Posted on 03/08/2018 9:17:43 AM PST by Academiadotorg
An increasing number of insiders say, contrary to the multitude of studies and seminars we've slogged through, that there is not a shortage of Science Technology and Engineering Majors (STEM) but a glut. "It turns out that new PhDs in science have a hard time getting a job like their mentor's: tenured faculty in a research university," John Staddon a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Biology, Emeritus, at Duke University writes in an essay distributed by the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal. "Fifty years ago, in my own area of experimental psychology, things were very different."
"Postgraduates, after four years of college, were able to get their PhDs in four or five years. They usually got a tenure-track job at a reasonable university right after graduating. Not now, though. An oversupply of nascent scientists has been the rule since at least 2010 and not just in the U.S. The Economist, in an article called 'The Disposable Academic,' wrote that 'universities have discovered that PhD students are cheap, highly motivated and disposable labour.'"
"The norm now, in biomedicine and other science fields, is for newly minted PhDs to take three or more one-year stints as postdoctoral fellows in other research labs before getting a tenure-track job. Depending on the discipline and their boss, they may have a chance to pursue some independent work without the distractions of teaching and administration that beset regular faculty. But, more likely, they will serve simply as low-paid help. In large, well-funded labs dealing in hot topics, postdocs and graduate students may be little more than over-specialized technicians."
My daughter will start high school in September at a STEM school. She had to take a test and have an above 90 grade in Science and Math! MAGA to my beautiful Giovanna!
Why are we importing so many STEM graduates from India via H-1B?
This isn’t new! In the 60’s there was a joke circulating that asked what do you call a Ph.D. in Physics? The answer was “a cab driver.”
My eldest son graduates this summer with an EE degree. I think the glut is in PhD’s only. Engineers and technicians are still in high demand.
Right. This should end immediately. No foreigner should be brought here to replace a fully competent American.
Software is where the future is.
See if she has the aptitude.
“Fifty years ago, in my own area of experimental psychology, things were very different.”
I think I see the source of his concern. I bet sociology and anthropology majors are also having a hard time of it.
good question
There will soon be a shortage of electricians, plumbers and oil rig workers.
Agreed.
PhD are overpriced and mostly do research.
The demand is for worker bee Engineers.
There is an H-1B glut.
“My daughter will start high school in September at a STEM school. She had to take a test and have an above 90 grade in Science and Math! MAGA to my beautiful Giovanna!”
Congrats to her. She has entered a field that SJW cretins cannot even spell. And she can always hire them to do her lawn or prepare her coffee years from now. There are still many great jobs out there. I retired a few years ago and still get unsolicited offers from tech firms I’ve worked with. Hopefully, she’ll stay away from academia and get out there and produce things people actually want.
Interesting that the article was about PhD’s only.
Isn’t the real STEM shortage for working technical folks who would have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree only and not aim for an Ivory Tower career?
“Why are we importing so many STEM graduates from India via H-1B?”
In hopes of finding another Gary Kildall ??
But there is also demand for such PhD’s in industry. Maybe they all can’t become tenured Ivy League professors, but they all should be smart and well-educated in their fields.
There is a definite dearth of fully competent Americans. Finding capable EE’s and techs is very difficult.
Agreed. M.E.’s and E.E’s are making $80K+ right out of college here in OK and Texas.
EE bachelor’s degrees are still in high demand. A senior engineering student usually gets multiple job offers before they graduate, starting salaries are in the neighborhood of $60k.
Short answer, companies pay them less.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.