Louise Bjerrum

My name is Louise Bjerrum, and I am a doctoral candidate at the Department of clinical psychology (IKP). The most important issues for me are to improve working conditions for temporarily employed academic staff and to ensure that the PhD education prepares doctoral candidates for a career both in and outside of academia. An important area touching both issues, is how we should attend to temporarily employed academic staff whose research and work progression have been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Improving working conditions
A temporary position in academia is associated with a high level of insecurity. Temporary positions are unavoidable in academia, but I am convinced that it is possible to improve working conditions and hence indirectly reduce the negative consequences associated with temporality. First, I call for increased focus on career development. I consider it important to strengthen skills and competence of value in positions also outside of academia. Offering courses in project management, research policy, innovation and administrative management are some examples. Second, increased focus on mental health among temporarily employed academic staff are needed. To initiate action, we need more openness among employees and not the least vigorous leadership at all levels at UiB.

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic
Temporary academic staff has been and still is a particular vulnerable group. Research projects have been delayed, networking at digital conferences is challenging, stays abroad are cancelled and the feeling of belonging to a professional and working environment are weakened when working from home. This is an added level of insecurity, reinforcing the insecurity already at place due to the expiration date of the position. There is no doubt that the pandemic takes a hold on doctoral candidates and postdocs. UiB is conducting a survey which aims to chart these circumstances. Following the results of the survey, it is utterly important that temporarily employed academic staff are attended to in terms of efficient measures where they are needed the most.   

The PhD education at UiB
I am assigned as a board member of the Graduate school of clinical and developmental psychology (CDP). Here, I represent the affiliated PhD candidates and communicate with them closely about what they need – both in terms of the PhD education in general but also in terms of specific skills and competences applicable to a diversity of careers. In times of the pandemic, it is now more important than ever that PhD candidates are listened to. E.g., the graduate schools at UiB should facilitate flexible alternatives to courses that have been postponed/cancelled, such that PhD candidates can submit on time.

About me
I started my PhD at IKP in 2019 and hold a master’s degree in behavioral neuroscience (UiB). You can read about my PhD project on my UiB web page. Apart from my deputy work in CDP, I am also assigned as a representative for group B in the Department Board and substitute Safety representative (IKP). I am also administrative coordinator of the research group BRIGHT.