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How institutions can better support international early-career researchers

Nature Human Behaviour volume 9, pages 421–423 (2025)Cite this article

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To build and establish essential international networks, gain international experience and secure a position on the academic tenure track, early-career researchers are increasingly seeking employment opportunities abroad1,2. Relocation to a foreign country — particularly one with a different culture and language — is an inherently challenging undertaking. Early-career researchers often encounter difficulties even before departing. A typical example would be the frustrating cycle between residence permit and employment contract: in many cases, obtaining a visa or residence permit is necessary to secure an employment contract. However, without proof of employment and a rental agreement, obtaining a visa can be difficult. In situations in which institutions fail to provide specialized and dedicated support, delays in the researcher’s arrival may occur that limit the ability of the early-career researcher to achieve and show their full potential within the host institution.

After arrival, those who do not speak the local language may face additional challenges3. Although researchers typically use a common language (often English), administrative staff of the employing institutions might not, which makes tasks such as completing paperwork and reading email correspondence difficult. These activities frequently require help from a bilingual third party, which is not always available or advisable for sensitive matters. Furthermore, such challenges often extend beyond the walls of the institution into daily life, including in finding accommodation, setting up a local bank account, navigating taxes, and scheduling private or occupational medical appointments.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the EuroMarine Network for creating and sustaining the OYSTER (Orienting Young Scientists of EuroMarine) group, which enables us to meet and work together as a voice of early-career researchers in the marine sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics and Marine Biotechnology Department, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

    Marek Lubośny

  2. Univ. Brest, CNRS, IRD, Ifremer, LEMAR, Plouzané, France

    Pavanee Annasawmy

  3. Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Blanes, Spain

    Itziar Burgués Martínez & Cristina Galobart

  4. Marine Biology Station Piran, National Institute of Biology, Piran, Slovenia

    Timotej Turk Dermastia

  5. Department of Marine Renewable Resources, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain

    Lucía Espasandín

  6. ECOMARE – Laboratory for Innovation and Sustainability of Marine Biological Resources, CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal

    Joana Filipa Fernandes

  7. Department of Biology, Chemistry and Geography, University of Quebec in Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski, Quebec, Canada

    Joana Filipa Fernandes

  8. Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal

    Joana Filipa Fernandes

  9. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, Spain

    Marcos Fontela & María López-Acosta

  10. Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

    Marcos Fontela

  11. Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Odei Garcia-Garin

  12. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Inês Gregório

  13. CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Inês Gregório

  14. Sorbonne University, CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation and Diversity in Marine Environment (AD2M) Laboratory, Ecology of Marine Plankton team, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France

    Natalia Llopis Monferrer

  15. Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, USA

    Natalia Llopis Monferrer

  16. Department of Marine Ecology, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland

    Mikołaj Mazurkiewicz & Anna Sowa

  17. Departamento de Geocencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Campus Lagoas Marcosende, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain

    Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal

  18. Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Amanda Schadeberg

  19. Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland

    Costanza Scopetani

  20. Department of Chemistry ‘Ugo Schiff’, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Costanza Scopetani

  21. CNR-ISMAR, Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, La Spezia, Italy

    Giuseppe Suaria

  22. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece

    Anastasia Tsiola

Authors
  1. Marek Lubośny
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  2. Pavanee Annasawmy
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  3. Itziar Burgués Martínez
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  4. Timotej Turk Dermastia
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  5. Lucía Espasandín
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  6. Joana Filipa Fernandes
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  7. Marcos Fontela
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  8. Cristina Galobart
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  9. Odei Garcia-Garin
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  10. Inês Gregório
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  11. Natalia Llopis Monferrer
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  12. María López-Acosta
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  13. Mikołaj Mazurkiewicz
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  14. Nerea Piñeiro-Juncal
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  15. Amanda Schadeberg
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  16. Costanza Scopetani
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  17. Anna Sowa
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  18. Giuseppe Suaria
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  19. Anastasia Tsiola
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marek Lubośny.

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The authors declare no competing interests

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Lubośny, M., Annasawmy, P., Burgués Martínez, I. et al. How institutions can better support international early-career researchers. Nat Hum Behav 9, 421–423 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02125-5

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