TABLE B-37 Federally Supported Science and Engineering Postdoctoral Appointees in Doctorate-Granting Institutions, by Field, 1982 and 1992

Field

Growth, 1982-1992

Percentage of All Postdocs within Field

Percentage of All Federally Supported Postdocs

1982

1992

Difference

Percent

1982

1992

1982

1992

All Science and Engineering

11,119

17,660

6,541

58.8

75.8

73.5

100.0

100.0

Science, Total

10,447

16,050

5,603

53.6

74.8

74.0

94.0

90.9

Physical sciences

3,600

4,589

989

27.5

64.1

79.5

32.4

26.0

Physics

1,156

1,641

485

42.0

87.2

84.0

10.4

9.3

Chemistry

2,307

2,730

423

18.3

82.2

76.4

20.7

15.5

Environmental Sciences

255

556

301

118.0

76.1

78.4

2.3

3.1

Mathematical Sciences

46

143

97

210.9

23.7

71.1

0.4

0.8

Computer Sciences

25

113

88

352.0

54.3

75.8

0.2

0.6

Agricultural Sciences

166

417

251

151.2

59.5

65.8

1.5

2.4

Biological sciences

5,825

9,695

3,870

66.4

75.1

73.0

52.4

54.9

Psychology

392

358

-34

-8.7

75.4

68.7

3.5

2.0

Social sciences

138

179

41

29.7

48.8

44.0

1.2

1.0

Engineering, Total

672

1,610

938

139.6

68.7

68.7

6.0

9.1

Chemical engineering

100

340

240

240.0

57.5

61.4

0.9

1.9

Materials

121

284

163

134.7

72.9

62.0

1.1

1.6

Mechanical

94

250

156

166.0

72.3

70.4

0.8

1.4

Electrical

118

229

111

94.1

67.0

74.6

1.1

1.3