Reader opinion The plight of a dissertation researcher holds and can be resolved

Opinion|Reader’s opinion

In Helsingin Sanomat (14.2.) Was important opinion piece the plight of a dissertation doctoral researcher. When I myself defended my dissertation in 1992, there were about 800 doctors a year. In this millennium, the number has about doubled. The goal has been strongly political, but it has not been given sufficient resources. Too many doctoral researchers pay to support a goal through their own back skin.

There are far too few doctoral research places in university graduate schools. This issue does not seem to open up or interest recent ministers in charge of research and science, so a change in the budget is unfortunately unlikely.

At least for the time being, foundations have a crucial role to play if the position of a dissertation researcher is to be improved in Finland. It should be noted at the outset that the budget will, as a general rule, be for the duration of the dissertation study, for example four years. The decision can be made separately each year, but if the work goes well, funding should continue without a new application.

In order to improve the position of dissertation researchers, it would also be important to move from scholarships to salaries paid through universities. Both of the things I have proposed would reduce the number of grant recipients. However, I do not see this as a problem if the alternative is to continue with the current system and keep talented, early-stage researchers in constant uncertainty.

Universities should also change their activities so that one of the conditions for admission to a dissertation researcher is funding, for example, for four years. This is common in other Nordic countries, at least in the areas of exercise and nutrition science that I am familiar with. This accelerates and ensures the completion of the dissertation.

Mikael Fogelholm

Professor of Nutrition, University of Helsinki

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