The Roving Researcher scheme was launched in the School of Biological Sciences in March 2024. To celebrate its success over the last 12 months, we were pleased to host the first Roving Researcher Showcase event on 27th March, at Newnham College. Bringing together Roving Researchers from Cambridge, Babraham, Pirbright Institute, and NKI (Netherlands Cancer Institute), with funders and other stakeholders, the day offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the scheme’s successes, explore its potential future, and consider whether it represents an alternative career path in scientific research.
What is a Roving Researcher?
A Roving Researcher is an experienced scientist who provides research cover for a project when someone is on medium- to long-term care or medical leave to keep research momentum going. They may work on one or a few projects simultaneously, depending on demand at the time.
Providing consistent support to a research lab enables the roving researchers to pursue an alternative career path in academia, growing and developing their scientific skill sets and offering a sustainable model of research delivery through longer-term or permanent contracts that has the benefit of reduced carer uncertainty.
Contributing to an inclusive and supportive research environment
Research pauses have a significant impact and interrupt the scientific process, affecting not only the individuals on leave but also the other researchers within the host lab. Career breaks are predominantly linked to maternity leave and caring responsibilities, disproportionately affecting women.
Maternity or parental cover is relatively common in most industries (especially those where women are in the majority), including professional services within academia and researchers in pharma/biotech. For researchers in academia, however, it has long been accepted that those on leave must simply take the hit, and only over the last few years have institutions attempted to challenge this damaging situation. Roving researchers should be able to deliver such cover. Across a significant portion of the biological sciences, there is a common set of core techniques that an experienced individual can provide to keep diverse projects running. Moreover, working in collaboration with the researchers taking leave and their lab members, the roving researchers can quickly adapt and grow their skills to become effective in many research areas.
In Cambridge and beyond
The first Roving Researcher scheme was launched at the Babraham Institute in April 2020. As a self-contained institute, with labs located within the campus, it allowed for easier logistics and flexibility.
Inspired by the success of the Babraham Institute, Professor Laura Itzhaki and Dr Catherine Wilson, from the Department of Pharmacology, championed for a similar scheme to be introduced in the School of Biological Sciences at Cambridge.
Professor Laura Itzhaki, Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Roving Researcher Scheme Co-Lead in the School, said:
“For whatever reason (perhaps because until the last years of the 20th century, academia has been a male-dominated profession), we have simply accepted that women's careers will suffer when they go on maternity leave. With a little imagination, the creation of Roving Researchers simultaneously levels the playing field, makes academia a more equitable and inclusive place (encouraging the uptake of paternity leave and supporting other types of leave such as sick leave), reduces the associated costs and loss of institutional knowledge, and creates exciting and enabling research roles that benefit all."
Dr Catherine Wilson, Roving Researcher Scheme Co-Lead and Committee Chair, added:
“I managed to find funding to support research cover while I was on maternity leave for my first child and it made a huge impact to my career - when I heard about the scheme at the Babraham Institute, I knew a similar programme was possible in the School of Biological Sciences and had the potential to make significant impact. It has been amazing we have been able to help so many researchers already!”
Across the UK, other institutions have implemented similar schemes, such as the Chemistry Department at King's College London and the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, based in London. Although in some cases initially driven by different needs (for example, fulfilling health and safety requirements in chemistry labs), the common goal of these schemes remains the same: providing support to researchers who need time away from the lab, whether from parental, medical, or other types of long-term leave. The schemes will ultimately foster a more equitable, inclusive, and supportive scientific research environment.
One person, multiple skills
Scientists taking on a 'Rover' role recognise that the position requires an enhanced skill set. Quickly assessing the needs of a new project and learning new techniques are essential. They must be highly adaptable and well-organised, often juggling multiple projects while sharing responsibilities with members of the host lab. Effective and open communication is equally critical, with the additional challenge that the original researcher might not always be available.
Dr Holly Craven, Roving Researcher in the School of Biological Sciences, said:
“I found that the traditional progression route in academia wasn’t really appealing to me, but I enjoyed the flexibility and wasn’t ready to move across to industry. In this role, it can be particularly challenging if there are a lot of new experimental techniques I need to pick up. Having a little time to meet with the person going on leave or having someone around the lab to discuss the project helps a lot.”
Looking ahead
The Roving Researcher showcase event was a great opportunity to foster discussions around the benefits and challenges of the scheme but also highlighted key challenges and future directions:
- Establishing a network of stakeholders as a short-term next step would be highly beneficial to share practice and resources. If your institution is interested in learning more about the scheme or joining the network, please contact us: rovingresearcher@bio.cam.ac.uk
- Securing longer-term funding remains a priority towards the ultimate goal of these posts becoming the norm like in other industries. Working with the funding bodies, we aim to explore care-friendly funding models for grants and fellowships. Additionally, within universities, we aim to develop resources that will enable individuals to present a strong business case.
- Discussions around the Roving Researcher scheme are currently limited to the biological, lab-based sciences. We would like to expand the dialogue to include other disciplines that common underlying skill sets.
Find out more about the Roving Researcher scheme in the School of Biological Sciences.