Postdoctoral research Fellows, or postdocs, are early-career researchers who play a crucial role in the advancement of scientific knowledge. However, in South Africa and many other countries, there is a notable lack of visibility and information about these researchers. This gap in knowledge makes it difficult to fully understand their contributions and challenges. A recent NRF-funded study aimed to fill this gap by using national surveys and data from the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) to provide a comprehensive, long-term profile of postdocs in South Africa. The study focused on key aspects such as representation, research intensity, nationality, and gender within South African public universities.

Key Findings:

1. Rapid Growth: The number of postdocs in South African universities has significantly increased over the past two decades. This growth rate is comparable to that observed in other countries with available data.
2. Research Commitment: Postdocs in South Africa dedicate a substantial amount of their time to research, more so than both permanent academic staff and Doctoral students. This high level of commitment underscores their vital role in advancing university research output.
3. Policy Impacts: Despite policies suggesting that postdocs should take on more academic responsibilities, the study found that this has not negatively affected the amount of time they spend on research. This suggests that postdocs are managing to balance these responsibilities effectively.
4. Gender Representation: The study revealed that gender representation among postdocs does not seem to be a major issue. Both male and female Doctoral graduates are equally likely to take up postdoc positions. However, there are concerns about the potential casualisation of academic labour, which may have gender-specific implications.

Postdocs are essential to the research ecosystem in South Africa, contributing significantly to the country’s scientific output. The findings of this study provide a critical foundation for future research and policy development to support postdocs and enhance their visibility and impact.