Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions, Funding Organizations, and Disciplinary Societies (2000)
Chapter: B Analysis of Quantitative Data on Postdocs
Appendix B
Analysis of Quantitative Data on Postdocs
The amount of data available on postdoctoral scholars in science and engineering is quite limited compared to that available for graduate students. For example, the number of graduate students funded by agency and funding mechanisms is known (such as how many graduate students are supported by NIH via both fellowships and research grants), but the same is not true for postdoctoral scholars.
Provided in this appendix is all the available quantitative data COSEPUP was able to locate on postdoctoral scholars. The data provided here in tables is also illustrated in figures throughout the text.
The surveys, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which serve as the basis for the tables and figures in the text are the:
-
Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), which is a census of all doctorates awarded by US educational institutions;
-
Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR), which is a biennial sample survey drawn from the SED;
-
Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, which is an annual survey of the academic departments of all post-baccalaureate institutions.
Note that the use of NSF data does not imply NSF endorsement of the research methods or conclusions contained in this report.
The following is a brief description of the assumptions and restrictions used to extract information from the individual data files.
SURVEY OF EARNED DOCTORATES (SED) (1920-1998)
The specialties list used in the SED for identifying doctoral fields in Science and Engineering (S&E) consists of the following major categories:
-
Agricultural Sciences
-
Biological Sciences
-
Health Sciences
-
Engineering
-
Computer and Information Sciences
-
Mathematics
-
Physical Sciences
-
Astronomy
-
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
-
Chemistry
-
Geological & Related Sciences
-
Physics
-
Psychology
-
Miscellaneous Physical Sciences
-
Social Sciences
For the purpose of this guide these names were used to identify fields or they were combined as follows:
-
Life Sciences (Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences)
-
Engineering
-
Mathematical Sciences (Computer and Information Sciences, Mathematics)
-
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences (Atmospheric Sciences and
-
Physics and Astronomy (Physics, Astronomy) Meteorology, Geological & Related Sciences, Miscellaneous Physical Sciences [except Other Physical Sciences])
-
Chemistry
-
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Psychology, Social Sciences)
All doctorates were selected independent of citizenship in determining the number of doctorates by field and in identifying postdoctoral plans in Table B-11. Only those doctorates who indicated that they have accepted a postdoctoral position or are negotiating with a specific organization were selected.
SURVEY OF DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS (SDR) (1973-1997)
In using the SDR data set, the same doctoral field identifiers were used as those for the Doctorate Recipient File (DRF). Median salaries were determined only for a six-year cohort, 1991-1996, of doctorates that in 1997 identified themselves as being in a postdoctoral position and only for fields where a sufficient number of responses would provide reliable information. For the other figures using the SDR data, no restriction to a particular cohort was used. Data for Figure 3-2 was generated for married individuals in the year of the survey and for married individuals with children of any age under 18. Figure 1-7, containing information on the reasons why individuals were in a postdoctoral position, pertains to their current position; two categories, “additional training” and “postdoc is excepted,” were combined into a single category. Figure 2-4, which reported the employment status of 1995 postdoctoral appointees in 1997, was obtained by merging the 1995 and 1997 data to obtain responses for individuals who responded to both surveys. Figure 1-5 provides data on the median number of years individuals are in postdoctoral positions by doctoral field, and this data was available only for the 1995 survey year as a special module for the survey.
SURVEY OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORATES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (1973-1998)
The field taxonomy for this survey is slightly different from that of the SDR or DRF since it is a survey of graduate departments and not research fields. The following departmental identifiers or a subset of those departments were used for this analysis:
-
Agricultural Sciences
-
Biological Sciences
-
Health Fields
-
Engineering
-
Mathematics and Computer Sciences
-
Chemistry
-
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences
-
Physics and Astronomy
-
Psychology
-
Social Sciences
This data was extracted from the National Science Foundation's CASPER Data System. Categories were selected from menus provided by the system. Figure 1-2 contains data on all individuals holding a postdoctoral position, inde-
pendent of citizenship, and whether they received a PhD or a professional degree (MD, DO, DVM, or DDS). Figure 2-5 distinguishes postdoctoral appointments by citizenship, and permanent residents are counted as US citizens. All other figures and tables using data from the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering made no restrictions as to citizenship or type of doctorate.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEGREE FIELD
A broad and fine degree taxonomy was used to describe the doctoral fields in this Guide. The following is a list of the broad field headings with the fine fields that comprise that broad field under its heading.
