Academic Long Covid-19: Post-Pandemic Research for Academic Parents

The COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022) intensified existing structural inequalities within the academic labour market, with disproportionate consequences for researchers holding significant caregiving responsibilities, particularly women. This brief presents findings from a global survey of academic parents (n=23,697), building on a prior 2018 study by the same research team (Derrick et al., 2023), to examine the persistence of pandemic related disruptions to research productivity and career progression.

Findings indicate that although most academics returned to pre-pandemic parenting arrangements following the easing of lockdown restrictions, recovery in research output has not followed a similarly uniform trajectory. Academics who held high responsibility caregiving roles during 2020–2022 experienced a sustained flattening of productivity, with limited evidence of recovery in subsequent years. By contrast, those with reduced caregiving demands during the pandemic, including women engaged in medical and biomedical response work, demonstrated stronger recovery outcomes. Gender disparities in recovery rates remain (in 2025) pronounced, with men consistently outpacing women in terms of recovery.

These findings support a reconceptualisation of COVID-19’s impact on academic careers as an ongoing structural condition rather a past shock from which research has recovered.  Recommendations for research funders, and institution to recognise and assist research recovery are provided.

Download the full brief using the button on the right-hand side of this webpage.