United States (US) immigration policies have increasingly focused on national security resulting in universities experiencing declines in international student applications, constraints on international scholar employment, and complications facilitating international research collaborations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought additional travel…

The PhD graduate from a US research academic institution who has worked 5-7 years to solve a combination of laboratory and computational problems after an in-depth classroom experience is likely superbly trained in at least a subset of the life sciences and the underlying methodology and thought processes required to perform high level research.…

Two National Research Council studies investigate the growing number of postdoctoral trainees, particularly in the biomedical fields, and the implications of this postdoctoral pool growth for federal support of pre- and postdoctoral research training. (BB)

As recently as the early 1970s, a postdoctoral research experience overseas was a valued part of training for a U.S. biologist aspiring to an academic position. Not only did the U.S. scientists benefit educationally from participating in different laboratory and cultural systems, but labs outside the United States were enriched by the ideas,…

Detailed findings on a broad range of issues concerning the importance of postdoctorals to the nation's research effort and the value of postdoctoral experience to young scientists and engineers pursuing careers in research are presented. The report, the first comprehensive study of postdoctorals in 10 years, identifies the following issues: (1)…

A policy statement drafted by the Association of American Medical Colleges is presented that reviews the goals, environment, and mechanisms of support of biomedical and behavioral research.