Life Sciences
Agricultural Sciences
Biological Sciences (includes Biochemistry)
Medical Sciences
Engineering
Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Computer Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Physical Sciences
Physics and Astronomy
Chemistry (does not include Biochemistry)
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Social Sciences
Psychology
LIST OF TABLES
|
TABLE B-1: |
Postdoctoral Appointees in Academic Institutions by Broad Field, 1980-1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-2: |
Number and Percentage of Postdoctoral Appointments Across Employment Sectors, 1981-1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-3: |
US Citizen and Permanent Resident Postdoctoral Appointees at US Universities, 1988-1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-4: |
Percentage of US Citizens and Permanent Residents with Postdoctoral Appointments in US Institutions by Field, 1988-1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-5: |
Reasons for Taking first Postdoctoral Appointment, by Field of Doctorate, 1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-6: |
1997 Status of 1995 Postdoctorates, by Selected Science & Engineering Field |
|||
|
TABLE B-7: |
Sources of Job Advice for Individuals with and without Postdoctoral Appointments |
|||
|
TABLE B-8: |
Comparison of Primary Concerns of Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Appointees in 1992 and 1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-9: |
Median Number of Months Spent in Postdoctoral Appointment, by Field and Years Since Doctorate |
|||
|
TABLE B-10: |
Number of Science & Engineering Doctorates by Field, 1975-1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-11: |
Number of Science & Engineering Doctorates Planning Postdoctoral Study by Field, 1975-1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-12: |
Source of Support for Academic Postdoctoral Appointees by Field, 1998 |
|||
|
TABLE B-13: |
Married and Dependent Status of Postdoctoral Appointees in 1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-14: |
Ratio of the Number of Tenured Faculty to the Number of Doctorates in 1987 and 1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-15: |
Median Postdoctoral Salaries by Employment Sector and Field of Doctorate in 1997 for Doctorate in the Six-Year Cohort, 1991-1996 |
|||
|
TABLE B-16: |
Median Industrial Salaries in 1997 for Doctorates in the Six-Year PhD Cohort, 1991-1996, by Field and Type of Appointment |
|||
|
TABLE B-17: |
Median Government Salaries in 1997 for Doctorates in the Six-Year PhD Cohort, 1991-1996, by Field and Type of Appointment |
|||
|
TABLE B-18: |
Number of Postdoctoral Appointments in Selective Survey Years, 1981-1997 |
|||
|
TABLE B-19: |
Number and Percentage of 1991-1996 Doctorates that Hold Postdoctoral Positions in 1997, by Gender |
TABLE B-1: Postdoctoral Appointees in Academic Institutions by Broad Field, 1980-1998
|
1980 |
1981 |
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
|
|
Life Sciences |
11,721 |
12,836 |
12,703 |
13,699 |
14,421 |
14,958 |
15,920 |
16,874 |
17,540 |
18,984 |
|
Physical Sciences and Mathematics |
4,796 |
4,971 |
4,879 |
5,128 |
5,163 |
5,214 |
5,556 |
5,724 |
6,077 |
6,128 |
|
Engineering |
979 |
1,038 |
978 |
1,107 |
1,202 |
1,355 |
1,402 |
1,444 |
1,688 |
1,917 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
