Association hopes Postdoc Appreciation Week will become a local tradition
For the second year running, Junior Researcher Association at Aarhus University facilitate a local edition of the international celebration of junior researchers in fixed-term positions, the so-called Postdoc Appreciation Week, in Week 39.
Postdoc Appreciation Week 2026
Postdoc Appreciation Week is celebrated at universities around the world and is being held at Aarhus University for the second year in a row.
The initiative is organised by the Junior Researcher Association in collaboration with several of the university’s faculties to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the university’s junior researchers.
The Junior Researcher Association at Aarhus University has once again taken the initiative to organise a local edition of the international celebration of junior researchers in fixed-term positions, Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW). Last year marked the first time PAW was held at AU, and the association now hopes to establish it as a university-wide tradition.
“Although not all faculties are involved in this year’s programme, our impression is that every faculty has taken notice of the initiative this year,” says Alessandro Messina, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences and chair of the Junior Researcher Association.
He continues:
“There is still considerable variation in how faculties choose to participate. Some organise events that are open to everyone, while others host local events within their departments.”
He points out that the name Postdoc Appreciation Week may not be entirely appropriate, partly because it does not clearly reflect the fact that the initiative also targets assistant professors.
“‘Junior Researcher Acknowledgement Week’ would perhaps have been a better name, but we respect the international trademark PAW is,” he says.
Maria Correia, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and vice-chair of the Junior Researcher Association, explains that the initiative seeks to recognise the large number of researchers employed on fixed-term contracts, including postdoctoral researchers, assistant professors and research assistants, by supporting their professional development.
“The concept is about recognising the contributions these groups make through teaching and research by providing junior researchers with opportunities for professional development.”
This year’s PAW programme includes events focusing on career development, psychological wellbeing, diversity, career opportunities in industry, innovation and entrepreneurship. Most events are open to all junior researchers, regardless of faculty affiliation.
Maria Correia and Alessandro Messina hope that PAW will continue to grow at AU in the coming years, with even more events being offered. They also see it as an opportunity for researchers to learn about other academic disciplines and build professional networks across the university.
“We also hope that even more junior researchers will become involved in developing PAW locally at AU.”
A call for more consistent conditions
The Junior Researcher Association at AU was established in 2017 with the aim of improving conditions for postdoctoral researchers and assistant professors at the university.
Junior researchers organise themselves in a new association
Following advocacy by the Junior Researcher Association, the senior management agreed to amend the university’s by-laws last year. As a result, postdocs and research assistants will be represented on the university’s academic councils from 2027. In the run-up to the university elections in November, the association will therefore help raise awareness of the opportunity to influence decision-making through these bodies, says Alessandro Messina.
“The candidates are nominated via the faculties, but we want to help create engagement around the elections and highlight the opportunity to stand for election,” he says.
The association is also calling for more consistent conditions for junior researchers across AU.
“We would like support and information structures to be more consistently available for all junior researchers across the university. We also want stronger onboarding processes at an institutional level as well as a greater focus on career progression for postdoctoral researchers and assistant professors who are not on a tenure-track,” explains Maria Correia.
She adds that the association has noted that Aarhus University’s 2030 Strategy specifically highlights the importance of creating attractive career pathways for early-career researchers.
Machine translated and post-edited by Marie Groth Andersen and Mie Skov Jeppesen