The invisible researchers

Invisible within the system. That’s how several postdocs describe themselves in Swedish academia – especially those on scholarships who, as a result, are not even included in the official statistics. Universitetsläraren reveals that every fifth postdoc is paid through scholarships, and therefore lacks access to the social security system. Over the past decade, the number of postdocs has been rising, and now they are joining forces to make their voices heard.

Every fifth postdoc is excluded from the statistics

Conditions Neither the universities nor the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ) keep track of the most vulnerable postdocs: those on scholarships. Universitetsläraren has investigated where they are working, and is also able to show that there has been a significant rise in the proportion of international postdocs among those employed.

Postdocs come together to make their voices heard

Careers Sonchita Bagchi didn’t want to just sit and cry over dreadful postdoc stories. That’s why she established Uppsala University Postdoc Association in 2017. Postdocs have begun to organise, and in 2018 a national postdoctoral researcher association was created.