US salaries - reason for European postdocs to stay at home?
The European Union's bid to encourage more of its scientists to stay in their continent of origin has been bolstered by the publication of a survey claiming that foreign postdocs in the US work longer hours and publish more than their American counterparts, but are paid less. The survey by Sigma Xi, reported in the journal Nature, is based on the results of a questionnaire completed by 7,500 post docs at nearly 50 universities or research institutions. The average salary for foreign postdocs was found to be 37,000 USD (28,540 euro), which is eight per cent less than the 40,000 USD received by US citizens. At 52 hours per week, foreign scientists were also found to work two hours per week more than their US counterparts. The questionnaires also indicated that non-US scientists produce, on average, almost 30 per cent more peer-reviewed, published articles than their US counterparts. Nearly three fifths of foreign researchers also reported experiencing difficulties on re-entering the US after travelling abroad. The survey does offer some good news, however: Male and female postdocs are paid roughly the same amount, and stipends have risen over the last decade.
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