The National Science Foundation Division of Science Resources Statistics (NSF/SRS) serves as a “central clearinghouse for data . . . on science and engineering resources.” It is federally mandated to act as “a source of information for policy formulation.”
Through ongoing surveys, SRS has noted increases in the:
- Number of postdocs
- Duration of postdoc appointments
- Number of foreign-degreed individuals in postdocs
But it is unclear how these trends impact the US research enterprise, labor force, and science and engineering (S&E) markets.1
Gaps in postdoc coverage
Postdoc data are vital for assessing the US research enterprise. Existing SRS sources focus mainly on postdocs who have received PhD degrees from US institutions and who work in the academic sector. The Postdoc Data Project (PDP) aims to increase the coverage of postdocs with:
- Foreign degrees
- PhD-equivalent degrees, such as MDs or DDSs
- Appointments in non-academic sectors
Gaps in postdoc data
In addition to limited coverage of the postdoc population, there are limited national data about the postdoc experience itself. In recent years, members of the research community have raised concerns about:
- Decisions to seek, accept, complete or leave an appointment
- Quality of life issues such as health care access and impact on immediate family
- Duration of appointments
- Sources of support including benefits and their impact on duration
- Determinants of a successful appointment
- Career and educational aspirations and expectations
- Formal and informal mentoring relationships
1. Rivers, Emilda. (2006, October 16). Postdoc Data Project: Southern Association of Institutional Research. National Science Foundation.
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