‘You’re working, but you’re not working:’ academic precarity, ambivalence and the use of researchers as factotums

• DOI: 10.1080/01425692.2024.2355176
• Publication Date: 2024-06-05T09:49:46Z
• Authors: David Cairns
• Keywords: Ambivalence

This article explores an important aspect of academic precarity: the use fixed-term contract researchers as factotums within universities. The practice can be defined taking-on tasks that are outside core research activities, including substantial amounts time spent teaching, supervising students and preparing proposals, often at behest tenured staff members, reflecting existing power dynamics organisation. At a theoretical level, it is argued this precarity reflects various forms ambivalence in researchers' lives, creating tensions addition to expanding their workloads. Using evidence from 54 interviews with least five years' experience based units Portugal, conducted during 2022 2023, possible illustrate aspects ambivalence, different responses acceptance resistance towards factotum role.