The claim that there are too many life sciences graduate students has generated much debate, including a recent editorial in Nature Neuroscience . A 1998 survey suggests that these concerns are misplaced, and that career prospects for neuroscience graduates remain bright.
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Notes
Note: Results from the ANDP survey that pertain to this commentary can be found on the Nature Neuroscience web site (http://www.nature.com/neuro/web_specials).
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The following data represent a part of the ANDP survey data. The complete results can be found on the ANDP web site at http://www.andp.org/survey/report.
Table 2a - Recruitment
The number of applications per program continues to increase, up 45% from 1991 and 154% from 1986. These data do not distinguish between increases in the number of applicants and increases in the number of applications per applicant. Offers of admission also continue to increase, up 20% from 1991 and 100% from 1986.
Although the number of students matriculating per program increased almost 40% from 1986 to 1991, there was little change between 1991 and 1998, when entering students averaged 5.2 per program.
Survey question:
15. With regard to your most recent predoctoral recruiting efforts (i.e., recruiting of students for the Fall 1997 entering class):
Number of applications to your graduate program
Number of women
Number of minorities
Number of applicants offered admission to your graduate program
Number of women
Number of minorities
Number of applicants matriculated in your graduate program
Number of women
Number of minorities
Table 2b - Entering Student Characteristics
Entering students have academic credentials similar to those from previous surveys. Both GPAs and GRE scores are essentially unchanged. The percent of entering students with prior research experience remains high.
Survey question:
16. For the most recent entering class (first year graduate students in Fall 1997), please provide the following information as accurately as possible. Enclose estimated data in parentheses.
number of entering students
number entering MD/PhD program (or N.A.)
mean undergraduate science grade point average
mean GRE Math score
mean GRE Verbal score
mean GRE Analytical score
mean total GRE scores: Math+Verbal+Analytical
mean TOEFL score
number with preadmission undergraduate research experience
Number with undergraduate degrees in the following:
Biology
Psychology
Chemistry
Biochemistry
Neuroscience
Dual majors Other (specify)
Figure 2c - Total Predoctoral Students and PhDs Conferred per Program
Over the decade from 1985 to 1995, the average number of graduate students per program increased steadily, reached a peak of 22 in 1995 and declined to 20 per program in the last year surveyed. The 74% increase in graduate students per program was not accompanied by a similar increase in PhD degrees awarded, which rose from 2.6 per program in 1986 to 3.2 per program in 1997, a gain of 19%. Part of this difference can be attributed to an increase in time to degree (Figure 2e).
Figure 2c
(GIF 20.7 KB)
Survey question:
13. For each year, indicate the number of first year students, predoctoral students, PhDs granted and postdoctoral trainees in your program.
Table 2d - Placement of New Ph.D.s
In 1998, the majority of graduates were engaged in postdoctoral training, up 11% from 1991. The next largest group was enrolled in medical school. Most graduates take positions in scientific fields, with only 3.4% employed out of science and 1.3% unemployed.
Survey question:
18. For each individual receiving a PhD degree in the two year period between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998, please indicate gender (M/F), ethnic origin, number of years taken to complete the graduate program (to the nearest 0.5 year), number of publications of graduate research in refereed journals, and current placement.
Figure 2e - Years to Ph.D. Degree
The National Research Council (NRC) reported that the median time-to-degree was 8 years for life-science PhDs (NRC-LS), and 7.5 years for neuroscience PhDs (NRC-NS). Although the time to obtain the Ph.D. degree in neuroscience lengthened between 1986 and 1998, the ANDP survey data indicates the average for neuroscience in 1998 was 5.5 years, within the 5-6 year recommendation of the NRC. A similar difference from NRC data has been reported by the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB), 5.6 years and the American Physiological Society (APS), 5.2 years, for their disciplines.
Figure 2e
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Survey question:
18. For each individual receiving a PhD degree in the two year period between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998, please indicate gender (M/F), ethnic origin, number of years taken to complete the graduate program (to the nearest 0.5 year), number of publications of graduate research in refereed journals, and current placement.
Figure 3a - Postdoctoral Trainees per Program
The number of postdoctoral trainees remained in the range of 8-10 per program from 1986 to 1997, rising to 12 per program in 1998. Whether this is a significant trend remains to be determined.
Figure 3a
(GIF 15.4 KB)
Survey question:
21. Indicate the number of each type of advanced degree held by postdoctoral trainees in your program in 1997-98?
PhD only
MD Only
MD/PhD
Other
Table 3b - Average Number of Years in Postdoctoral Trainee Position
The average time spent in a postdoctoral trainee position has not changed since the 1991 survey. Information on the number of postdoctoral trainee positions taken by each individual was not obtained.
Survey question:
24. For each postdoctoral trainee leaving your program(s) between July 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998, please indicate gender, ethnic origin, number of years spent in your program (to nearest 0.5 year), number of manuscripts published in refereed journals derived from research conducted while a trainee in your program, and current placement of the individual.
TABLE 5c - Non-Citizen Representation
In the current survey, non-US citizens made up one-fifth of graduate students, unchanged from 1991, and half of postdoctoral trainees. However, the percent of non-citizens in faculty positions remains low.
Survey questions:
12. Indicate the number of faculty with appointments in your program by position, ethnicity and gender.
17. Indicate the gender and ethnicity of predoctoral students in your program in 1997-98.
22. Indicate the gender and ethnicity of postdoctoral students in your programs in 1997-98.
Figure 6b - Stipend Sources - First Year Graduate Students
There has been a steady decline in the support of first-year graduate students from research grants and teaching assistantships(TAs) from 1986 to 1998. Support from other university funds has increased, providing 41% of the total in 1998. Training grants and individual fellowships from all sources have shown little change over the three surveys.
Figure 6b
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Survey question:
For first year graduate students:
28. What percentage of your total stipend funds, exclusive of tuition and benefits, was derived from each of the following sources in 1997-98?
Teaching assistantships
University funds, other
Training grants
Research grants
Individual NIH fellowships
Individual NSF fellowships
MRC fellowships
Other fellowships
Figure 6c - Stipend Sources - Advanced Graduate Students
In 1998, research grants represented the primary source of support for advanced graduate students, accounting for 37% of the total(up from 33% in 1991 and 24% in 1986). This is followed by TAs (29%, similar to previous surveys) and other university funds (12%, down from previous surveys). There has been a steady decline in fellowship and training grant support to 6% and 6.4%, respectively in 1998.
Figure 6c
(GIF 14.9 KB)
Survey question:
For advanced graduate students:
28. What percentage of your total stipend funds, exclusive of tuition and benefits, was derived from each of the following sources in 1997-98?
Teaching assistantships
University funds, other
Training grants
Research grants
Individual NIH fellowships
Individual NSF fellowships
MRC fellowships
Other fellowships
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Mize, R., Talamo, B., Schoenfeld, R. et al. Neuroscience training at the turn of the century: a summary report of the third annual ANDP survey. Nat Neurosci 3, 433–435 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74801
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/74801
