Listening sessions

The Young Academy Leiden (YAL) organises listening sessions across faculties. The aim of these listening sessions is to learn more about the wants and needs of (post-PhD) Early Career Researchers at Leiden University.

It's meant as a place to share ideas. Structured around the main question “What should YAL focus on this year?”, we would like to hear from ERCs about their experiences working in Leiden.

Through these listening sessions and our broader work we aim to break out of disciplinary and institutional boundaries and create a community of early career scholars that is a driving force for fresh ideas within and beyond the university.

Upcoming sessions

May 11, 12-1pm Agora (FSW), Room TBD
How do you balance an academic career with raising (young) children? For many early-career researchers, this is a daily challenge: from sleep deprivation and unpredictable childcare to publication pressures and unspoken expectations within academia, particularly during the early years of parenthood. Issues surrounding gender inequality and career opportunities also play a role.
In this YAL listening session, Leiden “academic parents” share their experiences: what obstacles did they face, what really helped, and what is needed to better combine parenting with a sustainable academic career? Together, we’ll discuss what’s working well at the institutional and cultural levels and what can (or must) change.