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Table 59. Statistical profile of postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients in physical sciences and earth sciences fields, by sex and field of study: 2015

Characteristic All physical sciences and earth sciences fields Chemistry Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences Physics and astronomy
All doctorate recipients (number)a 5,924 2,675 1,057 2,192
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 1,988 826 405 757
Definite employment 1,104 478 222 404
Seeking employment or study 1,924 936 277 711
Otherc 159 85 21 53
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 38.8 36.0 43.0 39.6
Postdoc research associateship 60.5 62.8 56.3 60.1
Other or unknowne 0.8 1.2 0.7 0.3
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 24.1 22.6 34.7 20.0
Government 6.9 3.6 14.4 6.7
Industry or businessg 64.4 70.3 44.1 68.6
Nonprofit organization 2.8 1.5 5.9 2.7
Other or unknownh 1.8 2.1 0.9 2.0
Primary activityi
R&D 64.5 69.1 56.7 63.3
Teaching 18.6 19.3 20.5 16.8
Management or administration 5.2 3.5 8.8 5.2
Professional services 7.3 5.7 10.2 7.5
Other 4.4 2.4 3.7 7.2
Secondary activityj
R&D 17.2 14.3 26.0 15.8
Teaching 2.8 2.2 5.6 2.1
Management or administration 15.8 20.7 8.4 14.2
Professional services 8.5 9.1 13.5 4.9
Other 2.8 2.0 5.1 2.6
No secondary activity 52.8 51.7 41.4 60.5
Activity unknown 3.8 3.8 3.2 4.2
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 88.5 92.7 88.0 83.9
New England 9.0 10.3 7.5 8.4
Middle Atlantic 12.6 13.3 9.4 13.5
East North Central 10.3 13.8 4.8 9.4
West North Central 4.2 5.8 3.0 3.0
South Atlantic 12.5 13.9 13.7 10.4
East South Central 2.6 3.4 1.9 2.0
West South Central 8.0 6.7 15.6 5.4
Mountain 6.5 4.5 11.0 6.4
Pacific and insular 22.6 20.9 21.1 25.4
Not in United States 11.5 7.3 11.8 16.1
Location unknown * 0.0 0.2 0.0
Male doctorate recipients (number) 3,935 1,598 600 1,737
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 1,365 535 233 597
Definite employment 760 287 132 341
Seeking employment or study 1,219 513 155 551
Otherc 93 46 10 37
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 37.5 35.7 39.9 38.2
Postdoc research associateship 62.2 63.9 60.1 61.5
Other or unknowne 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.3
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 22.2 19.2 33.3 20.5
Government 7.0 D 12.9 D
Industry or businessg 66.4 74.2 46.2 67.7
Nonprofit organization 2.5 D 6.1 D
Other or unknownh 1.8 1.4 1.5 2.3
Primary activityi
R&D 66.2 73.2 59.7 62.9
Teaching 17.4 16.3 19.4 17.5
Management or administration 5.5 4.0 D D
Professional services 6.8 4.7 D D
Other 4.1 1.8 3.1 6.4
Secondary activityj
R&D 16.3 12.3 23.3 16.9
Teaching 3.0 D D D
Management or administration 17.8 25.7 10.1 14.1
Professional services 8.2 9.8 14.7 4.3
Other 3.3 D D D
No secondary activity 51.4 46.7 40.3 59.8
Activity unknown 3.8 3.8 2.3 4.4
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 87.8 92.5 87.4 83.8
New England 9.1 11.3 8.8 7.4
Middle Atlantic 12.7 13.1 8.5 13.9
East North Central 10.3 14.7 4.7 8.6
West North Central 4.2 5.2 D D
South Atlantic 11.8 12.9 12.9 10.4
East South Central 2.8 D D D
West South Central 7.9 6.8 15.9 5.7
Mountain 6.1 D 10.7 D
Pacific and insular 22.8 20.8 19.5 25.8
Not in United States 12.2 7.5 12.6 16.2
Location unknown 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Female doctorate recipients (number) 1,988 1,077 457 454
Postgraduation status (number)b
Definite postgraduation study 623 291 172 160
Definite employment 344 191 90 63
Seeking employment or study 705 423 122 160
Otherc 66 39 11 16
Definite postgraduation study (%)d
Postdoc fellowship 41.6 36.4 47.1 45.0
Postdoc research associateship 56.7 60.8 51.2 55.0
Other or unknowne 1.8 2.7 1.7 0.0
Definite employment (%)f
Academe 28.2 27.7 36.7 17.5
Government 6.7 D 16.7 D
Industry or businessg 59.9 64.4 41.1 73.0
Nonprofit organization 3.5 D 5.6 D
Other or unknownh 1.7 3.1 0.0 0.0
Primary activityi
R&D 60.7 63.0 52.3 65.6
Teaching 21.5 23.9 22.1 13.1
Management or administration 4.5 2.7 D D
Professional services 8.2 7.1 D D
Other 5.1 3.3 4.7 11.5
Secondary activityj
R&D 19.3 17.4 30.2 9.8
Teaching 2.4 D D D
Management or administration 11.5 13.0 5.8 14.8
Professional services 9.1 8.2 11.6 8.2
Other 1.8 D D D
No secondary activity 55.9 59.2 43.0 63.9
Activity unknown 3.8 3.7 4.4 3.2
Postgraduation location (%)k
United Statesl 90.0 93.2 88.9 84.3
New England 8.7 8.5 5.7 12.6
Middle Atlantic 12.4 13.5 10.7 12.1
East North Central 10.3 12.2 5.0 12.6
West North Central 4.1 6.8 D D
South Atlantic 14.2 15.6 14.9 10.3
East South Central 2.0 D D D
West South Central 8.4 6.4 15.3 4.5
Mountain 7.4 D 11.5 D
Pacific and insular 22.3 21.2 23.3 23.8
Not in United States 9.9 6.8 10.7 15.7
Location unknown 0.1 0.0 0.4 0.0