Postdoctoral researchers' experience and their career plan in a research‐focused university in South Korea

• Published in: Higher education quarterly 2024-04, Vol.78 (2), p.473-487
• Main Authors: Lee, Soo Jeung, Shin, Jung Cheol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: academic job position; career plans; Careers; College faculty; Colleges & universities; discipline; Gender; non‐academic job position; Online Surveys; postdoctoral training experience; Researchers; Satisfaction; Supervisors; Universities
• ISSN: 0951-5224; 1468-2273
• DOI: 10.1111/hequ.12459

This study aims to empirically analyse whether, in the context of South Korea, postdoctoral researchers' career plans are closely associated with their postdoctoral experience, along with whether these postdoctoral experiences differ by gender and discipline. Data were collected from an online survey targeting postdoctoral researchers at a research‐focused university in South Korea in 2019. This study found that the majority of the postdoctoral researchers pursue faculty positions at universities as in other countries, and there were no statistically significant differences in future academic career plan by gender and discipline. However, female postdoctoral researchers had lower satisfaction with their postdoctoral experience than males. Logistic regression analysis indicates that the postdoctoral researchers who experienced sufficient career advice from their supervisor are more likely to have academic positions at universities than their colleagues without such advice. This study suggests that institutional supports as well as close mentoring and advising by supervisors are critical for retaining them in academia.