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Table 34. Postdoctoral appointees in science, engineering, and health in all institutions, by field, citizenship, ethnicity, and race: 2011–16

Field, citizenship, ethnicity, and race 2011a 2012 2013 2014oldb 2014newb 2015 2016
All surveyed fields 62,639 62,851 61,942 62,379 63,593 63,861 64,712
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 29,712 29,864 29,546 29,630 30,095 28,726 29,810
Hispanic or Latino 1,359 1,351 1,490 1,501 1,543 1,526 1,601
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 90 85 121 96 98 85 151
Asian 5,638 5,367 5,440 5,300 5,430 5,114 5,785
Black or African American 1,042 1,104 1,132 1,197 1,209 1,061 1,041
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 85 99 77 76 77 82 122
White 17,286 17,280 17,348 17,179 17,448 17,239 17,480
More than one race 221 186 263 249 256 394 710
Unknown ethnicity and race 3,991 4,392 3,675 4,032 4,034 3,225 2,920
Temporary visa holders 32,927 32,987 32,396 32,749 33,498 35,135 34,902
Science and engineering 44,121 43,841 43,395 43,476 44,623 45,295 45,737
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 20,340 20,214 20,257 20,018 20,453 19,593 20,205
Hispanic or Latino 901 862 961 978 1,020 1,025 1,041
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 66 51 71 63 65 56 94
Asian 3,502 3,330 3,526 3,374 3,489 3,305 3,697
Black or African American 610 615 667 690 702 641 601
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 53 63 50 52 53 32 73
White 11,965 11,835 11,953 11,739 11,994 12,079 12,127
More than one race 161 112 165 162 168 268 512
Unknown ethnicity and race 3,082 3,346 2,864 2,960 2,962 2,187 2,060
Temporary visa holders 23,781 23,627 23,138 23,458 24,170 25,702 25,532
Science 37,335 36,738 36,289 36,184 37,316 37,639 37,941
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 17,706 17,476 17,551 17,229 17,661 17,072 17,615
Hispanic or Latino 799 750 845 862 904 917 930
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 62 48 68 60 62 48 89
Asian 2,895 2,736 2,898 2,760 2,873 2,755 3,056
Black or African American 533 544 607 579 591 559 541
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 46 61 46 47 48 29 61
White 10,730 10,510 10,640 10,386 10,640 10,682 10,726
More than one race 137 96 147 150 156 244 447
Unknown ethnicity and race 2,504 2,731 2,300 2,385 2,387 1,838 1,765
Temporary visa holders 19,629 19,262 18,738 18,955 19,655 20,567 20,326
Agricultural sciences 1,256 1,290 1,319 1,395 1,402 1,525 1,484
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 655 715 737 725 729 761 755
Hispanic or Latino 32 31 34 37 37 42 31
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 5 2 0 2 2 1 13
Asian 108 121 125 111 111 122 111
Black or African American 22 21 21 27 27 19 12
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 4 3 1 1 0 9
White 389 426 428 418 422 460 428
More than one race 2 4 9 6 6 10 70
Unknown ethnicity and race 96 106 117 123 123 107 81
Temporary visa holders 601 575 582 670 673 764 729
Biological sciences 21,107 20,086 19,330 18,749 19,554 19,304 19,427
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 9,877 9,194 8,984 8,658 8,958 8,538 8,838
Hispanic or Latino 461 413 467 463 497 502 515
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 33 23 41 29 31 22 35
Asian 1,863 1,664 1,689 1,609 1,686 1,580 1,786
Black or African American 303 315 332 290 300 290 271
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 32 36 23 37 38 17 20
White 5,742 5,304 5,213 4,985 5,157 5,086 5,204
More than one race 60 49 58 60 64 134 218
Unknown ethnicity and race 1,383 1,390 1,161 1,185 1,185 907 789
Temporary visa holders 11,230 10,892 10,346 10,091 10,596 10,766 10,589
Communication 67 58 76 75 75 83 86
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 38 32 45 40 40 44 44
Hispanic or Latino 2 1 2 4 4 2 1
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 4 1 2 5 5 4 10
Black or African American 2 1 2 2 2 4 2
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
White 19 16 25 16 16 24 22
More than one race 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 10 13 14 13 13 10 8
Temporary visa holders 29 26 31 35 35 39 42
Computer sciences 759 760 765 833 834 888 914
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 312 297 302 320 320 319 328
Hispanic or Latino 12 14 17 17 17 11 12
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 1 0 1 2 2 2 3
Asian 60 60 68 65 65 60 70
Black or African American 10 11 17 14 14 12 9
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 2 0 0 0 0 1 2
White 179 151 153 177 177 192 183
More than one race 3 1 2 4 4 4 9
Unknown ethnicity and race 45 60 44 41 41 37 40
Temporary visa holders 447 463 463 513 514 569 586
Earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 1,774 1,956 2,032 2,059 2,061 2,129 2,104
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 987 1,069 1,144 1,154 1,156 1,152 1,139
Hispanic or Latino 37 41 42 47 47 57 58
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 3 3 2 5 5 3 7
Asian 120 119 123 129 129 130 120
Black or African American 11 15 17 17 18 16 18
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 1 3 1 1 3 6
White 678 737 800 815 816 831 792
More than one race 22 12 24 19 19 21 29
Unknown ethnicity and race 115 141 133 121 121 91 109
Temporary visa holders 787 887 888 905 905 977 965
Family and consumer sciences and human sciences 52 58 90 93 114 103 116
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 41 43 69 77 84 81 85
Hispanic or Latino 1 2 2 3 4 8 6
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 2 3 14 15 17 10 10
Black or African American 4 3 8 5 6 5 5
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 30 34 40 48 51 51 56
More than one race 0 0 1 1 1 4 1
Unknown ethnicity and race 4 0 4 5 5 3 7
Temporary visa holders 11 15 21 16 30 22 31
Mathematics and statistics 830 902 932 956 959 1,011 1,005
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 419 456 488 432 433 393 431
Hispanic or Latino 17 18 18 19 19 16 17
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 5 5 3 1
Asian 38 36 52 42 42 42 50
Black or African American 10 6 10 10 10 10 10
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 1 1 1 1 0 1
White 273 288 305 278 279 268 293
More than one race 4 5 8 4 4 4 8
Unknown ethnicity and race 77 102 94 73 73 50 51
Temporary visa holders 411 446 444 524 526 618 574
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies 704 742 891 1,045 1,045 972 1,095
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 390 427 504 566 566 525 587
Hispanic or Latino 15 19 20 24 24 26 17
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 4 1 1 6 6 0 0
Asian 43 52 75 73 73 83 75
Black or African American 20 17 17 14 14 19 24
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 3 2 2 2 0 1
White 269 291 339 380 380 361 399
More than one race 0 5 5 5 5 3 7
Unknown ethnicity and race 39 39 45 62 62 33 64
Temporary visa holders 314 315 387 479 479 447 508
Neurobiology and neuroscience 1,398 1,525 1,696 1,778 1,878 1,957 2,071
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 691 737 832 894 938 931 1,003
Hispanic or Latino 34 22 52 43 47 52 70
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 1 1 3 1 1 1 2
Asian 80 96 138 133 145 147 177
Black or African American 13 14 13 24 24 25 29
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
White 400 438 475 516 542 546 601
More than one race 3 2 8 9 11 12 14
Unknown ethnicity and race 157 163 142 167 167 147 109
Temporary visa holders 707 788 864 884 940 1,026 1,068
Physical sciences 7,490 7,430 7,197 7,089 7,277 7,358 7,269
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 2,964 3,109 3,016 2,889 2,958 2,753 2,778
Hispanic or Latino 106 116 111 110 113 107 107
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 7 12 14 5 5 7 12
Asian 483 483 489 444 465 447 501
Black or African American 84 78 86 98 98 72 77
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 6 8 8 2 2 7 14
White 1,860 1,883 1,894 1,769 1,814 1,787 1,652
More than one race 36 13 23 29 29 29 60
Unknown ethnicity and race 382 516 391 432 432 297 355
Temporary visa holders 4,526 4,321 4,181 4,200 4,319 4,605 4,491
Psychology 1,124 1,132 1,023 1,062 1,066 1,130 1,177
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 795 843 785 761 765 791 819
Hispanic or Latino 36 42 30 39 39 43 45
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 1 0 1 1 1 2 2
Asian 52 47 58 54 54 56 75
Black or African American 20 28 34 25 25 35 35
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 1 1 0 0 0 1
White 575 629 592 558 560 584 589
More than one race 1 2 5 5 5 9 6
Unknown ethnicity and race 109 94 64 79 81 62 66
Temporary visa holders 329 289 238 301 301 339 358
Social sciences 774 799 938 1,050 1,051 1,179 1,193
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 537 554 645 713 714 784 808
Hispanic or Latino 46 31 50 56 56 51 51
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 7 5 5 4 4 7 14
Asian 42 54 65 80 81 74 71
Black or African American 34 35 50 53 53 52 49
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 6 4 2 2 0 5
White 316 313 376 426 426 492 507
More than one race 5 3 4 8 8 14 25
Unknown ethnicity and race 87 107 91 84 84 94 86
Temporary visa holders 237 245 293 337 337 395 385
Engineering 6,786 7,103 7,106 7,292 7,307 7,656 7,796
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 2,634 2,738 2,706 2,789 2,792 2,521 2,590
