In this section, we proudly showcase select contributions from our members that stand out for their innovative research, significant findings, and contributions to their respective fields. These highlights offer a glimpse into the diverse and impactful work being carried out by HERA members across the globe.
Share Your Achievements: HERA members are invited to submit their recent publications for consideration in our next “Highlights by Our Members” feature. Please send your submissions to us, including the publication title, a brief summary, and its significance to your field.
Being internationally mobile while keeping domestic social capital: How postdocs from China manage precarity
Being internationally mobile while keeping domestic social capital: How postdocs from China manage precarity
Liping Li & Wenqin Shen
Science and Public Policy
Abstract
International academic mobility has surfaced as a new factor in the mechanism of cumulative advantages in early academic careers, yet its interplay with the role of doctoral mentors remains understudied compared to other factors. This research delves into the entanglement of international mobility and the doctoral mentor’s role through a 4-year longitudinal study encompassing ten postdocs from a prestigious Chinese university’s department. By employing narrative analysis across diverse cases, we found doctoral mentors wield multifaceted impacts on the access, decisions, experiences, trajectories, and outcomes of a postdoctoral international mobility through their role as teachers, sponsors, and collaborators. PhD graduates, supervised by eminent mentors with extensive overseas experiences, can enjoy a significant advantage in managing precarity and domestic social capital through mentors’ impacts on international mobility. This study offers insights into the mechanisms underlying cumulative advantages fostered through international mobility, while revealing the enduring impact of doctoral mentors throughout the academic career development.
