Isolated in the Lab: Examining Dissatisfaction with Postdoctoral Appointments

Abstract

Dissatisfaction with postdoctoral appointments is associated with demographics, career goals, types of research, postdoc-advisor interaction, and program quality. Rather than a simple inverse relationship to dissatisfaction, the effect of program quality depends on the postdoc's autonomy to shape a research project, interaction with an advisor, and the advisor's commercialization-related activities.

• postdoctoral appointments
• early career researchers
• satisfaction
• commercialization
• mentoring

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer M. Miller

Jennifer M. Miller is a Teaching Assistant Professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California; [email protected]. This article is drawn from a chapter of her dissertation.

Maryann P. Feldman

Maryann P. Feldman is the S. K. Heninger Distinguished Professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; [email protected].