904 |
790 |
804 |
779 |
749 |
860 |
843 |
839 |
818 |
903 |
|
All Science & Engineering Fields |
18,400 |
19,635 |
19,364 |
20,713 |
21,535 |
22,387 |
23,721 |
24,881 |
26,123 |
27,932 |
|
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
||
|
Life Sciences |
20,214 |
21,051 |
22,671 |
24,158 |
25,704 |
25,144 |
26,119 |
26,836 |
28,283 |
|
|
Physical Sciences and Mathematics |
6,506 |
6,673 |
6,830 |
6,822 |
7,132 |
7,183 |
7,276 |
7,495 |
7,511 |
|
|
Engineering |
1,943 |
2,254 |
2,360 |
2,443 |
2,600 |
2,641 |
2,674 |
2,951 |
2,830 |
|
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
902 |
887 |
886 |
899 |
941 |
958 |
1,038 |
936 |
995 |
|
|
All Science & Engineerning Fields |
29,565 |
30,865 |
32,747 |
34,322 |
36,377 |
35,926 |
37,107 |
38,218 |
39,619 |
|
|
Source: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Scienceand Engineering, 1980-1998 Note: Life Sciences includes the Agricultural Sciences, Biological Sciences, and the Health Sciences. Physical Sciences and Mathematics includes Chemistry; Astronomy and Physics; Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences; and Mathematics and Computer Sciences |
||||||||||
TABLE B-2: Number and Percentage of Postdoctoral Appointments Across Employment Sectors, 1981-1997
|
1981 |
1985 |
1989 |
1993 |
1997 |
||
|
Academic |
8,628 |
8,848 |
11,761 |
13,264 |
19,358 |
|
|
Percent |
91.4% |
87.6% |
89.4% |
80.0% |
80.3% |
|
|
Industrial |
221 |
479 |
555 |
989 |
1,663 |
|
|
Percent |
2.3% |
4.7% |
4.2% |
6.0% |
6.9% |
|
|
Government |
593 |
772 |
835 |
2,325 |
3,090 |
|
|
Percent |
6.3% |
7.6% |
6.3% |
14.0% |
12.8% |
|
|
Total |
9,442 |
10,099 |
13,151 |
16,578 |
24,111 |
|
|
Source: 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997 Survey of Doctorate Recipients |
||||||
TABLE B-3: US Citizen and Permanent Resident Postdoctoral Appointees at US Universities, 1988-1998
|
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
|
|
Agricultural Sciences |
312 |
322 |
353 |
353 |
342 |
347 |
|
Biological Sciences |
6,110 |
6,388 |
6,594 |
7,283 |
7,499 |
7,527 |
|
Chemistry |
1,331 |
1,327 |
1,248 |
1,427 |
1,385 |
1,406 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
307 |
377 |
415 |
514 |
504 |
527 |
|
Engineering |
587 |
608 |
762 |
1,014 |
1,050 |
935 |
|
Medical Sciences |
3,969 |
4,440 |
4,611 |
5,499 |
5,475 |
6,787 |
|
Mathematical Sciences |
208 |
139 |
190 |
227 |
258 |
309 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
903 |
863 |
976 |
972 |
1,065 |
945 |
|
Psychology |
425 |
381 |
401 |
426 |
483 |
482 |
|
Social Sciences |
242 |
247 |
226 |
249 |
308 |
260 |
|
Total US Citizen and Perms |
14,420 |
15,115 |
15,800 |
17,986 |
18,412 |
19,543 |
|
Source: 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998 Survey of GraduateStudents and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering |
||||||
TABLE B-4: Percentage of US Citizens and Permanent Residents with Postdoctoral Appointments in US Institutions by Field, 1988-1998
|
1988 |
1990 |
1992 |
1994 |
1996 |
1998 |
|
|
Agricultural Sciences |
67.2% |
61.5% |
56.0% |
50.1% |
50.5% |
52.1% |
|
Biological Sciences |
57.2% |
53.5% |
50.0% |
50.4% |
50.2% |
48.6% |
|
Chemistry |
38.7% |
36.4% |
34.8% |
38.3% |
38.7% |
37.8% |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
61.9% |
63.5% |
60.0% |
62.4% |
58.5% |
58.8% |
|
Engineering |
34.8% |
31.3% |
32.3% |
39.0% |
39.3% |
33.0% |
