Research Information System
in: Tracking Early Career Researchers in EFL / ESL Studies, Özkan Kırmızı, Editor, IGI Global yayınevi, Pennsylvania, pp.263-290, 2025
This qualitative case study explores the academic well-being of an early-career researcher (ECR) in a Turkish state university. Using data from in-depth interviews, it identifies two key themes regarding his coping strategies: strategic vision and self-reliance. However, the study also reveals significant obstacles, including the prevalence of nepotism in academia, which leads to frustration and disengagement. A supportive supervisor emerges as a critical factor in the ECR’s academic perseverance. The ECR’s success can thus be attributed to a combination of external support from his supervisor and internal factors such as his strategic vision, self-reliance, and self-motivation. This study underscores the need for academic institutions to address systemic issues, such as nepotism, and provides stronger support systems for ECRs. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by ECRs and offer insights into effective strategies for balancing academic and personal demands. Further research is recommended to explore these themes