Kings College, University of Cambridge

Its opening represents a key step in the university’s plans to improve the experience for its 3,500 postdocs, who comprise the largest group of staff at Cambridge.

Seminar rooms, meeting rooms and a small library will be open seven days a week. A team from two university organisations - Postdocs of Cambridge Society and the Newcomers and Visiting Scholars -  will be located in the centre.

Karina Prasad, head of Cambridge’s office of postdoctoral affairs, said: “Life as a postdoctoral member of staff can be difficult, especially when they first arrive at the university…I want this to be a place they can call their own, to use for networking and social events as well as to come to as a source of support.”

Further plans to support the community include providing dedicated accommodation and amenities on the North West Cambridge development.

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Vice-chancellor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said: “The university and the colleges recognise the enormous contribution postdoctoral researchers make through their research, which is central to the mission of the university, so it is our aim to make their time at Cambridge as productive and positive as possible.”

He added: “The new centre is one of many developments which we hope will provide, alongside volunteers, enhanced support for the postdoc community.”

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Chris Abell, director of postdoctoral affairs, added that Cambridge has many more postdoctoral researchers than most other institutions. “Creating the postdoc centre is an important and overdue development,” he added.

holly.else@tsleducation.com