Abstract
Beyond the emerging consensus about the precarious nature of early career researchers’ (ECRs) work and its effects on job security, career aspirations and development, research suggests that the Covid-19 pandemic might have exacerbated this situation. Furthermore, little is known about the lived experiences of ECRs from under-represented groups, including women and ethnic minority academics. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences and career progression of ECRs during and since the pandemic, and the extent to which experiences differ between social groups. It builds on BAM’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Respect (EDIR) project, and existing knowledge gaps regarding the impact of the pandemic on the experiences and career development of ECRs, and especially those from minoritized social groups. A co-design mixed methods approach is adopted and will involve carrying out an online survey and semi-structured interviews with ECRs, business school leaders and researcher managers.