Landscape review of employment contracts and salary provision for academic researchers in multiple countries 

The landscape review will draw on document analysis and interviews with stakeholders to gather insights into the following three areas: 

Employment Contracts 

We are investigating the types and models of employment contracts used for academic researchers. Our research aims to understand: 

• The prevalence of different academic research contract types over the past decade 
• Perceived merits and uses of various contract models 
• Variations across research areas and career stages 

Wellcome Eligibility Requirements 

We are examining the impact of Wellcome’s current requirement for employers to underwrite the salaries of Principal and Co-Investigators. Key areas of investigation include: 

• How this requirement affects researcher inclusion on grant applications 
• Potential barriers for researchers from different backgrounds 
• Implications across career stages, disciplines, and protected characteristics 

Teaching Buy-Out Conventions 

Our research will explore established practices and policies for teaching buy-out, focusing on: 

• Commonalities in teaching buy-out conventions 
• Disciplinary variations 
• Funder-specific approaches in the identified countries 

Call for Participation 

We are seeking insights from professionals including:

• • • Senior research leaders 
    • Research facilitators 
    • HR leads 
    • Policy experts 
    • Trade union representatives 
    • Funder representatives  

If you work in one of the following countries and are interested in contributing to this important research, please complete our screening survey.

• • • Kenya
    • Malawi
    • South Africa
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam

Depending on the number of volunteers, a selection may be made. All data will be anonymised to ensure confidentiality. To find out how we will use the information you provide, please consult our Data Privacy Notice – Wellcome Trust Landscape Review.