|
Medical Sciences |
62.1% |
57.3% |
52.1% |
52.1% |
52.1% |
55.9% |
|
Mathematical Sciences |
54.7% |
43.4% |
54.9% |
53.5% |
44.8% |
48.1% |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
52.1% |
45.0% |
45.0% |
46.0% |
49.1% |
42.6% |
|
Psychology |
85.3% |
82.1% |
76.4% |
77.3% |
81.3% |
78.8% |
|
Social Sciences |
75.6% |
56.4% |
62.6% |
63.8% |
69.4% |
67.9% |
|
Total |
55.2% |
51.1% |
48.2% |
49.4% |
49.6% |
49.3% |
|
Source: 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, and 1998 Survey of GraduateStudents and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering |
||||||
TABLE B-5: Reasons for Taking First Postdoctoral Appointment, by Field of Doctorate, 1997
|
Expected or Additional Training |
Work with Specific Person |
Training Outside PhD Field |
Other Employment Not Available |
Other |
Total |
|
|
Biological Sciences |
6,404 |
2,427 |
1,950 |
1,779 |
602 |
13,162 |
|
Percent |
57.2% |
51.8% |
57.3% |
40.4% |
31.5% |
54.3% |
|
Chemistry |
865 |
308 |
292 |
551 |
168 |
2,184 |
|
Percent |
7.7% |
6.6% |
8.6% |
12.5% |
8.8% |
9.0% |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
343 |
75 |
75 |
238 |
80 |
811 |
|
Percent |
3.1% |
1.6% |
2.2% |
5.4% |
4.2% |
3.3% |
|
Engineering |
586 |
464 |
288 |
517 |
401 |
2,256 |
|
Percent |
5.2% |
9.9% |
8.5% |
11.7% |
21.0% |
9.3% |
|
Medical Sciences |
205 |
137 |
82 |
68 |
74 |
566 |
|
Percent |
1.8% |
2.9% |
2.4% |
1.5% |
3.9% |
2.3% |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
1,010 |
347 |
175 |
399 |
162 |
2,093 |
|
Percent |
9.0% |
7.4% |
5.1% |
9.1% |
8.5% |
8.6% |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
1,368 |
564 |
412 |
514 |
305 |
3,163 |
|
Percent |
12.2% |
12.0% |
12.1% |
11.7% |
15.9% |
13.1% |
|
All Postdoctorates |
11,197 |
4,687 |
3,403 |
4,406 |
1,914 |
24,235 |
|
Percent |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1997 |
||||||
TABLE B-6: 1997 Status of 1995 Postdoctorates, by Selected Science & Engineering Field
TABLE B-7: Sources of Job Advice for Individuals with and without Postdoctoral Appointments
|
Best Sources |
Utilized Sources |
|||
|
Biochemistry Postdoctoral Appointees |
Mathematics Postdoctoral Appointees |
Biochemistry Postdoctoral Appointees |
Mathematics Postdoctoral Appointees |
|
|
Postdoctoral Mentor |
41% |
16% |
59 % |
31% |
|
Job Notice in Professional Journal |
38% |
31% |
57% |
51% |
|
PhD Adviser |
25% |
39% |
42% |
60% |
|
Sent Unsolicited |
7% |
13% |
21% |
37% |
|
Other Faculty |
16% |
27% |
39% |
56% |
|
Former Professional Contacts |
16% |
28% |
25% |
40% |
|
Job Ads On-Campus |
3% |
6% |
13% |
13% |
|
Source: Science 1999, Vol. 285, p. 1518 |
||||
TABLE B-8: Comparison of Primary Concerns of Johns Hopkins University Postdoctoral Appointees in 1992 and 1997
|
1992 |
1997 |
|
|
Future Job Placement |
45% |
68% |
|
Salary Levels |
47% |
67% |
|
Dental Insurance |
0% |
47% |
|
Campus Parking |
39% |
40% |
|
Research Funding |
22% |
37% |
|
Personal Safety |
60% |
31% |
|
Health Insurance |
53% |
26% |
|
Child Care |
29% |
26% |
|
Source: Science 1999, Vol. 285, pp. 1514 (data collected by Johns Hopkins UniversityPostdoctoral Association) |
||
TABLE B-9: Median Number of Months Spent in Postdoctoral Appointment, by Field and Years Since Doctorate
|
Years Since Doctorate |
|||
|
4 to 6 |
7 to 10 |
11 to 20 |
|
|
Agricultural Sciences |
20 |
22 |
25 |
|
Biological Sciences |
46 |
45 |
38 |
|
