The postdoctoral experience revisited / Committee to Review the State of Postdoctoral Experience in Scientists and Engineers, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, Policy and Global Affairs, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

Committee to Review the State of Postdoctoral Experience in Scientists and Engineers (U.S.), issuing body.

Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (U.S.), issuing body.

National Research Council (U.S.). Policy and Global Affairs, issuing body.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.), issuing body.

National Academy of Engineering, issuing body.

Institute of Medicine (U.S.), issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Universities and colleges--United States--Graduate work.

Universities and colleges.

Science--United States--Graduate work.

Science.

Engineering--United States--Graduate work.

Engineering.

Universities and colleges--Graduate work.

United States.

Physical Description:

xiii, 107 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Enhancing the postdoctoral experience for scientists and engineers

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : The National Academies Press, [2014]

Summary:

The Postdoctoral Experience Revisited builds on the 2000 report Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers. That ground-breaking report assessed the postdoctoral experience and provided principles, action points, and recommendations to enhance that experience. Since the publication of the 2000 report, the postdoctoral landscape has changed considerably. The percentage of PhDs who pursue postdoctoral training is growing steadily and spreading from the biomedical and physical sciences to engineering and the social sciences. The average length of time spent in postdoctoral positions seems to be increasing. The Postdoctoral Experience Revisited reexamines postdoctoral programs in the United States, focusing on how postdocs are being guided and managed, how institutional practices have changed, and what happens to postdocs after they complete their programs. This book explores important changes that have occurred in postdoctoral practices and the research ecosystem and assesses how well current practices meet the needs of these fledgling scientists and engineers and of the research enterprise. The Postdoctoral Experience Revisited takes a fresh look at current postdoctoral fellows - how many there are, where they are working, in what fields, and for how many years. This book makes recommendations to improve aspects of programs - postdoctoral period of service, title and role, career development, compensation and benefits, and mentoring. Current data on demographics, career aspirations, and career outcomes for postdocs are limited. This report makes the case for better data collection by research institution and data sharing. A larger goal of this study is not only to propose ways to make the postdoctoral system better for the postdoctoral researchers themselves but also to better understand the role that postdoctoral training plays in the research enterprise. It is also to ask whether there are alternative ways to satisfy some of the research and career development needs of postdoctoral researchers that are now being met with several years of advanced training. Postdoctoral researchers are the future of the research enterprise. The discussion and recommendations of The Postdoctoral Experience Revisited will stimulate action toward clarifying the role of postdoctoral researchers and improving their status and experience.

Contents:

Introduction

The disconnect between the ideal and reality

Changing aspects of the postdoctoral experience

The shifting career landscape

Recommendations

Appendixes.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 79-86).

ISBN:

0309314461

9780309314466

OCLC:

898300637