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The pandemic and changes in early career researchers' career prospects, research and publishing practices.
Jamali, Hamid R; Nicholas, David; Sims, David; Watkinson, Anthony; Herman, Eti; Boukacem-Zeghmouri, Cherifa; Rodríguez-Bravo, Blanca; Swigon, Marzena; Abrizah, Abdullah; Xu, Jie; Tenopir, Carol; Allard, Suzie.
  • Jamali HR; School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
  • Nicholas D; CIBER Research, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
  • Sims D; School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America.
  • Watkinson A; CIBER Research, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
  • Herman E; CIBER Research, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
  • Boukacem-Zeghmouri C; Department of Computer Science, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.
  • Rodríguez-Bravo B; Área de Biblioteconomía y Documentación, Universidad de León, León, Spain.
  • Swigon M; Wydzial Humanistyczny, Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski, Olsztyn, Poland.
  • Abrizah A; Department of Library &Information Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Xu J; School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
  • Tenopir C; School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America.
  • Allard S; School of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America.
PLoS One ; 18(2): e0281058, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2241760
ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION:

As part of the Harbnger-2 project, this study aimed to discover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on junior researchers' work-life, career prospects, research and publishing practices and networking.

METHODS:

An online international survey of 800 early career researchers (ECRs) was conducted in 2022. A questionnaire was developed based on three rounds of interviews and distributed using multiple channels including publishers, social media, and direct email to ECRs.

RESULTS:

The impact of the pandemic on career prospects, morale, job security, productivity, ability to network and collaborate, and quality and speed of peer review has on the whole been more negative than positive. A quarter of ECRs shifted their research focus to pandemic-related topics and half of those who did, benefited largely due to increased productivity and impact. The majority worked remotely/from home and more than two-thirds of those who did so benefitted from it. While virtual or hybrid conferences have been embraced by the majority of ECRs, around a third still preferred face-to-face only conferences. The use of library online platforms, Sci-Hub, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and smartphone to search and access full-text papers increased. ECRs prioritised journals with fast submission procedures for the publishing of their papers and spent more time on increasing the visibility of their research. Fees were a problem for publishing open access.

CONCLUSION:

Although, generally, the pandemic negatively impacted many aspects of ECRs' work-life, certain research areas and individuals benefited from being more appreciated and valued, and, in some cases, resulted in increased resources, better productivity and greater impact. Changes, such as the use of digital technologies and remote working created new opportunities for some ECRs. While continuing work flexibility and hybrid conferences might benefit some ECRs, institutions should also take measures to help those ECRs whose career and productivity have been adversely impacted.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0281058

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pandemics / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0281058