It is a long time since I had any practical concerns with this issue, but some funding bodies are more flexible than others. Welcome gives project grants then leaves it up to the recipient to hire and plan. And I guess the big research institutes like the crick and lmb have similar systems. It is obvious that this approach is much more productive than the shorter term grants - is there any mileage in someone doing a survey of “outcomes”(horrible word) and pointing out that productivity increases with more security? And as for the national scandal of milking money fir visas from those who come here from abroad - already saving us from the cost of their education - I don’t know what to say! Eleanor
On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 07:11, Frank von Delft <frank.vonde...@cmd.ox.ac.uk> wrote: > For me as hiring PI, what's repeatedly dismaying is that it's our funders > and universities that set the terms, and only with extreme creativity can > one shift the dial, and only on indidual recruitments, certainly not the > high politics of the system as a whole. > > No, I don't know what will break this - it exploits our fundamental > weakness, that we go into science because we *want* to do it, and are > already investiging all our energy at convincing a system that something > else is worth doing (getting our mad science funded at all) -- so things > like collective striking or unionising don't really come naturally. > > I do hope the next wave of scientists (am I that old already?) have some > aggressively constructive thoughts, because mine and the one before mine > sure don't. > > > Frank > > > > On 20/01/2021 23:38, Navdeep Sidhu wrote: > > Dear Gerlind, Markus, All: > > Well, sometimes the (written) promise of a 2-year contract also ends up > boiling down systematically (for some PIs) to only a 6-month contract > after all.--And that after you've spent half a year or more and multiple > trips to the country concerned trying to get a work visa and housing, > all at your own expense--particularly tough for migrants and their families: > > "Many come here with a promise of a two-year contract, which later turns > out to be a six month scholarship, which is renewed six months at a > time. Many feel that they have been fooled." > - From Palle Liljebaeck. "Postdoctoral fellows at KI must be given > better terms." Naturvetarna (Sweden), Nov. 7, > 2013<https://www.naturvetarna.se/vi-erbjuder/tidning-och-nyheter/2013/nr-4-2013/Postdoctoral-fellows-at-KI-must-be-given-better-terms/> > > <https://www.naturvetarna.se/vi-erbjuder/tidning-och-nyheter/2013/nr-4-2013/Postdoctoral-fellows-at-KI-must-be-given-better-terms/>. > > (By the way, work contracts often entail health, pension and other > benefits which may be limited or unavailable on a scholarship.) > > Fortunately, many PIs don't agree with such practices. But they do > occur, including unfortunately for jobs advertized on the CCP4 bulletin > board--and so perhaps the IUCr or other institutions can help set better > standards. > > Cheers, > Navdeep > > > --- > On 20.01.21 22:34, Gerlind Sulzenbacher wrote: > > Dear Markus, > > thank you for opening this discussion. > > I'd like to add that in some countries, like France, where I work, this > goes often along with with 12 months contracts. > Imagine moving continent, eventually with family (yes, PostDocs happen > to have a family) just for a 12 months contract, under the conditions > you mentioned. > Sad, as you said, ... and I am quite sure that it has not always been > like that. > I wish all members of the BB a good mood, > Best, > gerlind > > > On 20/01/2021 21:48, Markus Heckmann wrote: > > Dear PI s, and senior scientists' involved in recruitment, > > Why do so many (especially postdoc) positions these days indicate: > > > Readiness for high workload > able to work independently but also effectively and collaboratively > with other lab member > Candidates should have a documented publication record in > peer-reviewed journals, able to work both independently and as an > effective team member. > > Do the candidates need to subtly understand that they need to work on > weekends or holidays? And what does it mean by independently and > collaboratively at the same time. Or is this a template from HR > departments. > > Was it always like this in science world or we too need to work like > amazon warehouse workers (you can google it and see the pain)? > > Saddened... > > Mark > (not trying to point out any single PI/person but overall it is the > same words repeated...) > > > > > We are opening a new position for an upcoming European project. > > *We are looking for an expert in scientific programming with > experience in > scientific data processing for a European project focused on > Standards for > Data Archival and Exploitation. * > > Job description: > > We offer attractive work connected to development of data management > infrastructure for biophysical data in the frame of an international > project at the Institute of Biotechnology in the centre of excellence > Biocev. The main responsibility lies in definition of data standards and > models for biophysical data, development of algorithms, design of user > interface, and realization of a pilot database of biophysical data. The > person is expected to actively participate in multilateral international > negotiations, to drive the tasks fulfillment in collaboration with the > local international partners, and to present the results. > > > Dear all, > > Two postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. > Pengxiang > Huang, Assistant Professor and CPRIT scholar in cancer research in the > Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of > Medicine. > With the long-standing interest in sterol lipids, the Huang lab > investigates > the poorly understood mechanisms involved in Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt > signal > transduction, two related pathways that play critical roles in > development, > regeneration and cancer. We utilize a combination of biochemistry, cell, > chemical and structural biology approaches, including both X-ray > crystallography and Cryo-EM. Our recent work identified cholesterol > as the > endogenous ligand for Smoothened, the key signal transduer and > oncoprotein > in the Hh pathway (Cell. 166:1176-87). We also characterized the > structural > and oncogenic basis of Smoothened activation, demonstrating for the > first > time the active conformation of a class F GPCR (Cell. 174:312-24). The > highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment of our group will > thus provide unique career development opportunities for future > postdoctoral > trainees. > > We are seeking highly-motivated candidates with a Ph.D. in biomedical > sciences and significant experience in molecular biology, protein > biochemistry and/or cell biology. Prior knowledge in structural biology > (X-ray crystallography or Cryo-EM) is highly desirable, but not > required. > Candidates should have a documented publication record in peer-reviewed > journals, able to work both independently and as an effective team > member. > > To apply, please send your CV, a short summary of research > experience, and > three reference letters to cnssolve[at]gmail.com. > > > collaborative research environment focused on structural/molecular > mechanism > of broadly neutralizing antibodies specific to MPER segment of the gp41 > subunit in membrane environments, its implication to immunogen design > and > immunogenicity. The laboratory provides a rich training environment and > access to cutting-edge techniques. > > Highly-motivated candidates with a recent PhD or MD/PhD in biomedical > sciences and significant experience in molecular biology and > biochemistry > are encouraged to apply. Skills in molecular biology, biochemistry and > extensive biomolecular NMR experience are essential. Candidates > should have > a documented publication record in peer-reviewed journals. We are > seeking a > candidate with excellent writing and communication skills, able to work > independently but also effectively and collaboratively with other lab > members. Applicants should include a short statement of research > goals, CV > and three references with their application. > > > ######################################################################## > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following > link:https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 > > This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a > mailing list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are > available at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ > > ######################################################################## > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following > link:https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 > > This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a mailing > list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are available at > https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ > > > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: > https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 > ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the CCP4BB list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/WA-JISC.exe?SUBED1=CCP4BB&A=1 This message was issued to members of www.jiscmail.ac.uk/CCP4BB, a mailing list hosted by www.jiscmail.ac.uk, terms & conditions are available at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/
