Rising Share of PhD Chemists Work in

Industry

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1977 1995

Academics

Industry

Employed Doctoral Scientists: 1999

Education Industry Gov’t OtherBiological Sciences 50% 29% 11% 9% Chemistry 26 62 7 5

National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Studies, 1999 Survey of Doctorate Recipients [Data adjusted to remove scientists who were in postdoctoral positions in 1999]

Employed Doctoral Scientists: 1999 Education Industry Gov’t

Other

Biological Sciences 50% 29% 11% 9%

Chemistry 26 62 7 5

What 1997 Postdocs Were Doing in 1999

Education Industry Gov’t Other

Biological Sciences 51% 33% 10% 6%

Chemistry 18 67 7 8

National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Studies, merged 1997 and 1999 Survey of Doctorate Recipients [Data adjusted to remove scientists who were in postdoctoral positions in 1999]

Outages for New PhDs in Industry Communication skillsCommunication skills (particularly making

effective and persuasive arguments via presentations and reports)

Appreciation for applied problemsAppreciation for applied problems (particularly in an industrial setting)

TeamworkTeamwork (particularly in interdisciplinary settings and with people whose languages and cultures are different from their own)

COSEPUP, Reshaping the Graduate Education of Scientists and Engineers, 1995

Pros and Cons of an Industrial Postdoc

Pro:Pro: Good opportunity to learn what goes on in industry, work

on a team to solve problems, and decide if you want to remain in industry

Much better pay ($45-55,000/year) than academics Perhaps will provide an inside track to a permanent job

Pros and Cons of an Industrial Postdoc

ProPro:: Good opportunity to learn what goes on in industry, work on a team to

solve problems, and decide if you want to remain in industry Much better pay ($45-55,000/year) than academics Perhaps will provide an inside track to a permanent job

Con:Con: Many companies will not hire their own postdocs May have less opportunity to publish than academic post-docs,

perhaps hurting chances of getting a permanent job Will probably be a less viable candidate for an academic job

A Different Postdoctoral Model: The Academic-Industrial Blend12-18 Months in Industry Work on an upstream project in an area of importance to

the company

12-18 Months in an Academic Lab Continue research in an area aligned with postdoc’s

industrial experience

The focus is on the postdoc rather than the PI.The focus is on the postdoc rather than the PI.