Social Capital Development Through a Postdoc Future Faculty Program: Community Building and Mentorship

It is well documented that social capital, or the resources embedded in one's professional networks, can have a tremendous influence on success in an academic career. Yet it is unclear what postsecondary institutions can do to develop the social capital of their postdoctoral researchers to prepare them for successful faculty careers. This study explored the social capital developed by three cohorts of postdoctoral scholars in a campus-wide development program, including how well the program supported their career aspirations. Interview and survey data were collected from 53 program participants. The mentors assigned to postdocs had the greatest impact, and social capital theory was utilized to understand how these postdocs created community and improved their professional networks during their time in the program. More postdoc development programs are needed to prepare new faculty members for their roles. These programs should be evaluated and publicized so that they can evolve to meet the needs of postdocs across the spectrum of fields and experience levels. This study focused on an understudied population that is crucial to the future of academia while addressing the current academic and political landscape affecting postdocs in the U.S. today.