Nature survey PhD students face existential crisis

Recently, Nature conducted its regular survey of the next generation of academic talent, including doctoral and graduate students. This year's survey should serve as a wake-up call for all those involved in recruiting and training the next generation of researchers, and demand that governments and funding agencies take swift and decisive action to secure the future of science and the broader economic and social benefits that will result.

01Financial distress, an existential threat to academics

Of the 3,253 respondents from around the world, about 85 percent expressed concern about skyrocketing inflation: three-quarters of them were doctoral students. 45 percent said inflation would "negatively affect" their decision to complete a program or course.

"It's hard to feel valued as a researcher when I'm worried about paying for car repairs or getting groceries from the food bank." One master's student said in a survey, but this was by no means an isolated comment in the survey.

Financial woes are not a temporary inconvenience; they can be an existential threat to today's doctoral scholars and master's students. If students don't have the resources to support themselves, they can't devote their full attention to training and development. If their stipends do not keep up with the rising costs of rent, groceries, and fuel, any gap will only widen over time: a devastating result for the ability of research institutions to attract the best talent.

02Student strikes

These results are not surprising, and organizations representing students and early-career researchers are already struggling to draw attention to this dilemma.

On October 11, a group of graduate students based at Dartmouth College staged a strike as part of an ongoing protest to demand a guaranteed living wage and the various rights and benefits that come with an academic employment contract; the group also wants to form a union and wants Dartmouth to recognize it.

In September, PhD students in Ireland organized a protest in Dublin as part of a campaign with the country's Association of Universities for a significant increase in PhD stipends, and they are also calling for paid sick and parental leave.

In July, graduate students in the United Kingdom similarly organized a protest and launched a campaign to demand that the country's largest public funder, the UK Research and Innovation Institute (UKRI), provide more financial support.

At the time, a representative of UKRI said, "We recognize that the rising cost of living is affecting postgraduate researchers. We are therefore actively discussing with other institutions across the sector whether we can provide further support." To its credit, the institution followed through on Oct. 1 by raising the minimum doctoral stipend to £17,668 ($20,400) for 2022-23, an increase of more than £2,000 per year. However, even though the increase is still less than £20,000, it is only what a full-time worker earns in a year at the British "real living wage" of £10.90 per hour.

According to a survey conducted by two graduate students in May, graduate student stipends are also far below the cost of living in the U.S., a gap that has widened as inflation has risen. In fact, few PhD programs worldwide pay a living wage.

The resulting financial strain weighs more heavily on some than on others: it puts particular pressure on those from low-income families, those who may be the first in their families to attend college, and those from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups, the very people universities struggle to recruit and retain.

"If these students are unable to complete their programs of study, then the mission of research to increase inclusivity and diversity will also be threatened."

As a result, institutions need to reevaluate their approach to supporting doctoral students. For example, they could treat doctoral students as employees subject to local living wage regulations. However, this may not be possible everywhere: universities that cannot afford to support a living wage should consider dropping any prohibitions on graduate students working during their PhDs.

For students and academics, advocating for change outside of their day jobs is physically and mentally taxing. It should not require an organized protest and letter-writing campaign to spur action. The stipend must pay a living wage, and it must recognize that inflation erodes the value of wages.

More money doesn't always solve the problems in research. But it's not just a matter of dollars, euros, pounds or renminbi - it's a priority. Universities, funding agencies and governments must know that today's PhD and MSc students will be the key research and leadership people of the future; they will work in academia, industry, the public sector and NGOs: researchers will be needed to stay and complete their research, which will require them to be able to pay their living costs.

Reference link：

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03472-3