This trend has been most strongly observed in biochemistry, says Steven B. Sample , president of the University of Southern California and chair of the AAU committee on postdoctoral education. From 1975 to 1995, the proportion of Ph.D.s in all fields of science, engineering, and health accepting postdoctoral appointments has grown from 25 percent to 37 percent. There has been concern from many that postdoctoral work has become a holding pattern before you can find steady employment. The postdoc in essence has become a terminal degree. Most of the 50 are considered among the top research universities in the nation.
Most institutions make little or no effort to control the number or quality of appointments.
Few institutions have campuswide compensation policies for postdocs, and few report any attempt to ensure that foreign and domestic postdocs receive equal compensation. Although many institutions claim to classify postdocs as employees entitled to the usual benefits, postdocs tend to list access to benefits as a major concern. Sample is hopeful that the study will prompt universities to reevaluate the role of postdoctoral researchers. Policies for faculty and graduates are well defined. Many postdocs have had an undefined existence somewhere between student and professor.