Science and Engineering Doctorate Recipients as Adjunct Faculty: A Growing Presence? New Findings From the Survey of Doctorate Recipients

• In Event: Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Faculty, Curriculum, and Teaching

Abstract

This study focuses on faculty who have earned research doctorates and distinguishes among types of part-time and non-tenure track faculty. Relying on unique longitudinal data on the careers of science (including social science) and engineering doctorate holders from U.S. institutions, the paper aims to (1) examine the patterns of employment of doctoral recipients to understand who is going into and staying in the academic sector; and (2) analyze the kinds of jobs held by academicians to distinguish those who are in tenure-track positions, those who are adjunct faculty, and those who are adjunct faculty but have other professional positions. These findings are particularly relevant at a time when higher education is increasingly relying on adjunct faculty to reduce labor costs.

Authors

• Carolina Milesi, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Thomas B. Hoffer, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Sheila Nataraj Kirby, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Lynn M. Milan, National Science Foundation