Striving Transition for University Academics: The Academic Role Identity of Young Postdocs at Universities in China

Since implementing the postdoctoral system in China, number and quality of postdocs have improved greatly. Under policy creating world-class universities, most universities focused unprecedentedly on recruiting fellows, management regulations for become increasingly diverse. Through in-depth interviews with fellows at three a metropolitan city, we found that roles been multidimensional sometimes conflicting, including quasi-role university teacher, rigid role independent researcher, inertial student unofficial associate supervisor. Sociocultural norms, institutional contexts, professional community shape these identities.