NCSES SDR FY2010 DST 76

Table 76. Status of postdoctoral appointments among doctoral scientists and engineers, by years since doctorate and broad field of doctorate: 2010

Years since doctorate and status of postdoctoral appointment^a	All fields		Science
	Total		Total		Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences		Computer/ information sciences		Mathematics/ statistics		Physical sciences		Psychology		Social sciences		Engineering		Health
	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE	Number	SE
Doctorate recipient	692,900	1,750	536,200	1,700	175,700	950	19,000	300	32,000	450	120,100	900	102,400	750	87,000	750	125,500	800	31,200	350
Postdoctoral appointment in 2010	30,800	900	26,000	750	16,100	550	400	100	800	150	6,000	350	1,700	200	1,000	150	3,900	300	900	150
≤ 5 years	136,400	650	98,600	550	35,200	350	6,200	150	6,200	150	19,400	300	16,000	300	15,500	250	29,200	300	8,600	200
Postdoctoral appointment in 2010	26,800	750	22,500	650	13,700	450	400	100	800	150	5,600	300	1,300	150	700	150	3,600	300	700	150
6–10 years	108,100	800	80,900	700	27,900	400	3,400	150	4,300	200	16,100	350	15,500	300	13,800	300	20,600	350	6,500	200
Postdoctoral appointment in 2010	2,800	300	2,400	250	1,900	250	D	D	D	D	300	100	100	50	D	D	200	100	D	D
11–15 years	106,400	800	80,200	700	26,500	400	3,500	150	4,500	200	17,600	350	15,300	300	12,900	300	21,100	350	5,100	200
Postdoctoral appointment in 2010	600	200	500	150	300	150	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
> 15 years	342,100	1,650	276,500	1,450	86,100	850	5,900	200	16,900	400	67,100	700	55,500	600	44,900	650	54,600	750	11,000	300
Postdoctoral appointment in 2010	600	150	500	150	200	100	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.
SE = standard error.

^a A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary position awarded in academe, industry, nonprofit organizations, or government primarily for gaining additional education and training in research.

NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 50. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. A postdoctoral appointment is a temporary position awarded in academe, industry, nonprofit organizations, or government primarily for gaining additional education and training in research. Status of the postoral appointment is reported for the principal job as of the survey reference date (1 October 2010).

SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2010.

Data from survey cycle 2010, as of August 21, 2013.