Chemistry |
22 |
24 |
22 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
23 |
19 |
16 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
34 |
32 |
25 |
|
Psychology |
15 |
16 |
20 |
|
All Science and Engineering |
29 |
29 |
26 |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1995 Notes: Years since doctorate are counted from 1995 when data was collected. Data for the most current, 1 to 3 years cohort, is not provided since many doctorates are still in postdoctoral positions. |
|||
TABLE B-10: Number of Science and Engineering Doctorates by Field, 1975-1998
|
1975 |
1980 |
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
|
|
Agricultural Sciences |
1,067 |
1,072 |
1,258 |
1,321 |
1,212 |
1,208 |
1,112 |
1,192 |
|
Biological Sciences |
3,497 |
3,803 |
3,793 |
4,328 |
5,376 |
5,723 |
5,777 |
5,848 |
|
Medical Sciences |
462 |
586 |
729 |
956 |
1,330 |
1,324 |
1,422 |
1,500 |
|
Engineering |
3,002 |
2,479 |
3,166 |
4,894 |
6,008 |
6,305 |
6,098 |
5,919 |
|
Mathematical Sciences |
1,147 |
962 |
998 |
1,597 |
2,187 |
2,043 |
2,030 |
2,100 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
634 |
628 |
617 |
769 |
807 |
807 |
897 |
838 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
1,300 |
983 |
1,080 |
1,393 |
1,652 |
1,676 |
1,597 |
1,584 |
|
Chemistry |
1,776 |
1,538 |
1,836 |
2,100 |
2,162 |
2,148 |
2,143 |
2,217 |
|
Social Sciences |
3,315 |
2,757 |
2,647 |
2,812 |
3,356 |
3,474 |
3,473 |
3,394 |
|
Psychology |
2,751 |
3,098 |
3,118 |
3,281 |
3,279 |
3,340 |
3,564 |
3,681 |
|
All Science and Engineering Doctorates |
18,951 |
17,906 |
19,242 |
23,451 |
27,369 |
28,048 |
28,113 |
28,273 |
|
Source: Survey of Earned Doctorates, 1920-1998 Note: Includes all doctorates, independent of citizenship status |
||||||||
TABLE B-11: Number of Science and Engineering Doctorates Planning Postdoctoral Study by Field, 1975-1998
|
1975 |
1980 |
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
1998 |
|
|
Agricultural Sciences |
157 |
154 |
238 |
354 |
334 |
327 |
|
Biological Sciences |
1,923 |
2,310 |
2,328 |
2,827 |
3,500 |
3,488 |
|
Medical Sciences |
58 |
108 |
96 |
160 |
231 |
214 |
|
Engineering |
385 |
279 |
425 |
843 |
1,193 |
949 |
|
Mathematical Sciences |
119 |
111 |
147 |
300 |
437 |
367 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
139 |
176 |
213 |
281 |
338 |
306 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
611 |
445 |
486 |
765 |
885 |
672 |
|
Chemistry |
811 |
606 |
747 |
927 |
1,089 |
943 |
|
Social Sciences |
139 |
191 |
193 |
225 |
316 |
357 |
|
Psychology |
377 |
476 |
485 |
553 |
751 |
882 |
|
All Science and Engineering Doctorates |
4,719 |
4,856 |
5,358 |
7,235 |
9,074 |
8,505 |
|
Source: Survey of Earned Doctorates, 1920-1998 |
||||||
TABLE B-12: Source of Support for Academic Postdoctoral Appointees by Field, 1998
|
Fellowships |
Traineeships |
Research Grants |
Non-Federal Sources |
Total |
|
|
Agriculture |
28 |
1 |
345 |
292 |
666 |
|
Biological Sciences |
1,575 |
1,084 |
8,557 |
4,264 |
15,480 |
|
Medical Sciences |
1,716 |
1,548 |
4,020 |
4,853 |
12,137 |
|
Engineering |
113 |
21 |
1,829 |
867 |
2,830 |
|
Mathematical and Computer Sciences |
75 |
2 |
370 |
195 |
642 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
71 |
12 |
670 |
144 |
897 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
111 |
9 |
1,754 |
342 |
2,216 |
|
Chemistry |
249 |
28 |
2,421 |
1,018 |
3,716 |
|
