Short-term contracts, long-term projects: the bridge of honorary contracts

Posted on: 6 October 2025 by Dr. Cordelia Dunai, Dr Bengt Tegner, Dr Parul Sharma in Researchers

Navigating the challenges of fixed short-term contracts and the length of time over which research is completed and published is complex for postdoctoral research associates. Honorary contracts provide a solution to address this by maintaining vital university access.

As academic researchers, particularly postdocs, a primary objective is the publication of papers. However, a significant challenge arises from the common discrepancy between the short-term nature of many academic contracts and the protracted timeline required for the entire publication process. Writing papers, especially those based on long-term projects, can take years, and the subsequent peer review process rarely aligns neatly with the defined contract periods. Some projects have even spanned a decade from conception to publication, far exceeding typical postdoc contract lengths. This misalignment highlights the need for mechanisms that allow researchers to maintain momentum and see their work through to publication even after their initial contracts conclude. 

One crucial factor in navigating this challenge is the contract length itself, and a key solution to making the transition smoother and more efficient for researchers is the provision of honorary contract. These contracts enable individuals to retain essential access to university resources, such as email, databases, online resources, and other academic tools, which are vital for continuing work on papers in progress. It also keeps them connected to the community and gives access to professional development opportunities. 

The Value of Honorary Contracts 

The University of Liverpool recognizes this need for access and offers honorary contracts for researchers. An honorary appointment at the University of Liverpool is fundamentally a voluntary arrangement designed to foster collaboration between the university and individuals, including those from other institutions or NHS partners. It serves to acknowledge an individual's professional standing and their valuable contributions to the university's research, teaching, and/or broader academic endeavours. 

These contracts facilitate involvement in a range of academic activities, including collaborative research, teaching, and the joint supervision of postgraduate students. It is important to note that the work undertaken under an honorary contract is voluntary and does not come with a salary. 

The application process for an honorary contract at the University of Liverpool involves review by the relevant department or faculty. For clinical roles, there is a distinct formal process managed by the Clinical Directorate. Typically, an application requires a completed form, a comprehensive CV, and letters of support from both the university department seeking the collaboration and the individual's substantive employer, if applicable. It is important to note that they are time-limited and the length of time must be specified in the application. 

The benefits of securing an honorary contract are significant for researchers whose publication timelines extend beyond their paid employment. Furthermore, it gives the individual a formal academic title from the university, which can be important for their professional identity and future career progression. This mechanism provides a vital bridge for postdocs, allowing them to finalize and publish their research and contribute to the academic community long after their initial employment contracts have ended, ensuring their dedication to long-term projects is recognized and supported. 

There is a lot of research and policy work being done on this topic by the Action Research on Research Culture (ARRC) project team at the University of Cambridge. ARRC has published a briefing that collected information on the challenging and often precarious working conditions faced by researchers, such as short-term contracts, and explored the issues these conditions cause, including high stress and poor mental health. The briefing also highlights various initiatives implemented by different universities to address or mitigate the effects of precarity on their research staff. 

Key Takeaways

1. The fundamental challenge for academic researchers, particularly postdocs, is the mismatch between short-term employment contracts and the long timelines required for research publication. 

2. Honorary contracts are a temporary solution to address this challenge, enabling researchers to maintain essential access to university resources.

3. Securing an honorary contract offers significant benefits for researchers by providing a formal academic title and a bridge to finalize and publish their work.  

Further reading

https://www.arrc.group.cam.ac.uk/precarity-and-redeployment 

Author Biographies

Dr. Cordelia Dunai is a postdoc research associate in Professor Benedict Michael's Infection Neuroscience lab. 
She is part of the Biomarkers and Immunology Working Group of the COVID-CNS study and the Liverpool Brain Infections and Inflammation Group. She earned her Ph.D. in immunology in the lab of Professor William J. Murphy at UC Davis, California. 

Dr Bengt Tegner is a Research Associate in Theoretical Chemistry in the School of Physical Sciences, working in the Troisi group. Previously, he has held postdoctoral roles at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and at The University of Manchester. He has a PhD in physics from The University of Edinburgh and is a former Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher. He did his first degree at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, and originally wanted to be an astronomer. Away from the lab he likes to play outside. 

Dr Parul Sharma is a former Postdoctoral Research Associate in Professor James Stewart’s Molecular Virology laboratory, where her work focused on the pathogenesis and persistence of respiratory viral diseases using animal models. She is currently an Honorary Associate in the same lab and obtained her PhD in Immunology from the University of Nottingham.