TY - JOUR
T1 - An international survey of training needs and career paths of core facility staff
AU - Adami, Valentina
AU - Homer, Natalie
AU - Utz, Nadine
AU - Lippens, Saskia
AU - Rappoport, Joshua Z.
AU - Fernandez-Rodriguez, Julia
N1 - Funding Information:
Especially in Europe, certificates and academic curricula designed to train expert technologists working in CFs, such as the “University Diploma for European Core Facility Management - Universitè de Paris,” are rare exceptions, probably because of the lack of institutional support. 5 To overcome this issue, the European Commission Horizon 2020 has funded several initiatives focused on the training of operators and managers of research infrastructures in the life sciences, such as the ARISE “Career Accelerator for Research Infrastructure Scientists” program, RItrain with the “Executive Master in Management of Research Infrastructures,” and the InnoCore “Core Technologies for Education and Innovation in Life Sciences” project.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - Core facilities (CFs) provide a centralised access to costly equipment, scientific expertise, experimental design, day-to-day technical support and training of users. CFs have a tremendous impact on research outputs, skills and educational agendas, increasing the competencies of staff, researchers and students. However, the rapid development of new technologies and methodologies for the life sciences requires fast adaptation and development of existing core facilities and their technical and scientific staff. Given the scarcity of well-defined CF career paths, CF staff positions are typically filled by people having followed either academic or technical tracks. Each academic institution follows different policies and often fails to adequately recognize the merits of CF personnel and to support their training efficiently. Thus, the Core Technologies for Life Science association (CTLS), through the Training working group, has conducted an anonymous online survey to assess the training needs of CF personnel, as well as to identify common characteristics and challenges in this relatively new and dynamic career type. 275 individuals, including core managers and directors, technicians, technologists and administrators, participated in the survey. The survey was divided into 2 sections; the first, applied to all respondents, and the second, specifically targeted core management issues. Training needs in technological areas, financial and soft skills, management and administrative issues were surveyed as well. The lack of clarity and consistency regarding established career paths for CF professionals was evident from the second part of the survey, highlighting geographical or cultural differences. Gender balance was achieved and the distribution was always taken into account. The results of this survey highlight a need to develop better training resources for CF staff, to improve their recognition within academic institutions, and to establish a recognized career pathway.
AB - Core facilities (CFs) provide a centralised access to costly equipment, scientific expertise, experimental design, day-to-day technical support and training of users. CFs have a tremendous impact on research outputs, skills and educational agendas, increasing the competencies of staff, researchers and students. However, the rapid development of new technologies and methodologies for the life sciences requires fast adaptation and development of existing core facilities and their technical and scientific staff. Given the scarcity of well-defined CF career paths, CF staff positions are typically filled by people having followed either academic or technical tracks. Each academic institution follows different policies and often fails to adequately recognize the merits of CF personnel and to support their training efficiently. Thus, the Core Technologies for Life Science association (CTLS), through the Training working group, has conducted an anonymous online survey to assess the training needs of CF personnel, as well as to identify common characteristics and challenges in this relatively new and dynamic career type. 275 individuals, including core managers and directors, technicians, technologists and administrators, participated in the survey. The survey was divided into 2 sections; the first, applied to all respondents, and the second, specifically targeted core management issues. Training needs in technological areas, financial and soft skills, management and administrative issues were surveyed as well. The lack of clarity and consistency regarding established career paths for CF professionals was evident from the second part of the survey, highlighting geographical or cultural differences. Gender balance was achieved and the distribution was always taken into account. The results of this survey highlight a need to develop better training resources for CF staff, to improve their recognition within academic institutions, and to establish a recognized career pathway.
KW - Career development
KW - Core Facilities
KW - Education
KW - Skills
KW - Staff
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106444401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7171/jbt.21-3201-002
DO - 10.7171/jbt.21-3201-002
M3 - Article
C2 - 33880077
AN - SCOPUS:85106444401
SN - 1524-0215
VL - 32
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Journal of Biomolecular Techniques
JF - Journal of Biomolecular Techniques
IS - 1
ER -