What do researchers do?
Our series of publications exploring the destinations and career paths of doctoral graduates and how they contribute to society, culture and economy.
What do researchers do? background
What do researchers do? is designed to help:
- doctoral researchers, research staff and prospective researchers make well-informed career choices
- careers advisors, researcher developers, supervisors and principal investigators to be aware of the breadth of potential careers
- funders and policymakers understand the contribution of doctoral graduates to society, culture and the economy
- employers better appreciate what researchers can offer them
What do researchers do? data studies are primarily based on data from the HESA destinations of leavers from higher education surveys.
What do researchers do? data studies
Do researchers’ early careers have to be precarious?
Do researchers’ early careers have to be precarious? is part one of a new series. For full context, read the accompanying article: Do researchers’ careers have to be precarious research article
What do researchers do? Early career progression of doctoral graduates, 2013
The report – What-do-researchers-do-Early-career-progression-Vitae-2013 provides a fascinating overview of doctoral graduates’ early careers, looking at their employment three years on from their PhDs and highlighting the major value of doctoral study to researchers, employers and society at large.
What do researchers do? Career paths of doctoral graduates, 2011
The study, What-do-researchers-do-Career-paths-Vitae-2011 illustrates that doctoral research training is a good foundation for a wide variety of occupations and demonstrates the flexibility of researchers who take advantage of a diversity of employment opportunities.
What do researchers do? Doctoral graduate destinations and impact three years on, 2010
The value of doctoral study to researchers, their employers and society at large. How researchers contribute to innovation and knowledge transfer. Read the report: What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-3- years-on-soft-copy-Vitae
What do researchers do? First destinations of doctoral graduates by subject, 2009
Analysis of first employment destinations of doctoral graduates 2003-2007 from UK universities by discipline and subject.
This report is in six parts:
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-1
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-2
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-3
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-4
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-5
What-do-researchers-do-WDRD-by-subject-Vitae-Jun-2009-part-6
What do researchers do? career profiles and stories
What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral entrepreneurs, 2010
Career stories from researchers who have gone on to become entrepreneurs.
What do researchers do? Career profiles of doctoral graduates, 2009
Career profiles and around 1000 first destination job titles of doctoral graduates.
What do researchers want to do?
What do researchers want to do? The career intentions of doctoral researchers, 2012
A survey of over 4,500 current postgraduate researchers undertaking doctoral degrees investigating the career intentions and aspirations of doctoral researchers, their career decision-making to date and what influenced those decisions.
See the survey report in four parts:
WDRWTD-The-career-intentions-of-doctoral-graduates-Vitae-Feb-2012-part-1
WDRWTD-The-career-intentions-of-doctoral-graduates-Vitae-Feb-2012-part-2
WDRWTD-The-career-intentions-of-doctoral-graduates-Vitae-Feb-2012-part-3
WDRWTD-The-career-intentions-of-doctoral-graduates-Vitae-Feb-2012-part-4
Other reports into the career intentions of researchers
The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2015 (PRES) includes a question on the anticipated career of doctoral researchers by domicile. Overall 46% anticipate going into a research and teaching role, while another 13% anticipate going into a research-only role in higher education.
Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS) 2015 UK aggregate results: Vitae-Careers-in-Research-Online-Survey-report-2015 for CROS (1)-compressed includes the career aspirations and expectations of research staff employed in higher education institutions.