2024 Climate Survey of Current OSU Postdoctoral Fellows

Methodology and Response Rate

During spring 2024, on online survey was distribute to current postdocs at OSu; the survey instrument was modeled after a Climate Survey conducted among postdocs at Virginia Tech University. The OSU Office of Institutional Research and Analytics provided the names and email addresses of 65 postdoctoral fellows; however, three accounts were inactive, leaving 62 postdocs on the list. Thirty-three (33) postdocs started the survey, and 29 finished and submitted the survey; this translates to a 51% response rate and 88% completion rate.

 

Summary of Findings

• Most of the respondents indicated they feel isolated (63% = often/occasionally), and many (37%) do not feel they are part of a post-doc community.

• The vast majority (76%) have plans to pursue a career in academia.

  • However, two-thirds (66.7%) of the respondents do not have a written/formal career plan or have not heard of a career plan.

• Many postdocs (42%) say they do NOT have a mentor.

• More than a third (38%) report a great deal of stress that is unrelated to their postdoctoral training.