AMSTERDAM, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A program that helps postdocs stay current in their field is open for applications again

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced that its Postdoc Free Access Program will be repeated, an initiative designed to help early career researchers who are in between research positions stay up-to-date in their field.

The global economic climate for science funding is creating challenges for postdoctoral students, especially for those looking for employment. In response to this growing trend, the program was conceived by editors and publishers at Elsevier who began to hear from postdocs in countries where funding has been hit hardest. Many emphasized the mounting pressure to stay competitive and publish, in many cases without the resources to do so.

For scholars who have recently received their PhD and currently do not have a research position, the program will offer postdocs a Free Access Passport, with complimentary access to journals and books on ScienceDirect for up to six months.

During a pilot in December 2012, access to ScienceDirect was granted to 64 individuals, most of whom used it for grant applications. One of them, Daniele Vergara from Italy said, "As a postdoc fellow in biological sciences, this program gives me the chance to maintain a vital scientific network, to read papers and write grants. In the absence of help from government and local institutions, the Elsevier program was a great experience, an innovative way to support postdocs during their research career."

In order to qualify for the Free Access Passport, candidates will be asked to fill out a form verifying their credentials, before August 31, 2013. Once approved, they will receive a personal code allowing access to ScienceDirect.

Qualifying criteria include:

• Postdoctoral researchers who have received their PhD within the past five years
• Must have completed last research position (PhD research, postdoc or equivalent) on or after December 31, 2012 or hold a position that will be completed before August 31, 2013.

For more information about the program and to access the application form go to: http://www.elsevier.com/postdocfreeaccess

About ScienceDirect

ScienceDirect is a world premier full-text scientific database offering journal articles and book chapters from more than 2,500 peer-reviewed journals and 11,000 books. The platform offers search and retrieval functionalities that enable users to work effectively in the knowledge discovery process. ScienceDirect aims to revolutionize the traditional format of the academic paper; interactive elements, enhanced online-readability, alerting services, and linking options to external datasets help researchers to build insights at the article level. ScienceDirect now has more than 10 million users; its wide reach makes it an ideal place for scientists to publish and disseminate their research findings.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. The group employs more than 30,000 people, including more than 15,000 in North America. Reed Elsevier Group plc is owned equally by two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. Their shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.

Media contact
Tom Reller
Vice President, Global Corporate Relations
+1 215 239 3508
t.reller@elsevier.com

SOURCE Elsevier