An Occupational Field in the Intersection Between the Career Field for Scientists and the Field of Universities

Astrid Reichel ()
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Astrid Reichel: University of Salzburg, Department of Business

Chapter Chapter 2 in Contemporary Careers and Occupational Fields, 2026, pp 21-36 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter conceptualizes scientific careers as unfolding within an occupational field shaped by the interaction of the career field for scientists and the organizational field of universities. Drawing on Bourdieu’s field theory, it explains how field rules distribute valued forms of capital and define legitimate pathways for advancement. Universities and scientists mutually reinforce symbolic capital: universities provide titles and visibility, while reputable scholars enhance institutional standing. The chapter highlights contemporary dynamics—globalization, mobility, competition and cooperation, governance change, and metrification—and derives resulting career requirements such as publications, grants, and awards. Five career narratives illustrate how scholars navigate these pressures and trade-offs.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-06270-3_2

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-06270-3_2

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