Recognising the importance and impact of Imaging Scientists: Global guidelines for establishing career paths within core facilities

• In the dynamic landscape of scientific research, imaging core facilities are vital hubs propelling collaboration and innovation at the technology development and dissemination frontier. Here, we present a collaborative effort led by Global BioImaging (GBI), introducing international recommendations geared towards elevating the careers of Imaging Scientists in core facilities. Despite the critical role of Imaging Scientists in modern research ecosystems, challenges persist in recognising their value, aligning performance metrics and providing avenues for career progression and job security. The challenges encompass a mismatch between classic academic career paths and service-oriented roles, resulting in a lack of understanding regarding the value and impact of Imaging Scientists and core facilities and how to evaluate them properly. They further include challenges around sustainability, dedicated training opportunities and the recruitment and retention of talent. Structured across these interrelated sections, the recommendations within this publication aim to propose globally applicable solutions to navigate these challenges. These recommendations apply equally to colleagues working in other core facilities and research institutions through which access to technologies is facilitated and supported. This publication emphasises the pivotal role of Imaging Scientists in advancing research programs and presents a blueprint for fostering their career progression within institutions all around the world. In the exciting world of scientific research, imaging core facilities are essential hubs where scientists use advanced technologies to conduct experiments and uncover fascinating discoveries. What makes these facilities remarkable is that multiple scientists can access and utilise a variety of instruments for a wide range of multidisciplinary research projects, fostering collaboration and innovation. At the forefront of this scientific adventure are Imaging Scientists, experts who play a crucial role in planning experiments, preparing materials, adapting and acquiring technologies, collecting data, training and supporting researchers, analysing images and forming conclusions. Despite their pivotal contributions, there are challenges in recognising the importance of Imaging Scientists and ensuring they have ample opportunities to advance in their careers. These challenges include a mismatch between the typical academic career path and the unique roles and responsibilities of Imaging Scientists, a lack of widespread understanding of their value plus financial constraints, insufficient training opportunities, and difficulties in attracting and retaining talented individuals. To address these issues, Global BioImaging (GBI; www.globalbioimaging.org) has brought together Imaging Scientists from around the world to develop a generally applicable set of recommendations in three key areas: highlighting the significance and value of Imaging Scientists, making it easier to recruit and retain them, and supporting their ongoing learning and professional growth. A notable concept is to reimagine the traditional separation between academic roles and technical support roles. GBI envisions that these recommendations will not only benefit imaging facilities but also prove valuable for research institutions housing diverse technologies organised into core facilities. Recognising the diverse nature of research performing institutions globally, the GBI community sees this guide as a starting point that will initiate dialogue and instigate change, which should be periodically updated as the needs of Imaging Scientists change. This initial version lays a solid foundation for future enhancements, contributing to the acknowledgement and support of the invaluable work done by Imaging Scientists on a global scale.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

career path

collaboration

core facilities

Global BioImaging

global survey

Imaging Scientist

innovation

professional development

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)