1. University of California, Berkeley
University of California (UC) Doctoral Student Career and Life Survey Findings,
Mary Ann Mason
Marc Goulden
Karie Frasch
Sharon Page-Medrich
University of California, Berkeley

2. University of California (UC) Doctoral Student Career and Life Survey
An 18-page Web survey assessed the attitudes of doctoral students (second year and higher) toward current and future career and life issues and their satisfaction with their degree program, with special attention to issues affecting student parents.
Launched at UC Berkeley in fall 2006 and at the other UC campuses (except Merced) in spring 2007, an overall 43% rate was achieved (8,373 respondents/19,678 surveyed) and an estimated 48% response rate among women doctoral students.
Respondents’ Basic Demographics
51% of respondents are women but women are only 45% of
UC’s doctoral student population (second year+).
14% of women and 12% of men have been parents as doctoral students.
34% of women and 33% of men are married.
17% of women and 11% of men are partnered.
5% of women and 3% of men are divorced/not remarried.
Women are on average 1 year older than men: age 31 vs. 30.
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

3. UC Doctoral Student Career and Life Survey: Response Rates by Campus
UC Campus
Number of Responses
Number Surveyed*
Total Response Rate
Estimated Response Rate for Women**
Berkeley
2,122
4,201
51%
56%
Davis
1,162
2,468
47%
54%
Irvine
778
1,945
40%
45%
Los Angeles
1,527
4,364
35%
39%
Riverside
448
1,194
38%
41%
San Diego
906
2,200
San Francisco
344
784
44%
53%
Santa Barbara
855
1,869
46%
Santa Cruz
231
653
Total
8,373
19,678
43%
48%
*Bad addresses are excluded from number surveyed and response rate calculation.
**Estimated based on percent of women among surveyed population (according to the local campus) and percent of women among survey respondents (self-reported by respondents).

4. UC Doctoral Students: As you think about your future career plans, how concerned are you about the family friendliness of possible career paths?
Women
Men
N=3,948
N=3,648
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

5. Percent Imagining Job Type to Be Very or Somewhat Family Friendly*
As you think about possible future career paths and family issues, how family friendly do you imagine each of the following job types to be? UC Doctoral Students by Gender
 Percent Imagining Job Type to Be Very or Somewhat Family Friendly*
Rank
Job Types
Total
Men
Women 1
Tenure-track faculty careers at teaching-intensive colleges
77%
82%
73% 2
Policy or managerial careers inside academia
76%
80% 3
Research careers outside academia
75%
78%
72% 4
Policy or managerial careers outside academia
74%
71% 5
Non-tenure-track faculty careers
63%
62%
64% 6
Research careers at research-intensive universities
47%
55%
40% 7
Tenure-track faculty careers at research-intensive universities
37%
46%
29%
N=7,294 to 7, ,481 to 3, ,784 to 3,923
*vs. not too or not at all family friendly.
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

6. New Child Born or Adopted as PhD Student?
Percent Imagining Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research-Intensive Universities to Be Very or Somewhat Family Friendly* by New Child Born/Adopted as PhD Student & Paid Status at Event
Gender
New Child Born or Adopted as PhD Student?
Paid off Federal Grant at Birth/Adopt. Event?
% Imagining Career to be Very/Somewhat Family Friendly N
Men
No new child
46%
3,257
Yes, new child
Not paid off federal grant
227
Yes, paid off federal grant
35% 62
Women
29%
3,637
211
16% 45
*vs. not too or not at all family friendly
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

7. Women Doctoral Students Men Doctoral Students
Percent Rating Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research Intensive Univ. as Very or Somewhat Family Friendly by Perceived Commonness of Women Faculty in Their Department/Unit Having Children
Total N=
319
968
1,660
730
133
602
1,393
919
Women
Doctoral
Students
Not at all common
Not too common
Somewhat common
Very common
Perceived Commonness of Women Faculty in Department/Unit Having Children
Men
Doctoral
Students
Not at all common
Not too common
Somewhat common
Very common
Percent Rating Tenure-Track Faculty Careers at Research
Intensive Universities as Very or Somewhat Family Friendly
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

8. Men Men Women Women Changing Career Goals UC PhD Students
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Current Goal
Men
Men
*Professor w.
Research
Emphasis
N=3710
N=3672
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Current Goal
Women
Women
Changing
Career Goals
UC PhD
Students
N=3994
N=3936
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

9. Men Men Women Women PTEM** UC PhD Students Changing Career Goals
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Current Goal
Men
Men
*Professor w.
Research
Emphasis
N=1774
N=1754
Career Goal at
Start of PhD
Current Goal
Women
Women
PTEM**
UC PhD
Students
Changing
Career Goals
N=856
N=840
**Includes physical sc., technology, engineer., & math.
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

10. Percent Citing Factor As “Very Important*”
Reasons Most Commonly Cited by UC PhD Students for Shifting Career Goal away from Professor with Research Emphasis
  Percent Citing Factor As “Very Important*”
in Career Goal Shift
Total
Men
Women 1
Negative experience as PhD student
45%
44%
46% 2
Other life interests
42%
35%
48% 3
Professional activities too time consuming
41% 4
Issues related to children
36%
21% 5
Geographic location issues
28%
40% 6
Feelings of isolation/alienation as PhD student
33%
31% 7
Bad job market
30%
29% 8
Career advancement issues
34%
27% 9
Job security 10
Spouse/partner issues or desire to marry
22%
32% 11
Monetary compensation (e.g., salary, benefits)
23% 12
Other career interests
25%
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N=956 to 1, to to 666
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.01).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

