Metrics play a vital part in the valuation and funding of research for scientists worldwide. We review the challenges that metrics pose in providing a fair and equitable system for research funding. We highlight the attempts with declarations, including the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (SF-DORA), to improve the research environment and specific impacts that metric choice can have on the evaluation and progression of Early Career Lecturers (ECLs). While there is much evidence that metrics will never be entirely satisfactory, we conclude there are opportunities that would benefit ECLs and reason for optimism for researchers.
Keywords: COVID-19; early career; equity; funding; impact; metrics; science.
© 2022 The Authors. The FEBS Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Federation of European Biochemical Societies.