Social Sciences |
35 |
26 |
96 |
226 |
383 |
|
Psychology |
79 |
109 |
248 |
176 |
612 |
|
Total |
4,052 |
2,840 |
20,310 |
12,377 |
39,579 |
|
Source: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Scienceand Engineering, 1998 |
|||||
TABLE B-13: Married and Dependent Status of Postdoctoral Appointees in 1997
|
HAVE CHILDREN |
NO CHILDREN |
MARRIED |
NOT MARRIED |
|||||
|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
|
|
Agriculture |
373 |
54.7% |
309 |
45.3% |
539 |
79.0% |
143 |
21.0% |
|
Biological Sciences |
5,329 |
40.5% |
7,833 |
59.5% |
8,984 |
68.3% |
4,178 |
31.7% |
|
Medical Sciences |
276 |
48.8% |
290 |
51.2% |
345 |
61.0% |
221 |
39.0% |
|
Engineering |
855 |
37.9% |
1,401 |
62.1% |
1,686 |
74.7% |
570 |
25.3% |
|
Mathematical and Computer Sciences |
101 |
15.3% |
557 |
84.7% |
296 |
45.0% |
362 |
55.0% |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
345 |
42.5% |
466 |
57.5% |
479 |
59.1% |
332 |
40.9% |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
555 |
26.5% |
1,538 |
73.5% |
1,160 |
55.4% |
933 |
44.6% |
|
Chemistry |
595 |
27.2% |
1,589 |
72.8% |
1,328 |
60.8% |
856 |
39.2% |
|
Social Sciences |
1,118 |
35.3% |
2,045 |
64.7% |
1,931 |
61.0% |
1,232 |
39.0% |
|
Psychology |
856 |
38.0% |
1,398 |
62.0% |
1,425 |
63.2% |
829 |
36.8% |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1997 |
||||||||
TABLE B-14: Ratio of the Number of Tenured Faculty to the Number of Doctorates in 1987 and 1997
|
Doctorates |
Tenured Faculty |
Ratio Tenured Faculty/ Doctorates |
||||
|
1987 |
1997 |
1987 |
1997 |
1987 |
1997 |
|
|
Agriculture |
157 |
281 |
5,551 |
6,107 |
35.4 |
21.7 |
|
Biological Sciences |
1,923 |
3,324 |
22,967 |
24,718 |
11.9 |
7.4 |
|
Medical Sciences |
58 |
197 |
2,545 |
3,899 |
43.9 |
19.8 |
|
Engineering |
385 |
1,000 |
12,950 |
15,691 |
33.6 |
15.7 |
|
Mathematical and Computer Sciences |
119 |
365 |
9,841 |
12,554 |
82.7 |
34.4 |
|
Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Sciences |
139 |
309 |
2,944 |
3,504 |
21.2 |
11.3 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
611 |
654 |
7,047 |
7,370 |
11.5 |
11.3 |
|
Chemistry |
811 |
923 |
9,334 |
8,623 |
11.5 |
9.3 |
|
Social Sciences |
516 |
1,019 |
24,008 |
26,137 |
46.5 |
25.6 |
|
Psychology |
377 |
733 |
12,404 |
13,993 |
32.9 |
19.1 |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1987 and 1997 |
||||||
TABLE B-15: Median Postdoctoral Salaries by Employment Sector and Field of Doctorate in 1997 for Doctorate in the Six-Year Cohort, 1991-1996
|
Academe |
Industry |
Government |
|
|
Life Sciences |
$27,000 |
$33,000 |
$35,000 |
|
Engineering |
$30,000 |
$56,500 |
$45,000 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
$34,000 |
$48,000 |
$42,000 |
|
Chemistry |
$25,000 |
$40,000 |
$48,000 |
|
Social/Behavioral Sciences |
$27,600 |
$30,000 |
$35,000 |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1997 Note: Median salaries are presented only for individuals who received their doctorate between 1991 and 1996 to avoid including senior personnel who might classify a leave position as a postdoctoral appointment. Other fields where not included since the number of data points may be too small to provide accurate information. |
|||
TABLE B-16: Median Industrial Salaries in 1997 for Doctorates in the Six-Year PhD Cohort, 1991-1996, by Field and Type of Appointment
