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Supporting early‐career dementia researchers : identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study

(2024) ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. 20(2). p.1321-1333
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Abstract
INTRODUCTIONEarly-career researchers contribute significantly to dementia research and clinical practice. However, a growing group of early-career dementia researchers (ECDRs) lack appropriate support throughout their careers. Thus, we aim to (i) explore support needs, (ii) determine recommendations, and (iii) set the agenda for organizations to better support ECDRs.METHODSAn iterative, explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied. First ECDRs' needs were identified using an online survey informed by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. Next, priority areas were selected and explored qualitatively with ECDRs in two workshops, utilizing the World Cafe methodology.RESULTSSixty-five ECDRs throughout Europe completed the survey, with the majority reporting that greater support is needed in terms of funding and career opportunities, social support and well-being, and "wide-reaching" dissemination.DISCUSSIONBased on the findings, six recommendations for support organizations, funding bodies, and universities to better support ECDRs are formulated, each intended for specific target audiences.HighlightsThis article reports on focal points of career-related support needed in doctoral education and postdoctoral employment to foster a healthier academic environment, including finance, work-life balance, dissemination of research findings, and supervision, both in general and in dementia fields specifically.Funding and resources were identified as a significant challenge, and there was a call for more long-term positions and transition funding for postdoctoral researchers.Early-career dementia researchers addressed the need for support in producing outputs for non-academic audiences, including people living with dementia. The importance of disseminating research to diverse audiences has long been recognized; thus, it is critical that early-career dementia researchers be supported in this effort.Recommendations were formulated for researcher support (organizations), funding bodies, and universities. These recommendations include providing support for disseminating research to non-academic audiences, offering training in supervision skills, and promoting peer-to-peer mentoring and social activities for early-career dementia researchers.
Keywords
Psychiatry and Mental health, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Neurology (clinical), Developmental Neuroscience, Health Policy, Epidemiology, training, needs, early-career researcher, dementia, career management, EoLC

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MLA
Dupont, Charless, et al. “Supporting Early‐career Dementia Researchers : Identifying Support Needs and Ways Forward via a European Study.” ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA, vol. 20, no. 2, Wiley, 2024, pp. 1321–33, doi:10.1002/alz.13530.
APA
Dupont, C., Gilissen, J., Dassen, F. C. M., Branco, R. M., Heins, P., Heffernan, E., & Bartels, S. L. (2024). Supporting early‐career dementia researchers : identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA, 20(2), 1321–1333. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13530
Chicago author-date
Dupont, Charless, Joni Gilissen, Fania C. M. Dassen, Rita Maldonado Branco, Pascale Heins, Eithne Heffernan, and Sara Laureen Bartels. 2024. “Supporting Early‐career Dementia Researchers : Identifying Support Needs and Ways Forward via a European Study.” ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA 20 (2): 1321–33. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13530.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Dupont, Charless, Joni Gilissen, Fania C. M. Dassen, Rita Maldonado Branco, Pascale Heins, Eithne Heffernan, and Sara Laureen Bartels. 2024. “Supporting Early‐career Dementia Researchers : Identifying Support Needs and Ways Forward via a European Study.” ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA 20 (2): 1321–1333. doi:10.1002/alz.13530.
Vancouver
1.
Dupont C, Gilissen J, Dassen FCM, Branco RM, Heins P, Heffernan E, et al. Supporting early‐career dementia researchers : identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study. ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA. 2024;20(2):1321–33.
IEEE
[1]
C. Dupont et al., “Supporting early‐career dementia researchers : identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study,” ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 1321–1333, 2024.
@article{01HQ7XM0KF8PP8RVKV5JBTJJ72,
  abstract     = {{INTRODUCTIONEarly-career researchers contribute significantly to dementia research and clinical practice. However, a growing group of early-career dementia researchers (ECDRs) lack appropriate support throughout their careers. Thus, we aim to (i) explore support needs, (ii) determine recommendations, and (iii) set the agenda for organizations to better support ECDRs.METHODSAn iterative, explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was applied. First ECDRs' needs were identified using an online survey informed by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework. Next, priority areas were selected and explored qualitatively with ECDRs in two workshops, utilizing the World Cafe methodology.RESULTSSixty-five ECDRs throughout Europe completed the survey, with the majority reporting that greater support is needed in terms of funding and career opportunities, social support and well-being, and "wide-reaching" dissemination.DISCUSSIONBased on the findings, six recommendations for support organizations, funding bodies, and universities to better support ECDRs are formulated, each intended for specific target audiences.HighlightsThis article reports on focal points of career-related support needed in doctoral education and postdoctoral employment to foster a healthier academic environment, including finance, work-life balance, dissemination of research findings, and supervision, both in general and in dementia fields specifically.Funding and resources were identified as a significant challenge, and there was a call for more long-term positions and transition funding for postdoctoral researchers.Early-career dementia researchers addressed the need for support in producing outputs for non-academic audiences, including people living with dementia. The importance of disseminating research to diverse audiences has long been recognized; thus, it is critical that early-career dementia researchers be supported in this effort.Recommendations were formulated for researcher support (organizations), funding bodies, and universities. These recommendations include providing support for disseminating research to non-academic audiences, offering training in supervision skills, and promoting peer-to-peer mentoring and social activities for early-career dementia researchers.}},
  author       = {{Dupont, Charless and Gilissen, Joni and Dassen, Fania C. M. and Branco, Rita Maldonado and Heins, Pascale and Heffernan, Eithne and Bartels, Sara Laureen}},
  issn         = {{1552-5260}},
  journal      = {{ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA}},
  keywords     = {{Psychiatry and Mental health,Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience,Geriatrics and Gerontology,Neurology (clinical),Developmental Neuroscience,Health Policy,Epidemiology,training,needs,early-career researcher,dementia,career management,EoLC}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{1321--1333}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley}},
  title        = {{Supporting early‐career dementia researchers : identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13530}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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