What really matters in academic promotion?
Presenter: Yensi Flores Bueso
Postdoctoral Fellow, University College Cork and the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington
Abstract
Academic promotion policies shape researcher behaviour and institutional culture. Yet globally, there is limited transparency on how researchers are assessed and what is valued. In a recent study by Boom et al., we analysed 532 promotion policies from 121 countries, including both academic institutions and governmental agencies, to identify the criteria used to assess researchers, at the level of full professor. Our cross-sectional analysis revealed a striking global reliance on quantitative indicators—especially publication counts, journal prestige, and citation metrics—while broader dimensions such as engagement, equity, and qualitative contributions remain marginal.
Importantly, we found that job-specific factors (such as discipline or academic track) played a minor role in shaping evaluation criteria. Instead, context—particularly national economic status, policy scope, and region—was the strongest determinant of what gets measured and rewarded. This study yielded an open dataset and reproducible methodology that can support future research and help shape more inclusive, transparent, and responsible research policies.
I will present trends in global evaluation practices and propose how institutions and policymakers can reimagine academic reward systems to align better with the principles of open research—prioritising career diversity and societal value. In the national context of Ireland, initiatives such as the All-Ireland Research Culture Network, the ABOARD project, and the Irish CoARA National Chapter demonstrate how collaborative efforts can address current challenges in research assessment, including limited opportunities for career development, and provide pathways towards more sustainable research cultures.
About
Dr. Yensi Flores Bueso is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at University College Cork and the Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington. Alongside her research in computational protein design and synthetic biology, she works extensively on research assessment reform and open science policy. She is Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy (2024–2026), served on the inaugural Steering Board of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), and represents early-career researchers on the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board. In these roles, she has contributed to shaping global discussions on research culture and equity in science systems. Her contributions include leading and co-authoring international studies on promotion policies, authorship, and accountability in research (Nature 2024; OSF Preprint 2025). She actively advances reform through conference organisation (e.g. UN Open Science Conference, NORFest 2023), speaking engagements (OSFAIR, MUNIN, OASPA), and science communication in major media outlets (Nature News; Silicon Republic).