Investigation of the Work Environment of Engineering Ph.D.s in the United States

Currently, the majority of engineering Ph.D.s in the United States work in for-profit organizations, ranging from large corporations to small businesses. The goal of this study is to investigate both the research environment and the skills needed by engineering Ph.D.s who work in such organizations. The approach involved semi-structured phone surveys with six Ph.D. engineers working in large corporations and six Ph.D. engineers working in small businesses. The surveys were examined to uncover themes. Findings suggest that engineering Ph.D.s frequently work in teams. In order for teams to be successful each team member should possess a unique technical skill set and good communication skills. The need to have critical and analytical thinking skills was also a common theme. This paper presents the summaries of case studies, discusses common themes, and suggests implications for engineering doctoral degree programs.