THE SCIENTIFIC TALKS OF MANIFESTATION OF KEY ISSUE ASPECTS OF AGE DISCRIMINATION IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE: STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS OF THE ACADEMIC CAREER PYRAMID AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

Authors

  • Nodar Sulashvili MD, PhD, Doctor of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences in Medicine, Professor of Medical and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy of International School of Medicine at Alte University; Tbilisi, Georgia; Orcid https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9005-8577
  • Giorgi Pkhakadze MD, MPH, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor – Head of the School of Public Health at David Tvildiani Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia; Member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel, Geneva, Switzerland; President, Accreditation San Frontières, Paris, France, Lviv Ukraine;
  • Igor Seniuk PhD, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dean of faculty of Pharmacy at National University of Pharmacy of Ukraine, Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry Department at National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3819-7333
  • Nodar Mitagvaria National Academy of Sciences of Georgia; Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Vira Kravchenko MD, PhD, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Academician, Professor, Head of The Biological Chemistry Department at National University of Pharmacy of Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukraine. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6335-2490
  • Archil Chirakadze PhD, Georgian Technical University Institute "Techinform", Tbilisi, Georgia, Georgian Technical University Institute of Cybernetics, Tbilisi, Georgia, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Institute of Physics, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Olga Shapoval MD, PhD, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor of Department of Pharmacology and Medical Prescription at Kharkiv State Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1971-2863
  • Neli Makhviladze Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Levan Gulua PhD, Professor, Head of Bachelor Program of Biomedicine at University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Tamar Okropiridze MD, PhD, Doctor Medical Sciences, Academician, Professor of the Division of Dentistry of International School of Medicine at Alte University; Invited Professor of Dentistry Department of The School of Health Sciences at The University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Ekaterine Lomia PhD, Doctor in Political Science, Professor of Mongolian International University, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Head of the “Black Sea Research Center” of IKSAD (Ankara, Turkey). https://orcid.org/0000-0002- 3525-6730, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Irina Imerlishvili PhD, Doctor of Law, Professor, Rector of BAU International University Batumi; Professor of BAU International University Batumi; Professor at the International Black Sea University, Batumi-Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Lolita Shengelia PhD, Invited lecturer of Georgian National University SEU, Tbilisi, Georgia; Invited lecturer of Georgian American University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Ada (Adel) Tadevosyan MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician, Professor of Yerevan State Medical University, Academician and Full Member of the International Academy of Sciences of Ecology and Life Safety (MANEB), Academician of the Republic Armenia Law Academy, Member of the Association of Psychiatrists of Armenia, World Association of Psychiatrists, International Association for Traumatic Stress, World Association for Biological Psychiatry, International Association "Stress and Behavior", Licensed Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Public Health Organizer; Tbilisi-Georgia, Yerevan-Armenia, Los Angeles-USA;
  • Magda Davitashvili PhD, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician, Georgian Academy of Ecological Sciences, Program Coordinator of Quality Assurance Office at Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University (TeSaU), Telavi, Georgia. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4213-6533
  • Giorgi Palavandishvili Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Shafiga Topchiyeva PhD, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Academician, Professor of Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6369-1414
  • Maka Buleishvili MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Dean of Faculty of Medicine of BAU International University Batumi, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at European University, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Georgian National University SEU, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University, Invited Professor of Faculty of Healthcare Sciences at East European University, Invited Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Caucasus International University, Invited Lecturer of Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia; https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2657-8473
  • Khtuna Tserodze Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Ia Egnatievi MD, DDM, PhD, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Dentistry of David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at David Aghmashenebeli University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Lali Patsia MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Doctor Cardiologist at Republican Hospital, Invited Professor of Tbilisi State Medical University, Professor of Ken Walker international University, Professor of International School of Medicine at Alte University, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Marika Sulashvili MD, Doctor of Family Medicine, Invited Lecturer of Tbilisi State Medical University, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics; Invited Lecturer of Family Medicine of Faculty of Medicine at Georgian National University SEU; Invited Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular and Medical Genetics at The University of Georgia; Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Mzia Tsiklauri PhD, Professor of Grigol Robakidze University, Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Lela Grigolia MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Caucasus International University; Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Kakhaber Robakidze MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician, Professor of Faculty of Medicine at Caucasus International University; Doctor-Professor of National Health Center Named After Academician O. Gudushauri; Tbilisi, Georgia;
  • Marina Giorgobiani MD, PhD, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Academician, Associate Professor of Tbilisi State Medical University, Faculty of Public Health; Department of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, Tbilisi, Georgia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0686-5227
  • Manuchar Jgerenaya MD, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Invited Professor of Dentistry Department of The School of Health Sciences at The University of Georgia; Assistant Professor of Dentistry Program of International School of Medicine at Alte University; Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • Nana Gorgaslidze MD, PhD, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Academician, Professor of Tbilisi State Medical University, Head of The Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Tbilisi, Georgia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-5224
  • Rajkaran Singh Georgian National University SEU; Tbilisi, Georgia; https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4903-0145
  • David Aphkhazava PhD, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Invited lecturer of University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia, Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6216-6477

Keywords:

Age discrimination, academic career pyramid, postdoctoral researchers, scientific workforce, tenure-track positions, career bottleneck, structural barriers, research productivity, economic impact, precarious employment, early career researchers, principal investigator positions, scientific talent retention, research and development, career sustainability

Abstract

Contemporary academic science faces a systemic crisis characterized by a severe imbalance between the abundant supply of PhD graduates and postdoctoral researchers and the scarcity of independent Principal Investigator (PI) or Group Leader positions. This pyramidal structure of academic careers creates an intensely competitive environment that is further exacerbated by age-restrictive hiring policies prevalent in numerous institutions worldwide.

