AbstractAs early-career researchers (ECRs), we are often faced with the question of what is next in line for us. After a long hiatus and focusing time and energy single-handedly on the PhD project, what one could do next can be disconcerting. Most PhD graduates often end up with financial and job insecurities, navigating entirely on their own the challenges pertaining to casual academic jobs, exploitative work environments and sludge work. ECRs tend to accept whatever work seems available, often times unrelated to their own research and practice.In this session, we want to invite ECRs and PhD candidates in the last stages of their candidature to come and reflect upon their expectations and experiences of post-PhD years to explore what is the current reality most of us face and what we may be able to do about it. In a way, we want to encourage conversation around the diverse economy of ECRs. How can we adopt a strength-based, reflexive approach as we deliberate and act towards our next moves? And what kind of possibilities may we want to generate together at CERN?
Some questions for discussion:- Where ECRs are currently in their journey and how are they using (or not) CERN scholarship in their work? - What kind of job options and opportunities are available after graduation? What are the hurdles and challenges in availing these opportunities? - What kind of collaborative strategies could we devise at CERN to create a supportive and generative network of ECRs who are CERN members? For example: Quarterly zoom meet ups for sharing our experiences, circulating job vacancies and research fellowships, co-authoring, doing skill training and networking workshops etc.
