Study sample characteristics
Demographic variable | Value | n (%) |
---|---|---|
Current position | Research-focused academic | 396 (51%) |
Teaching-focused academic | 101 (13%) | |
Nonacademic research | 134 (17%) | |
Science-related, nonresearch | 150 (19%) | |
Gender | Woman | 422 (54%) |
Man | 359 (46%) | |
Representation status | WR | 658 (84%) |
UR | 123 (16%) | |
Social identity | WR man | 298 (38%) |
WR woman | 360 (46%) | |
UR man | 61 (8%) | |
UR woman | 62 (8%) | |
Do you have a disability? | No | 758 (97%) |
Yes | 23 (3%) | |
First person/generation to graduate from 4-year college? | No | 602 (77%) |
Yes | 179 (23%) | |
PhD field (recoded) | Neuroscience | 349 (45%) |
Biological sciences | 281 (36%) | |
Other sciences/engineering | 76 (10%) | |
Other social sciences | 75 (10%) | |
Age range | 20–24 | 19 (2%) |
25–29 | 270 (35%) | |
30–34 | 377 (48%) | |
35–39 | 77 (10%) | |
40–44 | 21 (3%) | |
45–50 | 11 (1%) | |
51 or older | 5 (1%) | |
Prefer not to answer | 1 (0%) | |
Median years since PhD | 6 | |
Undergraduate institution in National Science Boarda top 50 research university? | No | 661 (85%) |
Yes | 120 (15%) | |
Master's degree in biomedical research discipline before PhD program? | No | 658 (84%) |
Yes | 123 (16%) | |
Doctoral institution in top 50 research university? | No | 383 (49%) |
Yes | 398 (51%) | |
Ever been a postdoctoral fellow? | No | 203 (26%) |
Yes | 578 (74%) | |
Career goal changed from research-based to outside of research? | No, still is research-based | 509 (65%) |
No, never was research-based | 47 (6%) | |
Yes, changed away from research | 225 (29%) | |
Primary way respondent found current position (recoded) | Directly contacted by employer/recruiter | 32 (4%) |
Former advisor/supervisor | 79 (10%) | |
Job posting | 292 (37%) | |
Previous position at same organization | 103 (13%) | |
Professional networking (other than advisor) | 217 (28%) | |
Other | 58 (7%) |
Basic demographic information about the sample of 781 PhD neuroscientists who responded to the survey and labeled themselves as currently “professionals in the field.” Totals may not equal to 100% due to rounding.
↵a Top 50 research university is measured by research and development expenditures (National Science Board, 2016).