Science PhD career preferences: levels, changes, and advisor encouragement.

ABSTRACT: Even though academic research is often viewed as the preferred career path for PhD trained scientists, most U.S. graduates enter careers in industry, government, or "alternative careers." There has been a growing concern that these career patterns reflect fundamental imbalances between the supply of scientists seeking academic positions and the availability of such positions. However, while government statistics provide insights into realized career transitions, there is little systematic data on scientists' career preferences and thus on the degree to which there is a mismatch between observed career paths and scientists' preferences. Moreover, we lack systematic evidence whether career preferences adjust over the course of the PhD training and to what extent advisors exacerbate imbalance

SUBMITTER: Sauermann H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3342243 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature