Postdoctoral Scientists across Canada are amongst those leading the highest impact research in astronomy and represent the immediate future for our faculty leadership. These scholars work within an extremely precarious environment, however, resulting in a leaky pipeline to continuing positions [1][2][3]. The Long Range Plan 2020 (LRP2020) has identified this as a critical problem within the Canadian Community, contributing in particular to a sustained bias against the inclusion of uder-represented populations in Astronomy. To take the first steps toward mitigating this problem CASCA strongly recommends that any prospective employer posting a job ad for a postdoctoral position in astronomy overserve the following.
We recommend that:
- All astronomy postdoctoral positions in Canada be advertised with clearly stated options for reduced/flexible hours, remote work, or part-time employment, and note the availability of paid family leave. Furthermore, it should be clear from the advertisement that applicants are not required to indicate their interest in such options until after an offer is made.
- All job advertisements explicitly state that accommodations will be made for career interruptions or other extenuating circumstances when evaluating applications.
- Any availability and amount of relocation funds be explicitly stated within the posted job advertisement, including, where possible, reimbursement of fees for visa applications, security clearances, health checks, and quarantine on arrival.
- Posted job advertisements clearly state a starting salary or expected range as a function of experience; in the case of the latter, a clear metric should be provided.
- Posted job advertisements clearly state the term of contract as well as the possibility of extension and the conditions thereon.
- Other employment benefits be explicitly enumerated in brief within any posted job advertisement and that a link be provided to the relevant contract or otherwise exhaustive list of available benefits.
- All job advertisements explicitly state the relevant union representation for the position upon hiring and provide contact details; if there is no formal union representation expected, that this be explicitly stated.
[1] Milojević, S. et al., (2018)PNAS, 115, 1261
[2] Ngo H., et al., (2019), clrp, 2020, 63.
[3] Flaherty, K. et al., (2018) The Leaky Pipeline for Postdocs