Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

The Effect of COVID-19 on the Postdoctoral Experience: a comparison of pre-pandemic and pandemic surveys

View ORCID ProfileAndréanne Morin, View ORCID ProfileBritney A. Helling, View ORCID ProfileSeetha Krishnan, View ORCID ProfileLaurie E. Risner, Nykia D. Walker, View ORCID ProfileNancy B. Schwartz
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.468693
Andréanne Morin
1University of Chicago, Department of Human Genetics
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Andréanne Morin
  • For correspondence: amorin@uchicago.edu n-schwartz@uchicago.edu
Britney A. Helling
1University of Chicago, Department of Human Genetics
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Britney A. Helling
Seetha Krishnan
2University of Chicago, Department of Neurobiology and Institute for Neuroscience
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Seetha Krishnan
Laurie E. Risner
3University of Chicago, Department of Pediatrics
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Laurie E. Risner
Nykia D. Walker
4University of Chicago, The Ben May Department for Cancer Research
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nancy B. Schwartz
3University of Chicago, Department of Pediatrics
5University of Chicago, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Nancy B. Schwartz
  • For correspondence: amorin@uchicago.edu n-schwartz@uchicago.edu
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

In the interest of advocating for the postdoctoral community in the United States, we present results from survey data collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic on the same population of postdocs. In 2019, 5,929 postdocs in the US completed a comprehensive survey, and in 2020, a subset completed a follow-up survey several months into the pandemic. The results show that the pandemic has substantially impacted postdocs’ mental health and wellness irrespective of gender, race, citizenship, or other identities. Postdocs also reported a significant impact on their career trajectories and progression, reduced confidence in achieving career goals, and negative perceptions of the job market compared to pre-COVID-19. International postdocs also reported experiencing distinct stressors due to the changes in immigration policy. Notably, having access to Postdoctoral Associations and Postdoctoral Offices positively impacted postdocs’ overall well-being and helped mitigate the personal and professional stresses and career uncertainties caused by the pandemic.

Figure
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab

Graphical Abstract of survey responses to: Why or how has your research been disrupted or not disrupted due to the pandemic? Overall, postdocs responded with feelings of loss of control as the pandemic was acting upon them and taking away their ability to complete their work.

Graphical Abstract

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted November 21, 2021.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Effect of COVID-19 on the Postdoctoral Experience: a comparison of pre-pandemic and pandemic surveys
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
The Effect of COVID-19 on the Postdoctoral Experience: a comparison of pre-pandemic and pandemic surveys
Andréanne Morin, Britney A. Helling, Seetha Krishnan, Laurie E. Risner, Nykia D. Walker, Nancy B. Schwartz
bioRxiv 2021.11.19.468693; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.468693
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
The Effect of COVID-19 on the Postdoctoral Experience: a comparison of pre-pandemic and pandemic surveys
Andréanne Morin, Britney A. Helling, Seetha Krishnan, Laurie E. Risner, Nykia D. Walker, Nancy B. Schwartz
bioRxiv 2021.11.19.468693; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.468693

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Scientific Communication and Education
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (4118)
  • Biochemistry (8825)
  • Bioengineering (6529)
  • Bioinformatics (23481)
  • Biophysics (11800)
  • Cancer Biology (9221)
  • Cell Biology (13334)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (7442)
  • Ecology (11421)
  • Epidemiology (2066)
  • Evolutionary Biology (15169)
  • Genetics (10448)
  • Genomics (14054)
  • Immunology (9183)
  • Microbiology (22186)
  • Molecular Biology (8821)
  • Neuroscience (47614)
  • Paleontology (350)
  • Pathology (1430)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2492)
  • Physiology (3736)
  • Plant Biology (8085)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1438)
  • Synthetic Biology (2222)
  • Systems Biology (6042)
  • Zoology (1254)