Recordings now available from C‑DICE & UKRI workshop on supporting postdoc talent
Session recordings are now available online for those who could not attend or wish to revisit key discussions from Driving research excellence through supporting postdoctoral talent, the C-DICE & UKRI senior leaders workshop in York on 6 November 2025.
This high‑level workshop brought together UKRI, C‑DICE, Vitae, and pioneering university programmes from Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Warwick and York to make the economic and moral case for investing in postdoctoral researchers.
A capacity audience heard new UK data on the postdoc workforce, evidence of the economic and system‑wide costs of short‑termism and job insecurity, and sector case studies showing how institutions are addressing these challenges, before taking part in debate on aligning employment practice, integrity‑led research culture and professional development to secure the pipeline.
With proven models already reducing precarity and shaping sustainable careers – from innovative employment approaches to sector‑wide development programmes – now is the time to scale what works and move beyond well‑intentioned culture conversations to systemic and structural reform. Supporting postdoctoral researchers drives research excellence, accelerates knowledge exchange, and sustains the skills pipeline the economy needs; with PhD and postdoctoral numbers declining, institutions and employers have the levers, and the responsibility, to act.
Following introductions from Dr Kathyrn North, Loughborough University research Academy Director and Frances Burstow, UKRI Talent and Skills Director, presentations covered the following key topics:
Challenges and opportunities for research culture – the Researcher Development Concordat, UKRI postdoc statistics, and updates on the UUK/concordat project on fairness of employment.
Creating transformational change – perspectives from C-DICE, with findings from The Impact of Precarity research to follow soon.
Postdoctoral careers and development – reflections from CEDARs (Vitae) and sector initiatives including Cambridge’s ARRC and Liverpool’s Prosper, with practical takeaways for scaling.
Challenging precarity: Models of employment – innovative employment and team-based approaches that prioritise continuity, retraining, and cumulative knowledge for postdocs and research enabling staff.
Thank you to the UKRI, all speakers and guests for their invaluable input into the workshop.