by E.J. » Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:22 am
After reading numerous articles, postings on this forum, and speaking to post-docs it just seems like this is the "economics" of the sciences (in particular life sciences). Please correct me if I am wrong, or if you have anything to add.
- You have undergrad biology majors who either enter dental, medical, or grad school. Those who enter into grad programs either really love research and want to some day become PIs/teaching professors or are confused about what they can do with just a B.S. in biology (or don't get into dental or med school) so therefore enter into grad school b/c it is seen as a "safe and certain route". However, most have no clue what a career in academia or industry entails. Nor does anyone inform or warn them.
- Grad programs continue to attract both domestic and international students in their programs. However, with the decrease of Americans studying in the field of the life sciences there has been an increasing trend of international students in U.S. Ph.D. programs. Many first year students believe they can obtain a faculty position or industrial position immediately upon graduation, but later (in their 3rd-5th yr) they come to the inevitable realization that a post-doc is required. A majority go the post-doc route, and the others either quit the program or get their Ph.Ds and forego the post-doc for a non-science or alternative career route.
- Those applying for post-doc positions in the U.S. are not only those who received their Ph.D. diploma in the states, but also those who received international degrees therefore increasing the pool of competition for coveted "tenure-track" positions in academia. The huge supply of Ph.Ds and low turnover of faculty position creates this new work-force, which academia uses to their advantage to do the research, and pay very low salaries. The oversupply isn't the only reason for the low salaries, but also the fact that internationals come to the U.S. to study and are willing to take these low paying positions b/c there are greater opportunities and training here (Note: Pls, don't take this personal. I'm just trying to make a point. I don't have anything against internationals and believe they have every right to get the best education available).
- The length of the post-doc has increased over the years from 2-3 yrs of training to 3-5 yrs as well as the possibility of doing a second post-doc. Some after two or more post-docs become perma-docs. Academia has in place a number of checkpoints in their career path: asst. prof, assoc. prof, and full professor. Each of these positions have about a 4-year "trial by fire" that determine promotion through number of publications, obtaining funding, teaching, university politics, etc. If they don't reach full professorship within the time frame they either go through a similar track at a lower-tier university or leave academia.
- This oversupply created by academia and the immigration of foreign scientist creates a high supply and low demand in the U.S., which allows industry to be highly selective of employees. They demand highly qualified and trained personnel, yet providing less on the job training. Also, their salaries are lower than other jobs requiring personnel with less academic training due to oversupply of Ph.Ds and a cheap but highly-skilled foreign workforce.
- As for obtaining a government job (e.g. NIH), I have very little information, but I'm assuming it is similar to the structure of academia. Except the positions are far more stable and the pay is a bit better. I'm assuming these positions are few and very coveted?
Is this really how the system works? The whole oversupply or Ph.Ds through academia providing a limitless supply of workers for industry sounds very much like a conspiracy theory to me. In a way it sounds unbelievable.