““Career Opportunities: Supply and Demand Career Opportunities: Supply and Demand

FactorsFactors

Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D.Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D.

Department of Cell Biology & NeuroscienceDepartment of Cell Biology & Neuroscience

Rutgers UniversityRutgers University

Fundamental IssuesFundamental Issues

Where do we stand in terms of the availability of scientists Where do we stand in terms of the availability of scientists

trained in physiology/pharmacology with the required trained in physiology/pharmacology with the required

expertise to work at the level or focus upon I & OSS ?expertise to work at the level or focus upon I & OSS ?

Is this changing ? If so, why?Is this changing ? If so, why?

What are the consequences and/or problems ?What are the consequences and/or problems ?

Integrative & Organ Systems SciencesIntegrative & Organ Systems Sciences

( I & OSS )( I & OSS )““Scientific approaches aimed at understanding how biological systems Scientific approaches aimed at understanding how biological systems

function at the level of the whole animal, organs, and organ systems.”function at the level of the whole animal, organs, and organ systems.”

This would contrast “Reductionist Sciences”This would contrast “Reductionist Sciences”

““Scientific approaches aimed at identifying molecular and cellular events, Scientific approaches aimed at identifying molecular and cellular events,

studied in purified form or in isolated systems and include genomics, studied in purified form or in isolated systems and include genomics,

proteomics, biochemistry and cell biology.”proteomics, biochemistry and cell biology.”

Sources of Information: Supply / Demand FactorsSources of Information: Supply / Demand Factors

Trends in the Early Careers of Life Scientists-National Academy Press, 1998, Trends in the Early Careers of Life Scientists-National Academy Press, 1998, FASEB Consensus Conference on Grad. Education, 1996FASEB Consensus Conference on Grad. Education, 1996

NSF Data-Graduate Student Training and Earned DoctoratesNSF Data-Graduate Student Training and Earned Doctorates

Surveys: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Surveys: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)

APS surveysAPS surveys

Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO)Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO)

Employed Biomedical PhDsEmployed Biomedical PhDs

(percent of total)(percent of total)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1980 1990 1995

Academia

Industry

Employed Biomedical PhDs as Post-DocsEmployed Biomedical PhDs as Post-Docs

(percent of total)(percent of total)

0123456789

10

1973 1985 1995

Total

Academic

Private

Scientists Employed by Educational InstitutionsScientists Employed by Educational Institutions

Total number of “life scientists”Total number of “life scientists”

100000

105000

110000

115000

120000

1993 1997 1999

Total Number

(AAAS Data)(AAAS Data)

Scientists Employed by Educational InstitutionsScientists Employed by Educational Institutions

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

11000

12000

13000

1993 1997 1999

Cell & MB

Physiology

Pharmacology

(AAAS Data)(AAAS Data)

Problems EnumeratedProblems Enumerated

NAS/NRC StudyNAS/NRC Study Mentor’s concerns over student prospectsMentor’s concerns over student prospects

PhDs-the “haves” & the “have nots”PhDs-the “haves” & the “have nots”

Sense of “Failed Expectations”Sense of “Failed Expectations”

(assessed by traditional goals)(assessed by traditional goals)

Fundamental IssuesFundamental Issues

Over emphasis on the importance of genetics and molecular biologyOver emphasis on the importance of genetics and molecular biology

Lack of information on the importance of physiologyLack of information on the importance of physiology

Losing Physiology as a term, department, & disciplineLosing Physiology as a term, department, & discipline

Fewer & fewer successful role models in physiology (decreased faculty)Fewer & fewer successful role models in physiology (decreased faculty)

Negative observationsNegative observations Investigators not fundedInvestigators not funded Closing labsClosing labs Limited job possibilitiesLimited job possibilities

Doctorates Awarded 1991-2000Doctorates Awarded 1991-2000

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1991 1994 1997 2000

Physiology

Pharmacology

Mol. Biology

Cell Biology

(NSF Data)(NSF Data)

Full Time Graduate Students Full Time Graduate Students

Across AreasAcross Areas

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1993 1997 2000

Physiology

Pharmacology

Cell Biology

(NSF Data)(NSF Data)

Number of Physiology PhD Graduate StudentsNumber of Physiology PhD Graduate Students

at US Medical Schoolsat US Medical Schools

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

(Physiologist 45: 179, 2002)(Physiologist 45: 179, 2002)

While the number of PhDs in Physiology/Pharmacology While the number of PhDs in Physiology/Pharmacology

appears to be “relatively” constant, there are very appears to be “relatively” constant, there are very

limited data in terms of the areas that these PhDs are limited data in terms of the areas that these PhDs are

focused upon.focused upon.

