Exploring the Effects of Institutional Research Intensity on Engineering PhD Recipients’ Initial Employment Choices

This study investigates the relationship between institutional research intensity and demographic covariates of engineering PhD recipients and their initial employment choices using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regressions. A correlational design investigates predictors of engineering PhD recipients’ employment choices (academic vs. non-academic) using the 2015-2018 restricted-use Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) files from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). The study is informed by signaling theory, which purports that potential employees send “signals” about their qualifications and fit for employment, while employers search for “signals” of quality in a candidate and attribute higher education credentials from selective and prestigious institutions as an indication of heightened future performance. The study's results demonstrate research intensity of the institution from which a recipient earned their PhD is significantly related to employment choices, specifically choosing an academic career path. We also observed relationships between the recipients’ demographic characteristics and their employment choices, relative to sex at birth, race/ethnicity, and first-generation status. This study shows that women and Hispanic graduates are more likely to take employment within the academy, and being married significantly decreases the odds of academic employment. Finally, first-generation status also shows a statistically significant positive relationship with the likelihood of academic employment. Implications and future research opportunities are explored.