Working Under Pressure: Empirical Findings on the Challenges Facing PhD Students in Chemistry.

Authors

Alexandra Tietze, Anna Röhnelt, Laura Hillebrand, Sylvia Schlöglmann, Monja Schilling, Chris M Wanner, Katrin Beuthert

Published in

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany). Pages e71358. Jul 02, 2026. Epub Jul 02, 2026.

Abstract

This study examines well-being, supervision quality, work-related conflicts, workload, and financing among PhD students in chemistry, drawing on a nationwide survey in Germany (N = 722). The data reveals considerable challenges across all domains of the survey: 61% had considered discontinuing their PhD, citing mental health issues, poor supervision, and high workloads. Satisfaction with supervision correlated strongly with feedback quality, leadership, and communication skills (r = .72-.78, p <.001), highlighting the central role of supervisory practices in PhD students' well-being. Over half reported working more than 45 h per week, and one-fifth could not cover living expenses with their income, pointing to structural mismatches between workload expectations and financial support. Reports of discrimination, power abuse, and inadequate career support further highlight systemic shortcomings in PhD training environments. These findings emphasize the need for structural reforms in PhD education and research environments to support well-being and sustain the future research workforce.

PMID:
42390829
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Jul 2026.

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