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College degrees awarded per capita in the U.S.
There is incredibly intense competition for an academic faculty job even with such a small set of qualified candidates. After 23 years, the U.S. is producing twice as many Master’s degrees per capita than they used to.
Want to be a PI? What are the odds?
Algorithm based on publications finds that first-author articles in leading journals matter most.
I'm a teenage lobotomy
A large fraction of academic scientists are obsessed with the issue of 'when will I have done enough to complete my PhD?'
Den Weg zur Forschung ebnen
Neues Förderungsprogramm ermöglicht Nachwuchsforschenden in der Medizin, ihre Arbeit in der Klinik zu reduzieren. Zugunsten ihrer Forschung.
Cambridge centre for postdocs opens
Its opening represents a key step in the university’s plans to improve the experience for its 3,500 postdocs, who comprise the largest group of staff at Cambridge.
Competitive research grants and their impact on career performance
The role of competitive funds as a source of funding for academic research has increased in many countries. For the individual researcher, the receipt of a grant can influence both scientific production and career paths.
Why climb the greasy pole?
Getting a job at a top university will not make you a better researcher
Driving forces of researchers mobility
Study showing that the fate of a career strongly depends from the first two affiliations.
Rescuing US biomedical research from its systemic flaws
Four prominent academics call for an overhaul of the US biomedical research workforce.
The post-doctoral situation: interview with Gregory Petsko
Gregory Petsko discusses some of his own findings about the post-doctoral situation: "We asked institutions to tell us how many post-docs they had. Almost without exception, they couldn't do it."
The annual report on the economic status of the profession
The proportion of non-tenure-track and non-tenured faculty posts continues to rise across all US institutions. Overall proportion of assistant professors in non-tenure-track posts was 23.4% for 2013–14, compared with 20.8% in 2010–11.
Is pressure on postdocs leading to 'massaged' research?
Merciless competition for jobs and funds pushes some researchers to spin data in the eternal quest for success
Book review
More people than ever are going to graduate school to seek a PhD these days. When they get there, they discover a bewildering environment: a rapid immersion in their discipline, a keen competition for resources, and uncertain options for their future, whether inside or outside of academia.
Our PhD employment problem, part I
Our PhD employment problem is very simply described: there's a mismatch between the number of graduate students earning doctorates each year and the number of tenure-track faculty positions available to them. There are too few tenure-track jobs for the PhD recipients who are qualified to compete for them.
Müssen bald alle Menschen studieren?
Mehr Schulen, mehr Abiturienten, mehr Lehrer und mehr Akademiker. Die Bildungsexpansion ist beispiellos. Fachleute streiten, wie lang sie weitergeht. Und wozu.
Tenure Track nachhaltig
Die Einführung von Tenure Track-Modellen für den wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs ist in Deutschland neuerdings in aller Munde.
Researchers' 'unrealistic' hopes of academic careers
Fewer than half of those new to research can expect long-term academic careers There is a "significant credibility gap" between researchers' expectations and the likelihood of their forging long-term careers in higher education, a survey has found.
How academia resembles a drug gang
The academic job market is structured in many respects like a drug gang, with an expanding mass of outsiders and a shrinking core of insiders.
Science magazine individual development career plan
An individual tool to help you explore career possibilities and set goals to follow the career path that fits you best.
Enemy of the good
Who are the outstanding mentors of young researchers? Since 2005, Nature has awarded an annual prize for scientific mentoring, rotating through a variety of countries.
Age distribution of NIH PIs and Medical School Faculty
A video showing the age distribution of NIH Principal Investigators and Medical School faculty.
Übergang ins postakademische Leben
Ich bin ein Wissenschaftler, holt mich hier raus: Die Website howtoleaveacademia.com hilft beim Ausstieg.
The missing piece to changing the university culture
A new type of initiative is empowering graduate students and postdocs to reshape their academic training, providing another avenue to express their passion for research.
New GRE data illustrate trends on future graduate students
Test-takers who took the GRE in 2012-13 were more likely to be a bit younger and a bit more science-oriented than those who took the exam the year before.
Les difficultés d'insertion professionnelle des docteurs
Les raisons d'une exception française analyse l'insertion professionnelle des docteurs en France. Le nombre de doctorats délivrés est faible au regard des sortants chaque année du système éducatif et des effectifs de l'enseignement supérieur.
Arbeitslose Akademiker: Topfschlagen im Niemandsland
Leiharbeiter mit Staatsexamen, Ingenieure in der Spülküche: Selbst Akademiker können arbeitslos werden - und zwar schneller, als sie ahnen. Wer einmal gezwungen ist, sich unter seiner Qualifikation zu verkaufen, sitzt in der Falle.