Young scientists: money needs to be added now
Due to the corona crisis, many young scientists on temporary contracts are unable to complete their research on time. In an urgent letter, they ask Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven for a support package of 350 million euros with which they can extend their appointment.
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Enough is enough, write the PhD candidates Network Netherlands, PostdocNL and De Jonge Akademie to the minister. The corona crisis has left many young scientists with their backs to the wall: their experiments fail, data are inaccessible, subjects are inaccessible and fieldwork is stopped
They give some anonymous examples. For example, PhD candidate 'Stefanie' was to conduct an experiment at the beginning of this year, until her laboratory had to close due to the lockdown. Doctor researcher 'Rachid' suddenly could not collect new patient data, because regular care was at a standstill. And also postdoc 'Lisa', who is in California thanks to a grant, was unable to perform any measurements this spring. Now her scholarship money is running out and her project has not yet been completed.
Stuck
In short: it is inevitable that research will be delayed. Scientists with a temporary contract, such as PhD students and postdocs, are particularly affected by this. After all, they have to complete their projects in a limited time frame.
Without extra money, a lost generation of researchers threatens to emerge in the Netherlands
On behalf of the Young Academies of all Dutch universities, the letter writers are therefore asking Minister Van Engelshoven for a continuity package of 350 million euros. The amount is based on calculations by the VSNU university association, the NFU hospital federation, research financier NWO and the KNAW science association. This would allow temporary appointments to be extended “to a maximum of, for example, six months”.
The letter writers ask the minister for a continuity package of 350 million euros
Heaviest blows
The academic world has already done a lot to absorb the worst blows, they say, from special emergency funds to corona crowdfunding campaigns. "But the own resources and reserves are insufficient to guarantee continuity of research and innovation."
Without extra money, a lost generation of researchers threatens to emerge in the Netherlands, the letter writers warn. In neighboring countries such as Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, young scientists can apply for an extension for several months.
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