We often celebrate the Chief Investigators—the ones who secure the big grants, sit on panels, and shape the research agenda. But here’s a question: Who is actually turning those millions into discoveries? Who is at the bench, in the lab, in the field, running the studies, analysing the data, and writing the papers?
The truth? It’s our HDR students and Early Career Researchers.
So why don’t we talk more about them? Why aren’t we doing more to build a culture that truly values, supports, and invests in them?
Are We Training Researchers or Just Extracting Labour?
Academia prides itself on training the next generation, but let’s ask ourselves honestly:
- Are we developing them as future research leaders, or just using them to execute projects?
- Are we equipping them with skills for long-term success, or leaving them to navigate an uncertain future on their own?
- Are we creating a culture of care and mentorship, or one that prioritises output over well-being?
Because make no mistake—our research future is only as strong as the shoulders we build today.
Look at the cover photo again – it’s not just a moment captured; it’s a metaphor.
- Lynton – a neuroimaging expert pushing the boundaries of brain research in his final year of PhD.
- Boaz – an outstanding audiology researcher awaiting his PhD results.
- Simon-Peter – a creative powerhouse bridging arts and health, fresh from his PhD defence.
These brilliant minds aren’t just “students” or “early-career” researchers—they are the ones carrying the weight of research itself. They are the ones who turn vision into reality. All of them are playing a significant role in my NHMRC Ideas Grant 2025-2030 (2.23 million).
What Kind of Research Culture Are We Building?
If we truly value research excellence, then we need to ask:
- How do we ensure our HDRs and ECRs thrive—not just survive?
- How do we embed respect, innovation, and care into research culture—not just as buzzwords, but as actions?
- How do we move from ‘mentorship’ as a checkbox to true, transformative investment in the next generation?
I don’t have all the answers, but I know this: we must do better. We must move beyond seeing HDRs as “supporting” research to recognising that they ARE the research.
So here’s my challenge to all of us: How are we lifting the next generation? How do we make academia a place where they don’t just contribute, but truly belong?
This isn’t just about their future—it’s about the future of research itself. Let’s build something that lasts. Let’s invest where it truly matters.
Professor Raj Shekhawat is Dean of Research in Flinders University’s College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. These views are his own.
