2. My Boomerang Path
Background

3. Increase in basic biomedical corresponds with doubling of NIH budget for this area at the end of 90’s
Basic Biomedical —
Focus of our study (Biochemistry, Bioinformatics,
Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics,
Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology/Embryology,
Endocrinology, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular
Biology, Neurosciences,
Nutritional Science, Parasitology,
Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Physiology, Toxicology,
Veterinary Medicine, Zoology ) •
Clinical Sciences
(Biometrics and Biostatistics, Environmental Health,
Epidemiology, Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Health
Administration, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Rehabilitation
Services, Physicians in Academic Medicine)
Behavioral & Social Sciences
(Anthropology, Audiology/Speech
Pathology, Demography/Population Studies, Sociology, Psychology)
Other Life Sciences (
Agricultural and Food Sciences, Environmental
Life Sciences
Chemistry –
used as a comparison field in this stud

4. Overview Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group Report
Survey of Dcotrate students, gathered every 2-3 years by NSF with NIH

5. Most postdocs supported by federal grants – others are no-federal, state and proviate money
May be underestimated by factor of 2

7. Most biomedical PhD’s spend less than 5 years in postdoctoral positions However, many spend 5-8 years. And those there the longest may be ones going on to tenure track positions.
most US trained biomedical PhDs spend fewer than 5 years in postdoctoral positions, although that
number has been steadily growing with time (Figure 6). Furthermore , there are a significant number
who remain in postdoctoral training between 5 -8 years.
There is some indication that he researchers remaining in the postdoctoral position the longest are the ones who go on to tenure-track academic research careers.

10. When compared To stipends
of postdoctoral fellows funded by other agencies such as NSF ($45,00021 ) and the Department of Energy ($65,000), the
NIH stipends
for biomedical postdoctoral
researchers
are low.

11. 1980 & 2013
1980
2013
Note: NIH 2013 was used to coincide with the most recent data available for AAMC.

12. Stories from the Postdoc Files
Large, successful academic group in a medical school
High levels of funding –multiple concurrent R01- level grants
Several postdocs and hiring more
Most hired to supervise funded studies, write papers, and, less so, apply for independent funding
What happens to their postdocs – who thrives and why? Stories from postdoc files…