Postdocs train to become future research leaders

Young Talent Best Practice – Wageningen University and Research Centre

‘Best Practice Talents and Topics’, a programme offered by the research school at the Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS)l, offers postdoc training programmes relevant to future research leaders. The university offers researchers further career perspectives. In addition, the number of WIAS research project grants are growing, both in the Netherlands and abroad, creating greater awareness for research questions, and enhancing the collaboration between chairs and research groups.

This best practice programme offers postdocs six months of training that is relevant for research leaders. The training sessions focus on developing various skill sets, such as:

• Developing a strategic view of the research area
• Building up networks
• Coordinating large multidisciplinary projects
• Developing leadership and communication skills
• Teaming up in pairs to write an extensive multidisciplinary research proposal to apply for funding

A best practice case in point is a research programme developed by genetics and ethology. The programme involves the social interaction between animals in a group. Pigs and poultry-related research projects were awarded grants, as a result of which two postdocs have meanwhile been appointed to supervise seven trainee research assistants. Each will study a different aspect of the social interaction.

Why was this best practice programme launched?

Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) has undertaken to make further investments in talented young researchers to instil in them enthusiasm for a postdoc university appointment. One very positive spin-off is that this approach creates greater awareness for strategic research questions and fosters collaboration between chairs and research groups.

Why is it important to invest in young talent?

• A university’s aim is to develop talent. This is beneficial to both the postdocs and the university. The university will offer a number of talented researchers a position while a number of talented individuals will advance to positions outside the university. The university believes that it is its responsibility to ensure that the latter group lands safely in their job positions too.
• The idea is that talent in which the university has invested remains important for the university’s network. The relevant individual may in the long term seek collaboration with, or even return to the university. In all other cases, before leaving the university it is important that the postdoc has had a positive university experience and subsequently becomes an ambassador for the university.

Whom and what do you need for the programme?

How is it organised?

The pilot programme comprises three phases. Click here for a detailed description of these phases.

What makes this best practice programme successful?

• Combining different research themes
• Within the scope of the relevant WIAS themes, finding a multidisciplinary approach to subjects that are linked to talented postdocs.

What are the future plans?

Talents & Topics currently still is a WIAS pilot programme. The aim is for other research schools to work on talent development and utilise the experience gained from the WIAS programme.