The general impression :The general impression :

It is certainly not whole animal or integrative physiology.It is certainly not whole animal or integrative physiology.

Integrative & Organ Systems SciencesIntegrative & Organ Systems Sciences

( I & OSS )( I & OSS )

Scientific approaches aimed at understanding how biological systems Scientific approaches aimed at understanding how biological systems

function at the level of the whole animal, organs, and organ systemsfunction at the level of the whole animal, organs, and organ systems

““Broad- IOSS”Broad- IOSS” Using an animal modelUsing an animal model

““Narrow- IOSS”Narrow- IOSS” Main goal-understand function as aboveMain goal-understand function as above

Number of PhD Dissertations in I & OSSNumber of PhD Dissertations in I & OSS

Biological Sciences/ Broad vs. Narrow I & OSSBiological Sciences/ Broad vs. Narrow I & OSS

0102030405060708090

100

1982 (n=2,458) 1991 (n=4,870) 2000 (n=4,082)

PercentDownloaded

Broad IOSS

Narrow IOSS

(LSRO Data)(LSRO Data)n=# bio abstracts downloadedn=# bio abstracts downloaded

Number of Total and I&OSS Publications in Number of Total and I&OSS Publications in

JPETJPET

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1980 1990 2000

Total #Manuscripts

# Broad OSS

# Narrow Def.OSS

(LSRO Data)(LSRO Data)

Number of Total and I&OSS Publications in AJP Number of Total and I&OSS Publications in AJP

Journals Journals (Lung Cellular Mol. Excluded)(Lung Cellular Mol. Excluded)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1980 1990 2000

Total #Manuscripts

# Broad OSS

# Narrow Def.OSS

(LSRO Data)(LSRO Data)

Jobs Advertised in “Science” 1980, 1990, 2000Jobs Advertised in “Science” 1980, 1990, 2000

Total jobs 10 randomly selected issuesTotal jobs 10 randomly selected issues

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1980 1990 2000

Total Jobs

Int. Org. SS

(LSRO Data)(LSRO Data)

Jobs Advertised in “Science” 1980, 1990, 2000Jobs Advertised in “Science” 1980, 1990, 2000

Total jobs 10 randomly selected issuesTotal jobs 10 randomly selected issues

0204060

80100120140

160180200

1980 1990 2000

I & OSS

Narrow I&OSS

(LSRO Data)(LSRO Data)

Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO) SurveyLife Sciences Research Office (LSRO) Survey

Conducted in 2002, ongoingConducted in 2002, ongoing

Written survey of department chairs Written survey of department chairs (Physiology/Pharmacology)(Physiology/Pharmacology)

Sent to 415 different programsSent to 415 different programs

Response rate (to-date) n=163 (39%)Response rate (to-date) n=163 (39%)

It specifically addressed the issues of faculty expertise, curriculum, It specifically addressed the issues of faculty expertise, curriculum,

graduate student training, and the importance of need for I & OSS.graduate student training, and the importance of need for I & OSS.

Number of FacultyNumber of Faculty

(total and I&OSS) in 1991 versus 2001 (total and I&OSS) in 1991 versus 2001

Data represent responses from 157 departments.Data represent responses from 157 departments.

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1991 2001

Total # Faculty

# of I & OSS

(LSRO data)(LSRO data)

Numbers of I & OSS Faculty-tenured vs. non-tenuredNumbers of I & OSS Faculty-tenured vs. non-tenured

(Data represent responses from 146 departments. (Data represent responses from 146 departments.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1991 2001

Total I&OSS

Tenured

non-tenured

(LSRO Survey)(LSRO Survey)

Number of PhD students being trainedNumber of PhD students being trained

(total and I&OSS) in 1991 versus 2001 (total and I&OSS) in 1991 versus 2001

Data represent responses from 143 departments.Data represent responses from 143 departments.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1991 2001

total # PhD students

# capable I&OSS

(LSRO data)(LSRO data)

Graduate Student Training-LSRO SurveyGraduate Student Training-LSRO Survey

In 1991 a total of 71 programs indicated that they trained >10 students in In 1991 a total of 71 programs indicated that they trained >10 students in

their physiology/pharmacology graduate program. In 2001 this number their physiology/pharmacology graduate program. In 2001 this number

was 82.was 82.

