JC Supply-side academics 2007 - too many PhDs

key points

 * number of people with PhD in biology 2x over last 20 years, while tenure track positions constant


 * effects
 * may have led to delays in career progression: average age at first NIH RO1 grant 34y in 1970, 42y in 2006
 * stress and disenchantment of group leader hopefuls: in 2004, 57% of postdocs aimed for tenure-track = twice oversubscribed
 * larger fraction of PhDs to industry: 30% in 2006, 10% in 1970
 * increased competition detrimental for science: less information sharing, less individual examination due to larger number of applicants, reliance on simplified indicators


 * suggested solutions
 * increasing length of scientific training (wasteful and dissatisfying)
 * fewer PhDs or increase of tenure-track jobs
 * new research job category: career-track technicians as in RIKEN, Japan

comments
Tough but accurate evaluation. Especially, reducing the number of PhDs and postdocs (suggested as a solution by the author) might not be in the interest of group leaders who profit from the cheap labour. -- Jakob Suckale 09:30, 30 October 2007 (CDT)