In a recent post in Science Careers Blog Jim Austin argued that young researchers should get easier funding with science supporting agencies. That would be the best way to get them into the system.

I strongly object and put a reaction there, that I hereby reproduce:

This would be age discrimination. I agree that there is problem, but I think I have a better solution, or at least a solution that is worth discussing IMHO. A remedy that does not suffer from this type of discrimination. In what I suggest it is not the old guy against the young guy. It is the established scientist against the newcomer. To solve the problem at hand, in the Netherlands (physics) granting organization FOM, has come up with a scheme in which newcomers get an advantage by giving them bonus points. With these bonus points starters get funded (considerably) more easily.

I can imagine a grant system in which bonus points are part of a sophisticated scheme. Much like golf. Although the term used in golf, handicap, would probably not go down very well in the scientific community.

In this model late bloomers still have a change as they will have a large handicap. It is even amusing to speculate about a development in which a scientist’s handicap could play a similar role as for instance the h-index does.

Jim answered:

You’re absolutely right, the key concept is “early career,” not “young.” Excellet point, thanks.

Be Well,
Jim

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