In contrast, in 1991 only 24 programs indicated that they were training >10 In contrast, in 1991 only 24 programs indicated that they were training >10

students capable of doing I & OSS and in vivo whole animal research. students capable of doing I & OSS and in vivo whole animal research.

By 2001 this number has decreased to 14 programs.By 2001 this number has decreased to 14 programs.

I & OSS Science Courses in Graduate Program I & OSS Science Courses in Graduate Program

CurriculumCurriculum Of the 163 programs that responded to the survey, there were no changes in the Of the 163 programs that responded to the survey, there were no changes in the

total number of “I & OSS” courses within their curriculum from 1991 to 2001.total number of “I & OSS” courses within their curriculum from 1991 to 2001.

The majority of the programs offered between 2-5 integrative/organ systems The majority of the programs offered between 2-5 integrative/organ systems

courses.courses.

No information was obtained about how often they were taught, enrollments, or No information was obtained about how often they were taught, enrollments, or

whether these courses were “elective” or “required”.whether these courses were “elective” or “required”.

Life Sciences Research Office (LSRO) SurveyLife Sciences Research Office (LSRO) Survey

Two General Questions (for write-in comments)Two General Questions (for write-in comments)

I.I. What is your estimate of future needs for I & OSS What is your estimate of future needs for I & OSS

scientists?scientists?

II.II. Is the Issue of I & OSS trained scientists a problem, Is the Issue of I & OSS trained scientists a problem, and if and if

so, why?so, why?

Is there a future need for I&OSS Scientists?Is there a future need for I&OSS Scientists?

Of the 163 programs surveyed, 105 responded to this question.Of the 163 programs surveyed, 105 responded to this question.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

YES yes No teach res. both

Number

(LSRO Survey)(LSRO Survey)

Reasons why “YES”Reasons why “YES”

I & OSS Faculty Hiring-over next 5 years.I & OSS Faculty Hiring-over next 5 years.

(Data represent complete responses from 126 institutions)(Data represent complete responses from 126 institutions)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

None 1 1--2 3--4 5 >6

Number ofDepartments

Number of faculty to be hired (LSRO Survey)

Is the issue of I & OSS a problem?Is the issue of I & OSS a problem?

Of the 163 programs surveyed, 124 responded to this question.Of the 163 programs surveyed, 124 responded to this question.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

YES-important Yes No

Number

(LSRO Survey)(LSRO Survey)

Is the issue of I & OSS a problem?Is the issue of I & OSS a problem?

Stated Reasons “Why a Problem”Stated Reasons “Why a Problem”

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

ResearchFunding

Emphasis Animal Issues

Number

(LSRO Survey)(LSRO Survey)

Fundamental Issue/Problem CitedFundamental Issue/Problem Cited

E xisten ce o f M en torsR o le M od els

T ra in in g o f S tu d en ts

U n ivers ity S u p p ort fo rD isc ip lin es

F acu lty L in es /H ir ing

V iab le C areerO p p ortu n itie s

for P h D s in L ife S c ien ces

R esearch F u n d ingI & O S S

SummarySummary

Supply / Demand FactorsSupply / Demand Factors

Number of PhDs and faculty in Physiology/Pharmacology--stable.Number of PhDs and faculty in Physiology/Pharmacology--stable. Number of PhD graduate students appears to be relatively stable.Number of PhD graduate students appears to be relatively stable. Amount of science being conducted/published I & OSS appears to be decreasing.Amount of science being conducted/published I & OSS appears to be decreasing. Fraction of faculty with I & OSS expertise has fallen from 70-55%.Fraction of faculty with I & OSS expertise has fallen from 70-55%. Fraction of graduate students being trained/capable of I & OSS has fallen Fraction of graduate students being trained/capable of I & OSS has fallen

similarly 70-55 %.similarly 70-55 %. If there is a demand for I & OSS scientists, it is not readily apparent.If there is a demand for I & OSS scientists, it is not readily apparent.

Despite the stated need/importance for I & OSS scientists by ChairsDespite the stated need/importance for I & OSS scientists by Chairs Very few are being hiredVery few are being hired Fundamental stated issue: research funding Fundamental stated issue: research funding