Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Can STEM graduates easily find tenure-track academic positions in US universities?
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
By William Boger
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NO
The number of graduates with doctorates in science, tech, engineering and math fields has increased, but the share who gain tenure-track academic positions has declined.
A study found that only 15% of new Ph.D.s in science, engineering and health-related fields, and only 7.6% in life sciences, secured tenure-track positions within three years of graduation. Universities and research institutes increasingly lack permanent faculty positions, filling temporary adjunct roles with recent graduates. Hiring institutions can be choosy, and some open positions may require multiple post-doctorate posts while offering pay that is uncompetitive compared to private-sector roles.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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