Postdoctoral scientists are mentors, and it is time to recognize their work

by Gracielle Higino, Ceres Barros, Ellen Bledsoe, Dominique G. Roche, Sandra Ann Binning, Timothée Poisot

Academia often fails to recognize the important work that supports its functioning, such as mentoring and teaching performed by postdoctoral researchers. This is a particular problem for early-career researchers, but opportunities exist to improve the status quo. Post-doctoral scientists are effective mentors for graduate students. This Perspective discusses how failures to properly credit them for this role has negative consequence for everyone and suggests possible solutions.