Although US postdocs are already well organized, with associations starting up across the country, in Europe there has been something of a vacuum. The vast majority of postdocs seek permanent positions but only 5–10% will succeed; leaving most in a series of short-term contracts, little autonomy and no career development. European postdocs are getting a raw deal and, as much casual labour is employed in the science sector, this is likely to get worse.

But now it seems that there could be some good news on the horizon for European postdocs. The Marie Curie Fellowship Association (MCFA) — which has groups in most European countries — has a bird's-eye view of both European postdocs and postdocs in different countries, and is starting to speak up on behalf of all postdocs. In November, the European Science Foundation (ESF) will hold a joint postdoc conference with the MCFA — picking up on an earlier ESF survey of the situation of European postdocs.

Tony Mayer, head of the secretary-general's office at the ESF, says that the organization has found it difficult to talk to a mass of young European researchers. “In most countries there is very little in the way of organization,” he says. But the MCFA represents an organized group of some of the more mobile European postdocs, he notes.

The ESF wants feedback from young researchers on issues for the future, such as the sixth Framework programme, and more on the plans for the European Research Area. “Inevitably the people involved in science policy are senior; it is partly time [that stops postdocs from being involved], and that we never tend to ask them,” says Mayer. There will also be a web debate to allow postdocs to use the ESF as a sounding board over the European Research Area.

ESF → http://www.esf.org