Table 4. A changing world for postdocs.
| 1980 | 2009 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoc support | |||
| Federal research grants | 3,000 | 11,500 | 280 |
| Federal training grants and fellowships | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 |
| Non-federal grants | 1,500 | 7,500 | 400 |
| Citizenship | |||
| US | 7,000 | 22,000 | 210 |
| Non-US | 1,500 | 11,000 | 630 |
The number of postdocs supported by federal (NIH) research grants increased significantly between 1980 and 2009, while the number supported by federal training grants and fellowships remained constant (data from Workforce report, pp19–23). The number supported by non-federal grants (such as the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society) also increased significantly. The number of non-US postdocs also increased dramatically during this period. Note that these numbers differ (in some cases substantially) from other data on postdocs in the Workforce report: while these differences reflect inadequate tracking and enumeration of postdocs, the relative trends are almost certainly correct.