6 / 20
BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
6
JUNE
2017
National Science Board on
Career Opportunities for PhDs
The National Science Board (NSB) released a
policy brief featuring an interactive infographic
that allows users to see the number of doctorates
employed in business, government, and academic
jobs and how career paths change over time. Users
can examine career outcomes by field, gender, and
career stage. According to the data, of those hold-
ing a PhD in biochemistry or biophysics, 79% are
engaged in research and development 5–9 years
after obtaining their degree, 56% are engaged
10–14 years out, and 91% are engaged 15+ years
out.
“We need to exorcise the notion that those who
get a PhD in a science, engineering, or health field
are limited to an academic career,” said Geraldine
Richmond, Chair of NSB’s National Science
and Engineering Policy Committee and lead in
developing the brief. “The data show incredibly
diverse jobs that PhD holders are in across all
employment sectors. It’s our hope that this brief
helps raise awareness in students and faculty about
the rich and varied career paths that these doctor-
ates can take.”
The brief and infographic can be accessed at
https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/sei/infographic2/#nsb-statement.
Are You Running for Office?
There has been a push for scientists to get in-
volved civically the last several years and chatter
indicates that many are taking that plunge. Let
us know if you are running for an elected posi-
tion — school board, city council, state legislator,
or Congress! Send information to Ellen Weiss at
eweiss@biophysics.org.The Biophysical Society blog has an archive of over 40 articles offering
career advice for biophysicists.
Numbers
By the