An astronomer who claims that she was passed over for a permanent job because of spousal hiring has said that she feels ¡°let down¡± by recruitment policies.

Hermine Landt-Wilman joined Durham University in September 2020 as an assistant professor in observational astronomy on a Daphne Jackson fellowship, which supports scientists who have had a career break for caring responsibilities to get back into research.

Dr Landt-Wilman, who previously held a scholarship at Durham between 2011 and 2016, said that the institution had promised to support her as a strong candidate for a permanent post in this field?that it expected to fill shortly, and said that she was praised throughout her tenure, securing a promotion to associate professor in July 2023.

However, when the permanent post came up, Dr Landt-Wilman was unable to apply for it. Emails sent to Dr Landt-Wilman by a senior colleague, seen by Times Higher Education, indicate that the position was not advertised because it had been filled through a spousal hire, allowing ¡°an outstanding applicant from an under-represented group to accept a place by providing a job for their partner¡±.

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Durham denied it has a spousal hiring policy, but accepted it occasionally made ¡°type B¡± hires, where a department identifies a single or small number of ¡°higher-calibre candidates¡± for a role.?Dr Landt-Wilman said that a series of ¡°type B¡± hires were made in her department during her time at Durham.

She?left at the end of her fixed-term contract in February 2024 due to lack of funding, although she retains the title of academic visitor until the end of October to allow her to complete outstanding publications.

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Dr Landt-Wilman told THE that while ¡°nothing illegal¡± had occurred, she felt ¡°absolutely terrible because I was not given a chance¡±.

While a diverse workforce was key to ¡°ensuring balanced views [and] inclusive approaches¡±, she said, upping diversity through spousal hires feels like ¡°giving with one hand and taking with another¡±.?

¡°On one hand, Durham University hired more female academics through their scheme, but on the other hand they also fired more female academics in the sciences, such as me,¡± she said. ¡°This then just adds to the depressing results that most studies continue to show, namely the same patterns of gender disadvantages, both horizontally per discipline, and vertically per seniority level.¡±

Hiring practices and information over spousal hires should be made more transparent by universities to ensure that such policies are clear and can be utilised by more academics, Dr Landt-Wilman said.?

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A Durham spokesperson said that the documents seen by THE ¡°do not accurately represent university policy and practice¡±.

¡°Durham University does not operate a spousal or partner hiring policy, and neither have we previously done so. The hires in question were undertaken following a robust process,¡± they said.

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com