Reproduction of Human Resource Potential in Science in the Assessments of Young Russian Scientists: Results of an Applied Study

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to identify barriers to professional development among young Russian scientists as potential heads of scientific teams. The authors analyze the impact that the science-related governmental decisions have on researchers’ professional well-being and success. The study is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative empirical research methods and includes: (1) an online survey among young Russian scientists to reveal the most vulnerable aspects of the development of scientific workforce potential (N = 105); (2) in-depth interviews with young Russian scientists (N = 20) to obtain the data about individual professional paths, specific problems and difficulties in career building, as well as subjective views of the prospects for the development of the Russian science. Complex analysis helped to identify the key groups of barriers to successful career in science: financial, organizational and barriers related to morals and ethics. Specific case studies show how a combination of these factors affects researchers’ life and their academic position in general. In conclusion, the authors discuss the proposals of the young scientists to overcome those barriers.  

The study can be useful as it provides proposals made by young scientists to overcome the professional barriers described in the paper and to design policies at the federal and regional levels that would help young researchers solve their scientific, organizational and social problems; as a result, such policies would create more favorable conditions for the young scientists in Russia.

Acknowledgments. The study is financed by RFBR and the Expert Institute for Social Research within the project no. 19-011-31346 (‘State Policy of the Reproduction of Human Resource Potential in Science’).