Factors that influence the transition of university postdocs to non-academic scientific careers: An exploratory study

• Published in: Research policy 2019-04, Vol.48 (3), p.556-570
• Main Authors: Hayter, Christopher S., Parker, Marla A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Career development; Higher education; Non–academic employment; Postdocs; Postdoctoral fellows; Science and technology policy
• ISSN: 0048-7333; 1873-7625
• DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2018.09.009

•Multiple individual, PI, and policy factors may influence a postdoc’s transition to a non-academic scientific career.•Postdocs may disregard the low likelihood of obtaining an academic job and lack relevant non-academic skills.•PIs may not possess supportive skills or networks, or they may oppose postdoc efforts to prepare for non-academic careers.•Universities and federal policy does not generally prioritize non-academic career preparation.•University non-academic career programs hold promise; federal mentoring requirements could include diverse career goals. While postdoctoral fellowships are viewed as positions that prepare PhD students for academic careers, studies show that most postdocs will not find tenure-track employment within universities. Postdocs consequently pursue non-academic jobs that differ in the degree to which they utilize a postdoc’s scientific training, yet we know little about how this occurs. To help address this gap, this study inductively investigates factors that may influence a postdoc’s transition to a non-academic career. The study uncovers multiple individual, PI, as well as organizational and policy factors, including the lack of relevant skills, absence of support—and in some cases opposition—from their principal investigators, and poor availability of non-academic career preparation opportunities, among others. Viewed collectively, these elements likely hinder a move to non-academic scientific positions and thus have consequences for postdoc career trajectories and, by extension, the utilization of new knowledge. The paper opens the door for future research, theorization, and policy action that might smooth the transition of postdocs into non-academic careers and potentially improve the impact of publicly-funded research.