Temporal dynamics of faculty hiring in mathematics

This paper investigates the temporal dynamics of faculty hiring in mathematics, analyzing over 120,000 records from 150 institutions over seven decades. It reveals a growing disparity between the number of mathematics Ph.D.s awarded and faculty positions filled, and a decline in the probability of Ph.D. graduates obtaining faculty positions, even at top institutions. The study finds a strong correlation between Ph.D. institution prestige and the probability of obtaining a faculty position, as well as evidence suggesting that women face lower hiring probabilities than men. A small group of elite departments consistently dominated the hiring network, though one department significantly increased its centrality over time.

Cody FitzGerald, Yitong Huang, Katelyn Plaisier Leisman, Chad M. Topaz