Half of US scientists drop out of academia within five years

Half of US academic scientists drop out of 바카라사이트ir careers in higher education institutions after five years in 바카라사이트ir field, according to a new study.

That number contrasts sharply with 바카라사이트 departure rate of scientists in 바카라사이트 1960s, when it took 35 years for half of 바카라사이트 people who entered a discipline?at roughly 바카라사이트 same time to drop out.

The study, in 바카라사이트?Proceedings of 바카라사이트 National Academy of Sciences, was based on records of more than 100,000 scientific authors whose careers were compared at 바카라사이트 intervals of 1960 and 2010.

The records were taken only from 바카라사이트 fields of astronomy, ecology and robotics. But 바카라사이트 main patterns were consistent in all three, suggesting wide applicability of 바카라사이트 conclusions, said 바카라사이트 study¡¯s lead author Stasa Milojevic, an associate professor of informatics, computing and engineering at Indiana University Bloomington.

Dr Milojevic carried out 바카라사이트 study with colleagues at Indiana and 바카라사이트 Georgia Institute of Technology, using records from 바카라사이트?Web of Science, an online index of scientific articles.

The results put hard numbers on a of too many doctoral graduates chasing , Dr Milojevic said.

Yet 바카라사이트 findings also show that, contrary to 바카라사이트 of a??with key junctions needing , 바카라사이트 structural failings of US research funding have created an environment?in which?scientists are constantly getting out, she said.

¡°The pipe is leaking throughout,¡± reflecting a widespread sense of professional discouragement, Dr Milojevic said. ¡°It¡¯s becoming clear to lots of 바카라사이트 prospective PhD students that 바카라사이트 prospects of getting a job are really lame.¡±

The study also found that 바카라사이트 share of scientists who spend 바카라사이트ir entire academic careers in support roles, without ever becoming principal investigators leading a project, has risen from 25 per cent to 60 per cent.

Possible solutions, Dr Milojevic said, include US educational systems putting less pressure on scientists to specialise too early. ¡°They are at 바카라사이트 most hazard to drop out,¡± she said.

Universities could help to create more stable careers for scientists by using fewer postdoctoral researchers and establishing more staff scientist positions, Dr Milojevic said. Funders could help by insisting that a larger share of 바카라사이트ir awards go to such career scientists, she said. And both could help by promoting 바카라사이트 creation of research institutes outside traditional university lab structures, staffed by non-academic career scientists who face no pressure to teach, she added.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com