How to Remove Obstacles for the International Movement of Early-Career Scientists

During a workshop session at the 73^rd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Young Scientists discussed the Lindau Guidelines, focusing on eliminating barriers to international mobility for early-career researchers. Moderated by Lindau Alumnus Leonhard Möckl, the session highlighted key action items and demands, summarized below. All contributors are listed at the end.

Visa Issues for Eary-Career Researchers

• National institutions and universities should connect with immigration and local authorities and offer to educate on critical research projects and what to consider in visa applications.
• Universities should set up and expand frameworks that help early-career researchers (ECRs) to navigate visa application procedures.
• Universities should push for the establishment of a specific visa category for scholars, particularly for attending scientific events on short notice. In many countries, there is no dedicated visa for such events, necessitating the application for a tourist visa instead.
• A website listing all available fellowships and grant options by the university, national research foundations/EU funding and important foundations would help not just foreign ECRs but also provide national ECRs with more guidance. This website could also be developed on a national level and could expand on the European EURAXESS website.
• A database on the mobility challenges faced by scholars to provide statistical evidence should be created to approach policymakers with data-driven arguments.
• Social media pressure, organizing email/phone call campaigns, and leveraging personal networks to advocate for policy changes could be employed by individuals.

Facilitating Movements and Family Planning

• Dual career offices should also provide contacts for accompanying parties looking for work in the area. Offices should at least compile a list of documents with guides, tips and a list of companies and points of contact to provide support and guidance to incoming ECRs and their families.
• Hosting institutions should help with finding childcare and even offer emergency childcare services, which are especially relevant in the first weeks after moving to a different country.
• Hosting institutions should offer to pay the first salary upfront to reduce financial strain on ECRs when they move from one position to the next.
• Host institutions should eliminate short-term positions (less than two years) as much as possible, and positions with limited time frames should have a guarantee in place to account for visa delays.
• Funding agencies should be motivated by university representatives to establish dedicated funds for international movements.
• Research groups that hire international ECRs should have a designated person who is responsible for welcoming new ECRs and helping them with bureaucracy, paperwork, and similar tasks.
• If an ECR signs a contract in a country where they do not understand the language, a person native in the language should be available to check and explain the contract as the document in the native language is the binding one.

Diversity, Equality, and Equity

• Scientific staff should participate in mandatory training on EDI issues and biases that are especially detrimental in hiring decisions.
• There should be a visible and transparently communicated ombudsperson that can raise issues at the committee or can serve as guidance for ECRs.
• Development of a standardized evaluation framework that takes into account the different socio-economic backgrounds of applicants from different parts of the world.
• Universities should establish international days to discuss and reduce cultural barriers.

Re-integration of Returning Early-Career Researchers

• Institutions should provide clear guidance and tips for outgoing and returning ECRs, listing all challenges they might face and what they can do to mitigate their personal risk.
• Institutions within EU should push for a European pension which would help scientists and other workers facing the challenge of moving frequently throughout their career.

Social Outreach

• Many ECRs in developing countries are unaware of international opportunities. Social media presence, collaboration of universities with local institutions, and visible online information platforms should be established.

Contributors

Garima Aggarwal, Ona Ambrozaite, Alicia Anderson, Jawaria Ahad, Rubina Davtyan, Sara El Gaily, Encieh Erfani, Ahmed Farouk, Ghita Guessous, Juliane Heitkämper, Jacqueline Keintzel, Viktoria Keusch, Abah Koffi, Amara Nasir, Isabella Rammala, Javier Reig Navarro, Saskia Plura, Francesca Pietracaprina, Yuki Sano, Thunrada Sukwiboon, Austin J. Szuminsky, Susanne C. van den Brink, Petr Veřtát, and moderator Leonhard Möckl