Trends among biomedical investigators at top-tier research institutions: a study of the Pew Scholars.
OBJECTIVE
To gather information and opinions from promising young scientists at top-tier research institutions to learn how they are being affected by the changing biomedical research environment and to present highlights from some of the major reports in the literature on trends in biomedical education and employment in the United States.


METHODS
In 1996, the authors conducted a survey of all individuals who had been chosen as awardees in the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences between 1985 and 1995. This group was chosen because it represents independently-identified highly successful investigators at top-tier biomedical research institutions in the United States.


RESULTS
Overall, the members of the study group performed better than did their peers nationwide regarding time to degrees, ages at first position, and first awards of federal funding. Nonetheless, even within this above-average cohort, trends were identified that indicate a general aging of young scientists. Not surprisingly, members of this cohort had greater access to federal funds for training and were more likely to pursue careers in academia than their peers nationwide. Despite the success of this well-positioned cohort of scientists, their views on the job market, the supply of biomedical scientists, and the training of students were surprisingly pessimistic.


CONCLUSIONS
The study findings provide information about early career paths of investigators at top-tier research institutions. In addition, the views of this successful cohort serve to inform the current dialogue and questions that remain about the future health of biomedical research and education in the United States. Educators, prospective and current students, and members of the policy community may find it useful to consider these findings and the questions they raise, some of which the authors present.
Williard
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R
School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
O'Neil
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E
D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000328:Adult; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States