Junior Researcher Association introduces Postdoc Appreciation Week at AU

Many universities worldwide focus on postdocs and other early-career researchers in fixed-term positions during Postdoc Appreciation Week (PAW). This is done through workshops and events aimed at this particular group of researchers. For the first time, AU is participating in this event. The Junior Researcher Association at Aarhus University is behind the initiative. 

“The idea came from the vice-dean for Research at Health, Per Brøndsted Höllsberg, who knew of the international concept. Last year, he encouraged the Junior Researcher Association and AUPA (PhD Association at AU, ed.) to move forward with the idea. On that basis we held a Postdoc Appreciation Day at Health with support from the faculty," says Luisa Cassiano, chair of the Junior Researcher Association at AU and assistant professor at the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health. 

"At Nat and Tech we had a similar event, so we thought why not expand it to an AU event this year and hold it in the same week as the international Postdoc Association Week," adds Marcel Bühler, vice-chair of the Junior Researcher Association and a postdoc at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering. 

So far, the association has put together four events for postdocs, which will take place in week 38. One event is tailored for postdocs from the faculties of Nat and Tech while others are open to postdocs from all over AU. There are workshops on career development, funding strategy, and scientific project management. In addition, the Junior Researcher Association is hosting a social networking event where they introduce themselves, followed by snacks and refreshments. 

“For us, the week is about appreciating the work of postdocs and focusing on the conditions of this group,” Luisa Cassiano says. 

Do you think postdocs at AU lack appreciation?

“It is hard to make a general statement at the overall AU level, as experiences vary across the organisation, and even the notion of appreciation can be understood differently. That said, in some areas expectations are not always clearly aligned regarding the career prospects associated with temporary postdoctoral positions. This alignment is important to ensure that postdocs have a fair opportunity to plan their future careers. At the same time, a lack of clarity can create uncertainty, though it should also be acknowledged that working conditions for postdocs in Denmark are, in many respects, better than in several other countries,” Luisa Cassiano says. 

Increased influence for postdocs at AU secured

The purpose of the Postdoc Appreciation Week aligns closely with the Junior Researcher Association's overall purpose - namely to create a community among postdocs and other younger researchers on short-term contracts and, not least, to work towards improving their working conditions. 

The association points out that postdocs represents a very diverse group of researchers, who have in common that they are employed on temporary contracts of 1-4 years. Many have an international background. According to AU's key figures, there were 1,069 postdocs at AU in 2024, equal to 960 full-time equivalents. 

“We are working to improve the conditions for postdocs, advocate for their rights, and ensure they have a voice. For example, postdocs are not represented in the academic councils at Aarhus University. We have been problematizing this for a long time," Luisa Cassiano says. 

“PhD students have representatives both on the PhD committee and in the academic councils, but postdocs don’t have the same kind of formalised influence. We lack representation and therefore a voice," she adds.  

The association’s efforts have paid off, as they have just received confirmation from AU’s senior management that, the Aarhus University Board has decided to amend the university statutes so that, from 2027, postdocs and assistant professors will be represented in the academic councils. This has been confirmed to Omnibus by a member of the university management’s staff. The specific details are expected to be finalized during the autumn. 

“We consider this a great victory for the postdocs at AU,” Luisa Cassiano says.

This text is machine translated and post-edited by Lisa Enevoldsen.