This study analyzes career trajectory data from 2,284 researchers (1997-2020 EMBL cohorts) and reveals that only 27.8% achieve independent PI positions, with this percentage declining in recent cohorts. Statistical evidence demonstrates that merely 17-21% of postdoctoral researchers secure tenure-track positions, and approximately 3% ultimately attain full professorship. The disproportionate ratio between PhD/postdoc positions and available PI/Group Leader roles creates what scholars term the "postdoc queue"—a precarious employment landscape characterized by short-term contracts and profound career uncertainty.

Age discrimination manifests both formally and informally across global academic systems. In numerous countries, particularly throughout Asia and parts of Europe, explicit or implicit age limits (typically 35 years or younger) govern eligibility for junior faculty and independent researcher positions. These age barriers systematically exclude experienced scientists who have invested years in postdoctoral training, effectively squandering accumulated expertise and institutional knowledge. Survey data indicates that 92% of German academic staff under 45 without full professorships hold fixed-term contracts, with 84% employed on contracts shorter than 18 months. The average time from PhD completion to first PI position has increased from 5.2 to 6.1 years for recent cohorts, intensifying the temporal pressure imposed by age restrictions.

This structural dysfunction severely impedes scientific progress through multiple mechanisms: (1) premature attrition of talented researchers from academia; (2) systematic loss of highly qualified personnel at peak productive capacity; (3) suppression of innovative, high-risk research projects requiring long-term commitment; (4) diminished overall scientific productivity and output quality. Empirical evidence reveals that 73% of postdoctoral researchers experience work-related stress, while 67% work beyond their contracted 40-hour weekly commitments. Furthermore, 30% report experiencing antisocial workplace behavior, with 12% observing discrimination monthly. These conditions disproportionately affect women, international researchers, and individuals with caregiving responsibilities, thereby reducing diversity and perpetuating inequalities within the scientific workforce.

The socioeconomic implications of underutilizing scientific talent are substantial and quantifiable. Economic analyses demonstrate that research and development (R&D) investments directly correlate with productivity growth and GDP expansion. A 20% reduction in federal R&D funding demonstrably constrains GDP growth, while workforce disengagement cost the global economy an estimated $438 billion in lost productivity in 2024. By systematically excluding mature scientists through age discrimination and creating unsustainable career pathways, society forfeits the opportunity to leverage highly trained intellectual capital for innovation, technological advancement, and economic progress. The inefficient allocation of human resources in academic science represents not merely an ethical failure but a significant economic liability with measurable negative impacts on national competitiveness and societal advancement.

This article presents comprehensive recommendations for structural reform: (1) elimination of age-discriminatory barriers in academic hiring and promotion; (2) diversification of academic career pathways with legitimate recognition of alternative trajectories beyond the traditional PI track; (3) implementation of stable, long-term funding mechanisms to replace precarious short-term contracts; (4) adoption of intersectional approaches to diversity and inclusion policies addressing multiple dimensions of inequality. Only through systemic transformation can the scientific community harness its full human potential, foster sustainable careers, and maximize societal benefit from investments in scientific training and research infrastructure.

Published

2026-01-26

How to Cite

Nodar Sulashvili, Giorgi Pkhakadze, Igor Seniuk, Nodar Mitagvaria, Vira Kravchenko, Archil Chirakadze, Olga Shapoval, Neli Makhviladze, Levan Gulua, Tamar Okropiridze, Ekaterine Lomia, Irina Imerlishvili, Lolita Shengelia, Ada (Adel) Tadevosyan, Magda Davitashvili, Giorgi Palavandishvili, Shafiga Topchiyeva, Maka Buleishvili, Khtuna Tserodze, Ia Egnatievi, Lali Patsia, Marika Sulashvili, Mzia Tsiklauri, Lela Grigolia, Kakhaber Robakidze, Marina Giorgobiani, Manuchar Jgerenaya, Nana Gorgaslidze, Rajkaran Singh, & David Aphkhazava. (2026). THE SCIENTIFIC TALKS OF MANIFESTATION OF KEY ISSUE ASPECTS OF AGE DISCRIMINATION IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE: STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS OF THE ACADEMIC CAREER PYRAMID AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES. Scientific Research and Experimental Development, (12). Retrieved from https://ojs.publisher.agency/index.php/SRED/article/view/7725

Issue

No. 12 (2026): Scientific Research and Experimental Development

Section

Pedagogical Sciences

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