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Comment by jonathanstrange | Hacker News Reader

Nice list, I think it lays out the problem with the current system in fine details. I'm surprised that it seems to be as bad as where I live in the UK, too.

I call myself a Senior Research Fellow, but in the end I'm just a postdoc in the late 40s who has almost no chances to get full tenure and has messed up his life for good.

Before anyone blames me, think twice. I've got new contracts offered with almost no effort on my behalf over the years, and all my positions where pure research with no teaching duties. It's not easy to turn down such seemingly generous offers and try to make a living in another way (with a background in linguistics & philosophy!), even when you know these contracts won't last and only delay the inevitable.

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I'm a "Staff Scientist" in the US which is basically the same thing. But I don't think that's a bad thing. I get to do science. Professors/PIs mostly spend their research time writing grant proposals and managing their staff, not actually spending much (or any) time doing experiments themselves or analyzing the data.

I was in a similar situation ( in early 30s) , however ,I moved to industry when I realised that even banks dont trust these contracts for long term financing.

It doesn't seem like you have messed up your life. If you have made it that far in the humanities, then I think you're the type that can figure out how to keep going.

They’re almost 50 and don’t have a full time job with pension. That is not a good position to be in unless you come from money, are married to someone who does, or has a solid professional career or gold plated benefits and a permanent job.

I don't know the specific detail of OP's position, but (all?) post-docs in the UK are members of the same pension scheme as all other academics in their institution. Your fundamental point is quite right--short-term contracts are a lousy and difficult game to play into middle-age.

They have a government pension.

They spent 30 years "working" on their research interest instead of at the beck of bosses and clients. Even if they spend retirement stuck as a grocery clerk, they'll have a better life (more funded free time to pursue their personal interests) than almost everyone.

Will the job of grocery clerk exist in 20 years?

research interests ≠ personal interests, necessarily.

Research is not very different from work actually. You always work on the basis of market demand (In this case, the funding organisations)

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