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

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE STATE OF POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE IN SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
• COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND PUBLIC POLICY
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Disconnect Between the Ideal and Reality
  • HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
  • A BASIC DEFINITION
  • THE CURRENT REALITY
  • DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS
  • CONTEXT
• 3. Changing Aspects of the Postdoctoral Experience
  • ACTIONS INSPIRED BY THE 2000 POSTDOCTORAL REPORT
  • INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN THE POSTDOCTORAL ENTERPRISE
  • INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE
  • RECENT REPORTS
  • ADAPTING TO REALITY
• 4. The Shifting Career Landscape
  • UNDERSTANDING THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS
  • POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS SUPPLY AND USE
  • SALARY
  • INFORMING DECISIONS
• 5. Recommendations
  • POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION AND BEST PRACTICES
• References
• APPENDIXES
  • APPENDIX A UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN THE UNITED STATES
  • APPENDIX B DETERMINATION OF THE MINIMUM SALARY FIGURE
  • APPENDIX C STAKEHOLDER SPEAKERS
  • APPENDIX D ACRONYMS
  • APPENDIX E COMMITTEE MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.