Challenges of Fully Supporting Postdoctoral Scholars: The Experiences of Postdoctoral Office Directors

• In Event: Navigating the Transition: Postdoctoral Scholar Experiences in Academia

Abstract

US Postdoctoral offices are designed to offset the challenges postdoctoral scholars face at their institutions and provide academic, career, and personal support to postdoctoral scholars. However, little research has focused on the resources postdoctoral offices actually possess in order to support their postdoctoral scholars. Thus, this intrinsic case study focuses on postdoctoral office directors in 20 institutions across the United States and the ways in which their postdoctoral offices support postdoctoral scholars. The research question guiding this study is: What challenges do postdoctoral office directors face in meeting the needs of postdoctoral scholars at their institutions? Three themes emerged from the data: (1) Lack of resources; (2) Myriad of needs; and (3) Unseen workforce.

Authors

• Jennifer Alayne Tygret, Illinois College

• Sylvia L. Mendez, University of Kentucky

• Anneke Bruwer, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs