An evidence-based evaluation of transferrable skills and job satisfaction for science PhDs.

Autor/inn/en	Sinche, Melanie; Layton, Rebekah L.; Brandt, Patrick D.; O'Connell, Anna B.; Hall, Joshua D.; Freeman, Ashalla M.; Harrell, Jessica R.; Gowen Cook, Jeanette; Brennwald, Patrick J.
Titel	An evidence-based evaluation of transferrable skills and job satisfaction for science PhDs. Gefälligkeitsübersetzung: Eine empirische Evaluation übertragbarer Qualifikationen und der Arbeitszufriedenheit von Promovierten in der Wissenschaft.
Quelle	In: PLOS ONE, 12 (2017) 9, Art. e0185023, 16 S. PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1932-6203
DOI	10.1371/journal.pone.0185023
Schlagwörter	Forschung; Forschung; USA; Promotion; Schlüsselqualifikation; Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung; Bildungsertrag; Bildungsertrag; Fachkenntnisse; Qualifikationsverwertung; Schlüsselqualifikation; Promotion; Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung; Kompetenzentwicklung; Qualifikationsentwicklung; Hochschulabsolvent; USA
Abstract	"PhD recipients acquire discipline-specific knowledge and a range of relevant skills during their training in the life sciences, physical sciences, computational sciences, social sciences, and engineering. Empirically testing the applicability of these skills to various careers held by graduates will help assess the value of current training models. This report details results of an Internet survey of science PhDs (n = 8099) who provided ratings for fifteen transferrable skills. Indeed, analyses indicated that doctoral training develops these transferrable skills, crucial to success in a wide range of careers including research-intensive (RI) and non-research-intensive (NRI) careers. Notably, the vast majority of skills were transferrable across both RI and NRI careers, with the exception of three skills that favored RI careers (creativity/innovative thinking, career planning and awareness skills, and ability to work with people outside the organization) and three skills that favored NRI careers (time management, ability to learn quickly, ability to manage a project). High overall rankings suggested that graduate training imparted transferrable skills broadly. Nonetheless, we identified gaps between career skills needed and skills developed in PhD training that suggest potential areas for improvement in graduate training. Therefore, we suggest that a two-pronged approach is crucial to maximizing existing career opportunities for PhDs and developing a career-conscious training model: 1) encouraging trainees to recognize their existing individual skill sets, and 2) increasing resources and programmatic interventions at the institutional level to address skill gaps. Lastly, comparison of job satisfaction ratings between PhD-trained employees in both career categories indicated that those in NRI career paths were just as satisfied in their work as their RI counterparts. We conclude that PhD training prepares graduates for a broad range of satisfying careers, potentially more than trainees and program leaders currently appreciate." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku).
Erfasst von	Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Nürnberg
Update	2018/4