Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education: Volume 15 Issue 1

Personal interest, supervisory and research community support and dropout intentions among Finnish PhD candidates

Solveig Cornér, Lotta Tikkanen, Henrika Anttila, Kirsi Pyhältö

This study aims to advance the understanding on individual variations in PhD candidates’ personal interest in their doctorate and supervisory and research community support, and…

Standards needed? An exploration of qualifying exams from a literature review and website analysis of university-wide policies

Jacqueline E. McLaughlin, Kathryn Morbitzer, Margaux Meilhac, Natalie Poupart, Rebekah L. Layton, Michael B. Jarstfer

While known by many names, qualifying exams function as gatekeepers to graduate student advancement to PhD candidacy, yet there has been little formal study on best qualifying…

Supervisors’ experiences of doctoral supervision in times of change

Erika Löfström, Lotta Tikkanen, Henrika Anttila, Kirsi Pyhältö

Empirical evidence on how supervisors have perceived the changes and the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on their supervision is scarce. This paper aims to examine how the…

Applying theory and research toward reducing suicidality among graduate students and postdoctoral scholars

Elizabeth A. Jach, Anthony P. Rinaldi

The purpose of this paper is to highlight suicide risk factors experienced by graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and then outline suicide prevention strategies for these…

Differences in support within the social science graduate admissions pipeline

Michael L. Tidwell, Ellis S. Logan

The purpose of this paper is to understand demographic group (race, first-generation college graduate, gender, age) differences among perceived family and faculty social and…

Learning and (dis)connection: graduate students’ experiences seeking diversity, equity and inclusion education and engagement opportunities

Jarett D. Haley, Amber N. Williams, Rosemary J. Perez, Claire K. Robbins

The purpose of this study is to explore how US graduate students described their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) education and engagement experiences outside their academic…

Supporting STEM graduate students in strengthening their professional identity through an authentic interdisciplinary partnership

Julianne A. Wenner, Megan Frary, Paul J. Simmonds

Historically, graduate education’s goal was to prepare academics; now most science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM) graduate students (GSs) go on to nonacademic…