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad 502 284, India
11 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur 711 103, India
12 Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh 160 030, India
 

The scientific enterprise in India has grown dramatically in the past few decades, with research emerging as a viable and important career option for students of science. The country thus has a large population of young scientists in the early stages of establishing their independent research careers. While this demographic is arguably the most important group that will determine the future of scientific research in India, their status and concerns are poorly understood. The Indian National Young Academy of Sciences conducted a national survey to better understand and present the challenges faced by them. Through a structured questionnaire, we sought the views of researchers below 45 years of age. Here, we summarize the responses from 854 participants across multiple early career stages. We highlight key challenges faced by these scientists in establishing an independent research career, and suggest steps to address them.

Keywords

Academia, Career Opportunities, Challenges, Scientific Enterprise, STEM, Young Researchers.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Funk, C., Tyson, A., Kennedy, B. and Johnson, C., Science and scientists held in high esteem across global publics. Pew Research Center, 2020, pp. 1–133.

  • https://www.pewresearch.org/science/fact-sheet/public-views-about-science-in-india/ (accessed on 25 April 2021).

  • DST, Research and Development Statistics at a Glance 2019–20, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (GoI), 2019; https://dst.gov.in/document/reports/research-develop-ment-statistics-glance-2019-20 (accessed on 2 May 2021).

  • Pain, E., An emerging global picture of early-career scientists. Sci. Careers, 2014, 3–21.

  • Costanguay, S., Early career scientists. World Meteorol. Organ. Bull., 2014, 63(2); https://public.wmo.int/en/resources/bulletin/early-career-scientists 6. Jayaram, K. S. and Priyadarshini, S., Indian scientists concerned over funding crisis. Nature India, 2018.

  • Lowe, D., India’s research culture. Sci. Transl. Med., 2010; https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2010/05/26/indias_research_culture

  • Raman, C. V., Transforming science and technology in India. Econ. Surv., 2017, 18, 119–130.

  • Powell, K., How junior scientists can land a seat at the leadership table. Nature, 2021, 592, 475–477.

  • Grover, P., Being highly educated doesn’t guarantee you jobs in India anymore. ThePrint, 2018; https://theprint.in/india/gover-nance/being-highly-educated-doesnt-guarantee-you-jobs-in-india-anymore/125011/

  • Shrivastava, A., Abraham, R. and Basole, A., What do household surveys reveal about employment in India since 2016? State of Work-ing India 2019, Centre for Sustainable Employment Report, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, 2019, pp. 21–36; https://cse.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/state-of-working-india/

  • Aboelela, S. W. et al., Defining interdisciplinary research: conclu-sions from a critical review of the literature. Health Serv. Res., 2007, 42, 329–346.

  • Bililign, S., The need for interdisciplinary research and education for sustainable human development to deal with global challenges. Int. J. Afr. Dev., 2013, 1, 82–90.

  • Brown, R., Werbeloff, L. and Raven, R., Interdisciplinary research and impact (global challenges 4/2019). Global Challenges, 2019, 3, 1900020.

  • Carr, G., Loucks, D. P. and Blöschl, G., Gaining insight into inter-disciplinary research and education programmes: a framework for evaluation. Res. Policy, 2018, 47, 35–48.

  • Kumar, N., Gender and science in India. Indian Sci. Technol., 2008; https://nistads.res.in/all-html/Gender%20and%20Science%-20in%20India.html

  • DST, Evaluating and enhancing women’s participation in scientific and technological research: the Indian initiatives. Report of the National Task Force for Women in Science, Department of Sci-ence and Technology, GoI; https://www.insaindia.res.in/pdf/ws_anx_1a.pdf

  • DST, Women scientists scheme. Department of Science and Tech-nology, GoI; http://online-wosa.gov.in/wosa (accessed on 30 May 2021).

  • Powell, K., The parenting penalties faced by scientist mothers. Nature, 2021, 595(7868), 611–613.

  • GoI, The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, Registered no. DL-(N) 04/0007/2003-17; http://labour.gov.in


Abstract Views: 358

PDF Views: 130




  • Career Challenges for Young Independent Researchers in India

Abstract Views: 358  |  PDF Views: 130

Authors

Deepa Agashe
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Bengaluru 560 065, India
Sugandha Maheshwary
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Mohali 140 306, India
Jitendra Kumar Pattanaik
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151 401, India
Jai Prakash
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
Pragya Bhatt
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi 110 067, India
S. S. Arya
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Institute of Chemical Technology, NM Parikh Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019, India
Sriparna Chatterjee
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751 013, India
Pankaj Kumar
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi 110 067, India
Paramdeep Singh
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda 151 001, India
Nazia Abbas
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Kashmir 190 015, India
Chandra Shekhar Sharma
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad 502 284, India
Chirasree Roy Chaudhuri
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur 711 103, India
Pooja Devi
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences, New Delhi 110 002; CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh 160 030, India

Abstract


The scientific enterprise in India has grown dramatically in the past few decades, with research emerging as a viable and important career option for students of science. The country thus has a large population of young scientists in the early stages of establishing their independent research careers. While this demographic is arguably the most important group that will determine the future of scientific research in India, their status and concerns are poorly understood. The Indian National Young Academy of Sciences conducted a national survey to better understand and present the challenges faced by them. Through a structured questionnaire, we sought the views of researchers below 45 years of age. Here, we summarize the responses from 854 participants across multiple early career stages. We highlight key challenges faced by these scientists in establishing an independent research career, and suggest steps to address them.

Keywords


Academia, Career Opportunities, Challenges, Scientific Enterprise, STEM, Young Researchers.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv122%2Fi2%2F135-143