The career outlook of engineering PhDs: Influence of postdoctoral research positions on early career salaries and the attainment of tenure‐track faculty positions

Abstract

The number of engineering PhDs pursuing postdoctoral research scholar (postdoc) positions has steadily increased in the last 30 years. Postdoc positions are commonly thought of as a step toward academic careers. However, engineering PhDs are more likely to work in industry, which leaves open the question of the role of postdocs in the career trajectories of engineering PhDs.