That long period as a postdoc brought her both pleasure and concern. ‘When I had just finished my PhD, as a postdoc I had the freedom to do research and try out new ideas. In my day, experience abroad was simply part of the job, which I didn't mind at all.’
At the same time, there was the uncertainty of temporary contracts, and after ten years she thought: if I don't get a permanent position now, I'll draw the line: ‘It's just very difficult when you have your own project, but your contract is coming to an end. At one point, I even thought: maybe I'll buy a hotel. That uncertainty takes its toll.’
Setting up independent research
According to Fikkert, postdocs play a crucial but complex role in science. ‘With a PhD, you demonstrate that you are capable of conducting research. As a postdoc, you must demonstrate that you can set up independent research and develop your own line of inquiry, but you are often involved in someone else's project. This can sometimes create tension: what if the postdoc wants to go in a different direction than the project leader? I understand both sides, but you have to try to work it out together. Especially if someone aspires an academic career.’
Clear agreements are very important for this, because according to Fikkert, when things go wrong, it is often because expectations have not been explicitly discussed: ‘I think it's important to talk to postdocs: what do you want, and what do I expect? And you have to keep having those conversations, because expectations change over time.’
Indispensable in science
What would happen without postdocs? Fikkert is clear about this: ‘Everything would slow down considerably. PhDs and postdocs are the ones who do most of the work. The higher you climb in the hierarchy, the more you come up with ideas and the less you analyse the data yourself. I had to learn to let go of that myself.’
Nevertheless, she cherishes fond memories of her own postdoc period. “I have often looked back on that period with nostalgia. It was wonderful to have so much freedom and to be able to think through your research completely. It is a wonderful time, as long as you can cope with the uncertainty.”
Appreciation
As dean, she hopes that postdocs are not only aware of the difficulties, but also of their enormous value. ‘Postdocs are indispensable. They bring fresh ideas, have the time to delve deeper into research, and thus make a significant contribution to scientific progress.’