From Postdoc to Professor: How Research Focus, Gender, and Field Effects Shape Academic Career Outcomes

• In Event: 50220 - Section on Organizations, Occupations, and Work Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Careers in Higher Education

Abstract

Does the nature of someone’s postdoctoral experience shape their ability to secure a tenure track job? Historically, postdoctoral positions have served as a stepping stone between earning a PhD in science and engineering (S&E) fields and more permanent academic employment. Recent studies suggest that returns to postdoc positions may be declining, as they are less likely to lead to stable employment. However, even though postdoc positions are far from homogenous, few studies investigate how features of one’s postdoctoral position shape job outcomes. This article addresses this gap, investigating which features of postdocs likely result in securing a tenure track academic job. This article also analyzes how the relationship between postdoc features and employment vary by field and gender. We utilize data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) and Survey of Doctoral Recipients (SDR) to understand how characteristics of a postdoctoral position influence the likelihood of securing a tenure track job. We argue that postdocs generally have a positive effect on an individual’s likelihood of securing a tenure track job, especially in fields like physical science and engineering. Further, we find that, perhaps surprisingly, that “applied” postdocs are more likely to secure a tenure track position than those focused on “basic” research. We find that there was no significant difference in how postdoctoral positions influence the careers of men and women.

Authors

• Timothy Sacco, University of Arizona

• Dong Joon Park, University of Arizona

• Erin Leahey, University of Arizona