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Staff Development at JMU

Postdoctoral stage I (R2)

Postdoctoral stage I (R2 – Recognized Researcher)

Researchers who have completed their doctorates with excellent grades can progress to stage R2, in which they will usually spend a maximum of four years. In this stage, they focus on further enhancing their qualification as researchers. They are expected to demonstrate the quality of their research and get a chance to raise their research profile, establish collaborations, build professional networks, teach courses, and gradually take responsibility for research projects. In stage R2, researchers should also test the feasibility of their career goals to see if they are realistic and attainable and should develop additional generic skills. Since the career paths of most postdoctoral researchers will not lead to professorship, the university must ensure that Recognized Researchers are prepared for a transition to alternative career paths in and outside academia. In addition to the alternative career paths identified in the section on career stage R1, Recognized Researchers, who possess extensive research experience, are particularly qualified for careers in science management.

Focus area of Academic Staff Development in postdoc phase I

Training and development initiatives for Recognized Researchers focus on giving them the opportunity to further enhance their qualification as researchers and raise their research profile. These initiatives build on the foundations in domains A knowledge and intellectual abilities and B personal qualities and values that were laid in stage R1. They focus on domains C research governance and organization (standards and framework conditions (C1), research management (C2),  generating funding, infrastructure, and resources (C3)) and D professional self-concept and societal responsibility (collaboration, supervision, and mentoring (D1), publication and research communication (D2), teaching and contribution to society (D3)). Since stage R2 is characterized by a high degree of dynamics, we attach great importance to providing advice and support relating to professional and career development (B3) and, above all, help researchers explore different career opportunities both in and outside academia. A decision on whether it makes sense for researchers to continue to pursue a career in academia should be made at the end of stage R2 at the latest. In this stage, we must deal with the issues of increasingly limited employment opportunities and the high degree of mobility that is required of researchers. It is, therefore, important that we assist Recognized Researchers in choosing the career path that best aligns with their capabilities, i. e. help them either develop a career outside academia or enhance their employability in academia. In contrast to First Stage Researchers (R1), Recognized Researchers are increasingly able to attract external money to fund their own positions. Recognized Researchers also have the option of shifting from the management track to the specialist track.