Understanding and Supporting PhD Careers: A Resource for Universities

PhD Career Pathways was a multi-phase project to improve doctoral education through data collection, information-sharing, university networks, and resource development. With support from the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, CGS built a coalition of 75 doctoral institutions working to improve student and alumni experiences and outcomes through an evidence-informed approach. This report provides the most comprehensive summary to date of findings from the project’s large, multi-institutional dataset, which since 2017, have been released in a series of research briefs exploring specific issues in doctoral education and careers. The publication also includes guidance for communicating the value of diverse PhD careers and collecting and using PhD career data at the university level.