Faculty trends
The following highlights and reports are based on data collected from the Academic Workforce
Survey, which we have conducted every two years since 1986. This series of biennial surveys
collects data on the number of faculty, turnover, retirements, and recruitments at physics
and astronomy degree-granting departments.
focus on Astronomy Faculty
This is the second in a series of 5 focus ons which present the findings of the Academic Workforce Survey of 2008. This issue examines astronomy faculty:
faculty members employed in departments that award degrees only in Astronomy (and not physics) and faculty in Physics departments who specialized in
Astronomy or Astrophysics for their dissertation research. Women are better represented among astronomy faculty than physics faculty; however, there are
fewer minority faculty members in astronomy than physics.
focus on Number of Physics Faculty
This is the first in a series of 5 focus ons which present the findings of the Academic Workforce Survey of 2008. The data from the 2008 biennial survey show that
faculty numbers in physics departments continue to increase slowly.
We also examine faculty employed in temporary and non-tenure track positions. Finally, we look at the number of bachelor's degrees awarded by departments
of various sizes.
Number of Physics and Astronomy Faculty
The 2006 data from the biennial Physics and Astronomy Academic Workforce Survey show positive
trends for astronomy and physics faculty members and departments. The highlights below show that
in the last ten years,
the number of FTE (full-time equivalent) physics faculty positions has increased by 700 to
a total of 9150. The percentage of FTE physics faculty members who are temporary or non-tenure
track has leveled off and is no longer increasing. These highlights also show the relationship
between number of FTE faculty positions and number of bachelor's degrees awarded for both
undergraduate and PhD physics departments. For the first time, this survey collected data
on the number of astronomers and astrophysicists employed in academe. Most of the 1600
astronomers and astrophysicists who are faculty members work in physics departments rather
than in the stand-alone astronomy departments.
Highlights (HTML) |
Highlights
Women in Physics & Astronomy Faculty Positions
These highlights show data on women faculty members that were collected in our survey of all
degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the US in 2006. The percentages of physics
and astronomy faculty members who are women have increased. The percentage of newly hired
assistant physics professors who are women is higher than the percentage of physics PhDs earned
by women in the recent past. This may indicate that women are hired at greater than their
availability rate. In addition, physics departments are more likely than ever to have at least
one woman on their faculties.
Highlights (HTML) |
Highlights
Trends in the Physics Academic Workforce
Since 1998, the academic job market for physicists has been influenced by the retirements of
faculty members. These highlights show the relationship between the retirement rates
(1998-2006) and number of faculty members recruited by physics departments. The retirement
rate peaked in 2000, leading to an increase in the number of faculty members hired. Although
the retirement rate has been decreasing since 2000, the number of faculty members hired has
remained the same.
Highlights (HTML) |
Highlights
The 2004 Physics & Astronomy Academic Workforce
The number of faculty positions in physics has increased by about 10% since 1994. However, more
positions are being filled with part-time and temporary faculty than ten years ago. The number
of minority faculty members increased significantly at physics departments, and new female
faculty were hired at rates consistent with degree production in the past. This report also
provides data on the relationship between the number of full-time equivalent faculty and the
number of bachelor's degrees awarded. For the first time, this report contains data on
stand-alone astronomy departments.
Highlights (HTML) |
Highlights
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Full report
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