Chasing the academic dream: Biased beliefs and scientific labor markets

We investigate whether biased beliefs play a role in the persistent demand for postdoctoral training science. elicit and career preferences of doctoral students at 56 U.S. chemistry departments through survey combined with field experiment, which we randomize provision information to subset respondents on historical academic placements by department. first show that have excessively optimistic about their own peers’ chances obtaining tenure track faculty position. Respondents who received placement treatment updated likelihood position follow-up one year later, particularly those had most initial beliefs. However, do not find an effect doing post-doc four years post-intervention.