Self-Efficacy, Academic Autonomy, Perceived Future Job Prospects of STEM Postdocs: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Interdisciplinary Collaborations: STEM Research Across Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs (Table 11)

Abstract

The lack of support in academia for postdocs is a serious issue. Such experiences can be expected to be highly relevant to postdocs for their perceived future job prospects. According to self-determination theory, support for the two fundamental psychological needs—self-efficacy and autonomy—should enhance perceived future job prospects in postdoctoral contexts. Our sample comprised 6,571 postdocs from the Nature 2023 survey. Building on this global study, we investigated how STEM postdocs (N = 2,342) in academia perceive such support and how these perceptions influence their perceived future job prospects. Our findings indicate that both supervisor support and organizational financial support improve postdocs’ perceived future job prospects by boosting self-efficacy and academic autonomy.

Author

• Yujie LI, Shanghai Jiao Tong University