TABLE B-17: Median Government Salaries in 1997 for Doctorates in the Six-Year PhD Cohort, 1991-1996, by Field and Type of Appointment
TABLE B-18: Number of Postdoctoral Appointments in Selective Survey Years, 1981-1997
|
Academic Postdoctoral Positions |
|||||
|
1981 |
1985 |
1989 |
1993 |
1997 |
|
|
Life Sciences |
5,257 |
5,294 |
6,909 |
7,720 |
11,253 |
|
Engineering |
192 |
187 |
607 |
919 |
1,671 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
716 |
781 |
1,019 |
1,635 |
1,541 |
|
Chemistry |
1,258 |
1,235 |
1,562 |
1,806 |
1,621 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
894 |
1,090 |
1,148 |
588 |
2,069 |
|
Industrial Postdoctoral Positions |
|||||
|
1981 |
1985 |
1989 |
1993 |
1997 |
|
|
Life Sciences |
100 |
193 |
217 |
404 |
655 |
|
Engineering |
NA |
NA |
169 |
198 |
140 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
55 |
115 |
57 |
79 |
54 |
|
Chemistry |
NA |
70 |
NA |
240 |
307 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
NA |
80 |
NA |
50 |
465 |
|
Governmental Postdoctoral Positions |
|||||
|
1981 |
1985 |
1989 |
1993 |
1997 |
|
|
Life Sciences |
332 |
502 |
583 |
1,524 |
1,594 |
|
Engineering |
NA |
144 |
NA |
144 |
384 |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
62 |
NA |
82 |
150 |
468 |
|
Chemistry |
26 |
59 |
82 |
173 |
217 |
|
Social and Behavioral Sciences |
88 |
NA |
NA |
181 |
313 |
|
Source: 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997 Survey of Doctorate Recipients Note: NA = insufficient data to provide reliable information. |
|||||
TABLE B-19: Number and Percentage of 1991-1996 Doctorates that Hold Postdoctoral Positions in 1997, by Gender
|
Male |
Female |
||||||
|
PhD Field |
Total Doctorates |
Number of Postdocs |
Percentage of Male Doctorates in Postdoc Positions |
Total Doctorates |
Number of Postdocs |
Percentage of Female Doctorates in Postdoc Positions |
Percentage of all Postdoc Positions Held by Females |
|
Agricultural Sciencs |
2,776 |
219 |
7.9% |
966 |
133 |
13.8% |
37.8% |
|
Biological Sciences |
13,923 |
5,579 |
40.1% |
9,657 |
4,011 |
41.5% |
41.8% |
|
Medical Sciences |
1,694 |
122 |
7.2% |
4,035 |
219 |
5.4% |
64.2% |
|
Engineering |
14,683 |
826 |
5.6% |
2,354 |
205 |
8.7% |
19.9% |
|
Mathematics |
5,327 |
323 |
6.1% |
1,545 |
93 |
6.0% |
22.4% |
|
Earth and Atmos Sciences |
2,454 |
479 |
19.5% |
841 |
144 |
17.1% |
23.1% |
|
Astronomy and Physics |
4,957 |
1,250 |
25.2% |
579 |
138 |
23.8% |
9.9% |
|
Chemistry |
6,453 |
992 |
15.4% |
2,281 |
305 |
13.4% |
23.5% |
|
Social Sciences |
6,983 |
312 |
4.5% |
5,184 |
220 |
4.2% |
41.4% |
|
Psychology |
6,604 |
651 |
9.9% |
11,677 |
953 |
8.2% |
59.4% |
|
Total |
65,854 |
10,753 |
16.3% |
39,119 |
6,421 |
16.4% |
37.4% |
|
Male |
Female |
||||||
|
PhD Field |
Total Doctorates |
Number of Postdocs |
Percentage of Male Doctorates in Postdoc Positions |
Total Doctorates |
Number of Postdocs |
Percentage of Female Doctorates in Postdoc Positions |
Percentage of all Postdoc Positions Held by Females |
|
Life Sciences |
18,393 |
5,920 |
32.2% |
14,658 |
4,363 |
29.8% |
42.4% |
|
Engineering |
14,683 |
826 |
5.6% |
2,354 |
205 |
8.7% |
19.9% |
|
Physical, Math and Comp Sci |
19,191 |
3,044 |
15.9% |
5,246 |
680 |
13.0% |
18.3% |
|
Social/Behavioral Sci |
13,587 |
963 |
7.1% |
16,861 |
1,173 |
7.0% |
54.9% |
|
Total |
65,854 |
10,753 |
16.3% |
39,119 |
6,421 |
16.4% |
37.4% |
|
Source: Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 1997 |
|||||||
