Astronomy Graduate Students Rachel Ivie Funded by NSF AST-1347723 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Astronomy Graduate Students Rachel Ivie Funded by NSF AST-1347723 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mar 06, 2024 30 likes •213 views

Results from the Longitudinal Study of Astronomy Graduate Students Rachel Ivie Funded by NSF AST-1347723 Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014 Background All respondents were graduate students in astronomy or astrophysics during the

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Rachel Ivie

Results from the Longitudinal Study of Astronomy Graduate Students

Funded by NSF AST-1347723

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Background

  • All respondents were graduate students in

astronomy or astrophysics during the 2006-2007 academic year.

  • First survey data collected 2007-2008.
  • Second survey data collected 2012-13.
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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Outcomes of Those Without PhDs

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PhDS 83% Left without grad degree 9% Astro or Physics Students 7% Other Students 1% Not PhD 17%

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Outcomes of Those With PhDs

Not PhDs 17% Never Postdoc 23% Completed Postdoc 15% Current Postdoc 40% Postdoc no details 5% PhDs 83%

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Comparing Those Who Did Not Take Postdocs to Those Who Completed Postdocs

  • Completed postdocs:
  • Median degree year is 2008.
  • Most (73%) had one postdoc.
  • Took no postdoc:
  • Median degree year is 2010.
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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Employment Sectors

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc University 47% 61% Federal agency (not lab) 4% 10% Observatory 3% 9% National lab 4% 8% For profit 19% 6% Non-profit 4% 2% UARI 4% 1% Government contractor 5% 1% Two-year College 5% 0% Other 4% 3% 100% 100%

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Field of Employment

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc Astronomy 38% 70% Physics 18% 11% Medical or Health 8% 5% Hardware 7% 4% Engineering 2% 4% Earth Science or Geology 8% 4% Business and Finance 9% 2% Education, formal and informal 2% 2% Software 7% 0% Other 2% 0% 100% 100%

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Current Postdocs

  • Median degree year is 2010.
  • Most (61%) are in first postdoc.
  • 35% are in second postdoc.

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Postdoc funding sources for current and completed postdocs

Percentages add to more than 100% because respondents could have more than one answer.

38% 66% 25%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Based on own proposal Funded on someone else's grant Funded by research center, lab, or

  • bservatory
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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Different job experiences

  • Never took a postdoc
  • Completed a postdoc
  • Currently a postdoc

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Percentage who do research in primary position

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Never postdoc Completed postdoc Current postdoc

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

What determines research agenda?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never postdoc Complete postdoc Current postdoc All or mostly others' needs both All or mostly my own expertise and curiosity

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Time available for research

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc Current Postdoc Less than half About half More than half

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

How intellectually challenging is current job?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc Current Postdoc Not at all challenging Challenging or somewhat challenging Extremely challenging

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Astronomy graduate degree is appropriate background for primary position

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc Current Postdoc

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Working Outside Astronomy

16 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Never Postdoc Completed Postdoc No PhD

Astronomy or Physics Not Astronomy

  • r Physics
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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

Next Steps: Factors Contributing to Leaving Astronomy

  • Examine attrition rates for women and men
  • Look for effects of
  • Mentoring
  • The imposter syndrome
  • Access to career opportunities and resources
  • Funding, such as “soft money”
  • Factors such as intellectually challenging work
  • Discrimination
  • “Two-body” problem

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Statistical Research Center January 8, 2014

For more information

Rachel Ivie Associate Director Statistical Research Center 301-209-3081 rivie@aip.org

Thanks to my colleagues Susan White and Raymond Y. Chu

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