Ten simple rules for postdoctoral mums to stay competitive in academia.

Abstract

In academia, the intersection of the postdoctoral stage, usually highly unstable and decisive to secure a permanent position, and motherhood, is the most prominent culprit of the well-known problem of the decreasing number of female researchers in senior academic positions. The loss of postdoctoral women from the academic path represents an unsustainable loss of talent, leading to unbalanced academic institutions where this phenomenon eventually gets perpetuated. The motherhood challenges for postdoctoral women begin from the moment they plan on getting pregnant and continue well after reincorporation to work after maternity leave. Here, we provide 10 actionable rules for these postdoctoral women approaching motherhood to increase their chances of remaining in the academic career. These rules will help postdoctoral women prepare for the challenge of becoming a mother while working towards their long-term academic goals, and establish a successful relationship with their supervisors and collaborators under the new circumstances. These rules should be complemented by the general effort from colleagues, supervisors, institutions, and academia as a whole, to create a more supportive working environment. It is in the utmost interest of the academic community to improve the retention of postdoctoral mums and promote their progression to more senior positions.