Hispanic or Latino 102 112 116 116 116 108 111
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 4 3 3 3 3 8 5
Asian 607 594 628 614 616 550 641
Black or African American 77 71 60 111 111 82 60
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 7 2 4 5 5 3 12
White 1,235 1,325 1,313 1,353 1,354 1,397 1,401
More than one race 24 16 18 12 12 24 65
Unknown ethnicity and race 578 615 564 575 575 349 295
Temporary visa holders 4,152 4,365 4,400 4,503 4,515 5,135 5,206
Aerospace engineering 202 170 202 220 220 217 201
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 62 64 78 81 81 70 81
Hispanic or Latino 1 1 1 3 3 4 6
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
Asian 13 20 21 22 22 14 17
Black or African American 1 1 0 4 4 2 2
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 25 32 40 43 43 42 47
More than one race 0 2 1 1 1 0 1
Unknown ethnicity and race 22 8 15 7 7 7 7
Temporary visa holders 140 106 124 139 139 147 120
Agricultural engineering 129 133 152 146 150 221 165
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 45 46 51 51 51 80 60
Hispanic or Latino 1 2 0 3 3 2 1
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Asian 17 14 21 16 16 15 22
Black or African American 4 3 3 3 3 3 0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 2 1 1 0 0 0 2
White 19 23 22 23 23 38 28
More than one race 0 1 0 0 0 0 3
Unknown ethnicity and race 2 1 4 6 6 22 3
Temporary visa holders 84 87 101 95 99 141 105
Architecture 16 6 17 14 14 17 16
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 7 3 8 5 5 10 8
Hispanic or Latino 0 0 1 1 1 2 2
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Black or African American 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 4 2 6 3 3 6 5
More than one race 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 0 1 1 0 0 2 1
Temporary visa holders 9 3 9 9 9 7 8
Biomedical engineering 1,069 1,161 1,103 1,196 1,198 1,201 1,278
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 523 531 519 572 572 550 543
Hispanic or Latino 20 20 23 28 28 22 22
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 2 0 1 2 2 2 1
Asian 149 134 130 152 152 134 153
Black or African American 23 21 17 20 20 23 11
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 0 1 2 2 0 0
White 251 279 260 301 301 312 313
More than one race 0 0 0 1 1 5 5
Unknown ethnicity and race 77 77 87 66 66 52 38
Temporary visa holders 546 630 584 624 626 651 735
Chemical engineering 1,137 1,098 1,230 1,244 1,244 1,283 1,218
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 404 388 440 457 457 420 400
Hispanic or Latino 18 23 25 25 25 24 25
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 3 2
Asian 96 88 117 114 114 98 111
Black or African American 10 8 8 10 10 6 6
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 230 216 232 244 244 223 204
More than one race 6 4 5 1 1 4 14
Unknown ethnicity and race 41 49 53 63 63 62 38
Temporary visa holders 733 710 790 787 787 863 818
Civil engineering 551 590 587 629 629 670 706
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 223 236 263 251 251 269 270
Hispanic or Latino 8 17 9 9 9 8 15
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 28 42 58 43 43 53 64
Black or African American 3 3 3 7 7 8 10
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 1 1 2 0
White 105 105 140 144 144 158 155
More than one race 4 1 3 2 2 3 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 74 68 50 45 45 37 26
Temporary visa holders 328 354 324 378 378 401 436
Electrical engineering 1,035 1,152 1,180 1,177 1,179 1,160 1,186
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 369 450 433 431 432 287 314
Hispanic or Latino 9 14 14 11 11 13 9
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Asian 79 86 80 81 81 65 68
Black or African American 11 13 9 12 12 5 10
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
White 154 173 174 159 160 162 163
More than one race 3 0 3 1 1 2 6
Unknown ethnicity and race 113 164 152 166 166 39 57
Temporary visa holders 666 702 747 746 747 873 872
Engineering science, mechanics, and physics 281 292 240 270 270 251 284
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 109 113 73 109 109 85 85
Hispanic or Latino 7 4 1 1 1 1 2
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 14 13 16 14 14 17 10
Black or African American 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 65 67 51 62 62 60 62
More than one race 1 2 1 1 1 2 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 22 26 3 31 31 4 10
Temporary visa holders 172 179 167 161 161 166 199
Industrial and manufacturing engineering 121 127 133 131 131 142 130
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 56 64 62 49 49 51 39
Hispanic or Latino 3 2 3 5 5 5 1
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 6 8 16 8 8 9 7
