Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on computational biology early career researchers: a global retrospective study

The COVID-19 pandemic led to devastating physical, psychological, and financial impacts on millions of people across the world. Amidst a rapidly evolving research landscape, the global scientific community was forced to swiftly adapt to novel working methods, including remote collaboration tools, virtual conferences, and online research platforms. Surveys of life sciences researchers have indicated that computational biologists experienced less disruption and a smoother transition to remote working than experimental biologists, due to their reduced reliance on laboratory equipment. Despite this adaptability, the sudden shift to remote work, compounded by stress and social isolation, has posed significant mental health challenges for these workers. However, remote work has also facilitated opportunities for more flexible work arrangements and increased collaboration across geographical boundaries. To investigate these impacts, we conducted surveys of computational biologists during the Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) conferences in 2020 and 2021, which were held virtually due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. This study implements a thorough statistical analysis of the survey results to offer insights into the repercussions of the lockdowns on researchers and their work. Key areas of investigation include the effects of institutional support (or lack thereof), the difference in productivity compared to pre-lockdown levels, and the significance of gender in determining these impacts. Notably, a lack of institutional support with regard to mental health and finances was shown to have a significant negative effect on early-career researchers. Although limited by a small sample size, our study sets the stage for a more robust exploration of these trends in future research. Importantly, by illuminating the challenges and opportunities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, our study offers hope for potential solutions supporting the well-being of early-career researchers in unprecedented circumstances.