11. Percent of UC PhD Students Dissatisfied
Percent of UC PhD Students Dissatisfied* with Current Aspects of their Experience, By Gender
 % Dissatisfied* with Experience
All PhD Students
Men
Women 1
Dept/unit support for career-life balance
49%
46%
53% 2
Time for self (e.g. recreation, health)
43%
39%
47% 3
Personal progress toward career goals
26% 4
Personal progress toward PhD degree
24%
25%
23% 5
Overall career and life situation
21%
20%
22% 6
Interaction with faculty
19%
18% 7
Interaction with fellow PhD students
17%
16% 8
Interaction with primary faculty advisor 9
Quality of degree program
10%
N=7,790 to 8, ,741 to 4,034 4,008 to 4,219
*Dissatisfied includes “Not too” and “Not at all satisfied” vs. “Very” and “Somewhat satisfied.”
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

12. If “yes,” would you consider having children as a PhD student?
UC PhD Students: Whether or not you currently have children, do you expect to have or adopt any in the future?
Women
Men
N=4,066
N=3,796
If “yes,” would you consider having children as a PhD student?
Women
Men
N=2,619
N=2,394
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

13. Percent Citing As Very Important*
Reasons Cited for Not Having or Being Uncertain about Having a Child as a UC PhD Stud. (slide 1 of 2) (among those planning to have children in the future)
 Percent Citing As Very Important*
Total
Men
Women 1
Time demands of current PhD program/employment
72%
68%
76% 2
Current level of personal/household income
64%
67%
61% 3
Anticipated demands of future program/career
54%
48%
59% 4
Stress of raising a child as a PhD student
53%
58% 5
Concerns re affordability/availability of quality childcare
49%
56% 6
Concerns re affordability/availability of quality housing
51%
52% 7
Uncertain future employment situation
50% 8
Concerns re affordability/availability of health insurance
47% 9
Worry PhD program & caregiving are incompatible
46%
36% 10
Concerns re degree progress
43%
34% 11
Concerns about availability of pregnancy leave
32% 12
Uncertain current employment situation
38%
35%
40%
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N=3,880-4, ,607-2,006 2,199-2,330
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

14. Percent Citing As Very Important*
Reasons Cited for Not Having or Being Uncertain about Having a Child as a UC PhD Stud. (slide 2 of 2) (among those planning to have children in the future)
 Percent Citing As Very Important*
Tot.
Men
Wom. 13
Concerns re future career advancement/success
36%
27%
43% 14
Anticipated future level of personal/household income
33%
32% 15
Uncertainty re future spouse/partner (not married)
30% 16
Limit. interest in becoming parent as a PhD student
29%
31%
28% 17
Spouse/partner does not want child at this time
24% 18
Time for leisure or social activities
23% 19
Effects of a(nother) child on my marriage/relationship
17% 20
Worry advisor would take my work less seriously
15% 8%
21% 21
Worry possible employers might take work less serious 6% 22
Worry other faculty might take work less seriously
13%
19% 23
Medical or health reasons (including age) 24
Worry peers would take my work less seriously 9% 4%
14%
*”Not applicable” is excluded from analysis.
N= 1,788-4, , ,314
Yellow shading indicates the group’s response is significantly higher than the other group’s response (P<.001).
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

15. Everybody is Busy (UC Doctoral Students)
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

16. UC Doctoral Student Parents and Career-Family Conflict
491
435
510
385
436
404
436
457
547
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (
Note: These questions were based on Robert Drago’s Mapping Project Survey Instrument (

17. UC Doctoral Student Parents and Career-Family Support/Flexibility
549
420
530
463
545
411
515
450
534
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (
Note: Some questions were based on Robert Drago’s Mapping Project Survey Instrument (

18. Career Duties That Place Stress on UC Doctoral Student Parenting
Meeting teaching obligations
Meeting deadlines for grants/fellowships
Attending seminars, colloquia, dept. meetings
Research/writing (part of paid work)
Attending conferences/presenting papers
Conducting time-sensitive experiments
Field research away from home
Research/writing (PhD program) N=
328
386
363
444
427
503
365
398
397
488
250
218
296
375
453
523
Percent of UC Doctoral Student Parents Experiencing a “Great Deal” of Stress in Parenting as a Result of Specific Educational/Career Duty
(“Not Applicable” is excluded. “Some,” “A little,” and “None” responses are grouped.)
Source: Mason, Mary Ann and Marc Goulden “UC Doctoral Student Career Life Survey.” (

19. Elongating Career Timelines (Mean Time-to-Events): U. S
Elongating Career Timelines (Mean Time-to-Events): U.S. Science & Social Sci. PhDs Who Achieve Tenure, *
*Mean age calculations are based on PhD Recipients who are given up to 14 years from PhD receipt to achieve tenure;
e.g., 1999 includes SDR respondents who received their PhD in
Source: NSF, SDR Sciences,
Note: The use of NSF Data does not imply the endorsement of research methods or conclusions contained in this report.