Black or African American 3 2 1 4 4 6 1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 34 36 29 21 21 25 25
More than one race 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Unknown ethnicity and race 10 16 13 11 11 6 2
Temporary visa holders 65 63 71 82 82 91 91
Mechanical engineering 889 985 1,034 1,055 1,058 1,161 1,080
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 324 338 373 391 391 358 357
Hispanic or Latino 11 10 21 16 16 11 13
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Asian 75 67 93 85 85 78 83
Black or African American 5 6 7 18 18 9 7
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
White 135 162 173 190 190 201 199
More than one race 4 2 2 1 1 4 14
Unknown ethnicity and race 94 91 77 81 81 53 39
Temporary visa holders 565 647 661 664 667 803 723
Metallurgical and materials engineering 860 854 809 776 780 911 882
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 306 290 278 232 234 207 234
Hispanic or Latino 17 13 12 9 9 11 8
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
Asian 73 75 63 56 58 47 65
Black or African American 10 6 8 20 20 6 9
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 1 0 0 0 7
White 136 126 117 93 93 101 117
More than one race 5 2 1 1 1 3 9
Unknown ethnicity and race 64 66 75 53 53 39 19
Temporary visa holders 554 564 531 544 546 704 648
Mining engineering 4 5 7 15 15 15 10
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 2 2 4 5 5 4 4
Hispanic or Latino 0 2 2 1 1 1 1
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
Black or African American 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 2 0 2 3 3 2 2
More than one race 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Temporary visa holders 2 3 3 10 10 11 6
Nuclear engineering 111 120 105 112 112 107 100
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 48 49 32 43 43 32 24
Hispanic or Latino 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 8 7 1 5 5 8 3
Black or African American 3 2 0 0 0 1 1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 21 23 20 20 20 18 18
More than one race 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 14 15 9 16 16 5 2
Temporary visa holders 63 71 73 69 69 75 76
Petroleum engineering 35 53 49 66 66 73 72
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 10 8 6 21 21 12 9
Hispanic or Latino 3 1 0 1 1 0 0
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 3 4 2 5 5 5 3
Black or African American 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
White 2 2 3 9 9 7 5
More than one race 1 1 1 1 1 0 0
Unknown ethnicity and race 1 0 0 5 5 0 1
Temporary visa holders 25 45 43 45 45 61 63
Engineering nec 346 357 258 241 241 227 468
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 146 156 86 91 91 86 162
Hispanic or Latino 3 2 3 2 2 4 6
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Asian 43 36 10 12 12 6 34
Black or African American 4 5 3 12 12 12 2
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
White 52 79 44 38 38 42 58
More than one race 0 0 0 1 1 1 10
Unknown ethnicity and race 44 33 25 25 25 21 52
Temporary visa holders 200 201 172 150 150 141 306
Health 18,518 19,010 18,547 18,903 18,970 18,566 18,975
U.S. citizens and permanent residentsc 9,372 9,650 9,289 9,612 9,642 9,133 9,605
Hispanic or Latino 458 489 529 523 523 501 560
Not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian or Alaska Native 24 34 50 33 33 29 57
Asian 2,136 2,037 1,914 1,926 1,941 1,809 2,088
Black or African American 432 489 465 507 507 420 440
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 32 36 27 24 24 50 49
White 5,321 5,445 5,395 5,440 5,454 5,160 5,353
More than one race 60 74 98 87 88 126 198
Unknown ethnicity and race 909 1,046 811 1,072 1,072 1,038 860
Temporary visa holders 9,146 9,360 9,258 9,291 9,328 9,433 9,370
nec = not elsewhere classified.
a Postdoctoral appointee (postdoc) data from 2010 and 2011 were reimputed following the 2012 data collection; these data supersede those contained in previous reports.
b In 2014, the survey frame was updated following a comprehensive frame evaluation study. The study identified potentially eligible but not previously surveyed academic institutions in the United States with master's- or doctorate-granting programs in science, engineering, or health. A total of 151 newly eligible institutions were added, and two private for-profit institutions offering mostly practitioner-based graduate degrees were determined to be ineligible.
c Ethnicity and race data are available only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
NOTE: "Field" refers to the field of the unit that reports postdocs to the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering.