title: Epidemiological study of the characteristics of veterinarians who pursue a research career: part I.
abstract: This retrospective, matched case-control study compared the characteristics of veterinary surgeons employed in veterinary research with those who had never held a research post. The cases were randomly selected from graduates of veterinary schools in Great Britain or Ireland who were employed at universities or institutes that conduct research and who played a major role in veterinary research projects during 2001 to 2003. The controls were veterinary surgeons who had not held any post that was primarily a research post since they graduated. The cases and controls were matched by year of graduation and data were obtained for 173 matched sets. Graduates who were significantly (P<0.05) more likely to have a career involving research included male graduates, graduates who had completed a summer studentship, graduates who had completed an internship, residency or houseman's programme, graduates who held a veterinary diploma, and graduates who had intended to pursue a career in research or academia when they graduated from veterinary school. A career involving research was significantly (P<0.05) more likely to be associated with full-time employment and a lower salary than a career that did not involve research.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston, South Wirral CH64 7TE.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pinchbeck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research; D002321:Career Choice; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D000078329:Workforce