IQB Institute for Quantitative Biosciences |37Science Café-like environment to promote interactions. Additionally, inclusion of administrative staff at certain institute events will foster further meaningful interactions. Social events, as soon as they are allowed, should be inclusive for all IQB members.Funding for the IQB Central LaboratoriesThe SAC noted the value of the IQB Central Laboratories that provide access to and support with the use of high-end equipment. These Central Laboratories (also called Core facilities) are a key feature of modern interdisciplinary institutes. The type of services provided in the Core facilities will evolve over time and take into account new technological developments as well as demand. With this in mind, the engagement of a shared expert in image analysisand AI might be helpful to several groups. The funding of such Central Laboratories poses a challenge for any department or institute. The SAC therefore was unable to present an easy solution for the upkeep and possible further development of IQB’s Central Laboratory.Creative management is recommended that encompasses various sources of income, including industry partnerships and collaborations with other University departments.User cross-charging will be an inevitable part of the funding structure and users should be encouraged, as far as possible, to ask for Central Laboratory costs in all grant applications.Dialog with the University regarding a possible top-up of University funds for the Central Laboratory is encouraged.Refurbishment of the ‘Old Building’As the former home of the IQB’s predecessor, the IMCB, the ‘Old Building’ has historic value to the IQB. The SAC is pleased to learn that a refurbishment program is under way that restores functionality to the building, including a new lecture hall. Once new research groups are able to populate the building, we advise the establishment of a careful mix of senior and junior groups. This arrangement has the aim to foster interactions as well as to promote mentoring and exchange of best practice in laboratory techniques and management.Postdoc mentoringThe career development programs for postdocs in Japan are often poorly defined, leading to excessively long periods of dependence on a professor, even though the postdoc might be highly productive. This can be discourag-ing to promising young scientists withaspirations of running an independent laboratory. IQB is encouraged to set up arrangements whereby successful postdocs are strongly recommended for positions elsewhere well before the 10 year point, rather than being internally promoted. In exchange,IQB should seek to hire junior group leaders, possibly from the institutes where IQB’s most successful postdocs find positions, but ideally through international competitive recruitment. This mobility will enhance the independence of junior group leaders and overcome the problem of “inbreeding”. Furthermore, this will bring recognition to IQB as a great place to be a postdoc, which in turn should make IQB an attractive destination for the best international postdocs. Programs that train postdocs in how to apply for positions and interview effectively, are encouraged.The labor contract act, which guarantees that a high quality labor employee who exceeds10-years with the same employer, is eligible for permanent contract, is not appropriate for postdocs and trainees, who by definition should move on to other positions.ConclusionThe SAC wholeheartedly looks forward to meeting our colleagues at IQB again in person next year. The next SAC meeting has provisionally been scheduled to take place during the week starting 22 March 2022.
元のページ ../index.html#39