Neuroscience training in the USA and Canada: observations and suggestions

Neuroscience training programs in the USA and Canada are awarding about 1000 PhDs each year. This number exceeds the faculty vacancies in these programs by a ratio of three to one. Nonetheless, virtually all graduates are finding employment, usually after a period of postdoctoral experience. On the other hand, recent surveys suggest that there are many other concerns to be addressed. These include an attrition of women during training and within the faculty ranks, a low percentage of minorities throughout the neuroscience community, and a relative lack of federal training funds.