Chapter 2: The NRSA Study and Comparison Groups: Characteristics and Training

Assessing the career progress of NRSA predoctoral trainees and fellows requires that three questions be initially asked. First, what do we know about their training (e.g., length of support, field, and quality), and is it consistent with the goals of the NRSA programs? Second, did this training differ from that of individuals who did not receive these traineeships and fellowships? And third, did former trainees and fellows differ in other ways that are known to also influence career trajectories? By speaking to the plausibility of both differences and no-difference findings, answers help in interpreting the outcomes. That is, if NRSA predoctoral awardees achieve more than those whose graduate studies were not supported by NIH training funds, is there reason to believe that these accomplishments could be a product of their different training experiences, other characteristics that affect career decisions, or both?