Was it worth it? A qualitative exploration into graduate perceptions of doctoral value

A cross-institutional analysis of the effects of broadening trainee professional development on research productivity

“…Institutional efforts to supplement PhD training in preparation for varied career outcomes have been bolstered by funding opportunities from federal agencies, such as the NIH Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) program, the NSF Research Traineeship program, and supplements to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMSAU : PleasenotethatNIGMShasbeendefineda ) T32 Training Grant programs [12][13][14]. This "value-added" training for skills such as communication, working in teams, and leadership is beneficial to those aspiring to either academic or nonacademic positions [1].…”

“…Scientific doctoral education provides technical and cognitive skill training and enables students to establish a positive sense of personal identity while building professional networks. Importantly, doctoral training provides graduates with career value in the workforce as employers increasingly recognize that employees with PhDs have advanced knowledge and skills that can enhance the organization's productivity and reputation [1].…”

Working With PhD Students to Build Their Transferability and Researcher Skills in the FEASST@8 and SuCCEED@8 Projects

“…It is necessary because the PhD is indeed a sustained effort in research whose audience has been traditionally restricted to the academic one. Yet, it is not sufficient any longer because the narrow focus on research skills, competencies, and attitudes does not reflect either the reality of a changed academic profession which has become saturated and increasingly more competitive (Disney, Horrowell, Mulhall, & Ronayne, ), or the reality of the workplace outside academia (Bryan & Guccione, ). It follows that a different type of professional development approach is required so that the core and transferable research skills, such as those listed by Vitae (), a global leader in the field of researchers’ development, in the Research Development Framework , are enhanced by providing students with new skills and experiences aligning with twenty‐first century skills (World Economic Forum [WEF], ) focusing on soft and digital skills.…”

Building Community in an Online Doctoral Program

“…Statistics consistently document that individuals who possess a doctoral degree represent the lowest percentage of unemployment, have an increase in lifetime potential earnings, and are more versatile in career options. Additionally, obtaining a doctorate has non-monetary benefits such as building self-confidence, feeling a strong sense of accomplishment, and developing resilience in the face of adversity (Bryan & Guccione, 2018;United States Census Bureau, 2020;Zolas et al, 2015).…”