The Molecular Medicine PhD program alumni perceptions of career preparedness

Abstract

Over the past two decades, graduate programs have sought to meet the rising need for cross-disciplinary biomedical and translational research training; however, among program evaluation efforts, little is known about student satisfaction with these programs. We report survey results aimed at assessing the overall satisfaction of Molecular Medicine (MolMed) PhD program graduates with their training program and subsequent employment, their research productivity since graduation, and the program elements important for entering their diverse career choices. The survey consisted of quantitative and qualitative instruments and was deployed in June 2020 via email to 45 alumni who had graduated at least two years prior. Investigators assessed mean and median Likert scale data and they conducted a qualitative content analysis on all open-ended narrative survey data using inductive analysis to identify themes. Of the 45 contacted, 26 PhD graduates of the MolMed program responded to the survey. Overall, graduates felt the MolMed curriculum prepared them well for their current career (mean 3.4 out a 4-point Likert scale); and, knowing what they know now, they would likely pursue a PhD degree again (mean 3.7 out of 4). Four overarching themes emerged from the content analysis of the narrative survey data: curriculum and other training experiences; professional skills; importance of a strong advisor/mentor; and, networking and career development. Overall, alumni were satisfied with their MolMed Program experience. They found the curriculum to be strong and relevant, and they believed that it prepared them well for their careers. There may be opportunities to embed additional skills into the curriculum, and the program should continue to offer a strong mentoring and clinical experience, as well as train students for diverse career trajectories.