1. 10 December 2015 – Parallel Session “Careers pathways and histories: Excellence in context” Postdoc funding schemes in Europe – a survey Anjana Buckow, DFG “Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers” Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015 organised by

2. The Postdoc phase is the period after being awarded a PhD when the PhD holder is still not fully independent. It can vary in terms of length, mentoring, supervision, the degree of leadership and the type funding etc. The postdoc can have a permanent position, however, temporary appointment is prevalent. 2 The Mapping: Definition of “postdoc”/target group

3. Template with 26 questions sent to European research organisations Funding schemes in which the postdoc can apply for his/her own salary (mainly R2, but also R3) Minimum length of funding: 6 months 104 programmes in our survey  The survey is by no means exhaustive! 3 The Mapping

4. 4 Survey of Results: Working Conditions Example: Salary and length of funding Mobile high performers go where the conditions are best Oversupply of postdocs  unattractive conditions

5. Period abroad = good for research career, but problems involved 41 (of 104) schemes expect mobility as prerequisite or support it. Experience, Collaboration Repatriation, attraction of foreign talent Some include funding for return phase Evaluation reports reveal: Integration at host institute not good Social security should be provided Return only if/when good positions offered 5 Survey Results: Mobility

6. Funding seen as career promoting element as such Support for career development/ planning: rare Little information about what really works. 6 Survey of Results: Career Perspectives and Career Development

7. Around ¼ of programmes in survey have been evaluated Feedback/Results Flexibility Transparency Host institute and status of grant holder Support during and after grant Networking Marketing of programmes Competition 7 Survey of Results: Monitoring / Evaluation

8. The results of the study, including conclusions and recommendations will be made public in Spring 2016. For more information  http://www.scienceeurope.org/ 8 Conclusions & Recommendations