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Job outlook for visiting researchers in the United States
Are visiting researcher jobs in demand?
Visiting researcher job and salary trends over time
Visiting researcher jobs over time
Visiting researcher job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,773 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,222 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,249 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,074 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2,853 | 0.00% |
Average visiting researcher salary over time
Visiting researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $68,912 | $33.13 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $66,864 | $32.15 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $63,867 | $30.71 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $61,818 | $29.72 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $60,644 | $29.16 | --2.1% |
Visiting researcher jobs by state
Most common states for visiting researchers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,410 | 21% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 115 | 17% |
| 3 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 571 | 8% |
| 4 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 649 | 7% |
| 5 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,224 | 6% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 314 | 6% |
| 7 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,792 | 5% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 303 | 5% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 275 | 5% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 202 | 5% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 182 | 5% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 29 | 5% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 322 | 4% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 51 | 4% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 43 | 4% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 40 | 4% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 395 | 3% |
| 18 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 190 | 3% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 184 | 3% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 31 | 3% |
Most common cities for visiting researchers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Menlo Park | 6 | 18% | $101,982 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $50,001 |
| 3 | Juneau | 2 | 6% | $80,691 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $58,681 |
| 5 | Dover | 2 | 5% | $59,604 |
| 6 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $82,168 |
| 7 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $56,338 |
| 8 | Aurora | 2 | 1% | $61,613 |
| 9 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $51,761 |
| 10 | Little Rock | 2 | 1% | $55,454 |
| 11 | Montgomery | 2 | 1% | $49,573 |
| 12 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $55,973 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $93,094 |
| 14 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $41,453 |
| 15 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $61,649 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $72,527 |
| 17 | Phoenix | 2 | 0% | $83,666 |
| 18 | Sacramento | 2 | 0% | $101,204 |
Visiting Researcher job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of visiting researcher experts
Ohio State University
Vanderbilt University
Duquesne University
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of St Andrews
SUNY Potsdam: The State University of New York, Potsdam
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Wesley College
Bucknell University
DePauw University
Kent State University
University of Minnesota Duluth
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Christian Brothers University
Penn State Altoona
West Virginia State University
Mercyhurst University
Western Illinois University
University of Maryland
Dr. Judson Jeffries
ProfessorOhio State University
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Introduce yourself to some of the more noteworthy people in the field at conferences. Establish a relationship with those folks. I am not saying that your circle should include only the most celebrated academics in your field, but you want to get to know maybe 3 to 4 such persons for the following reasons: 1) to position oneself to get sage, counsel and advice from seasoned academics 2) to learn about various opportunities that may not be publicly advertised and 3) at some point the person 's department will need people to evaluate that person for tenure and promotion. Some departments will ask the junior professor for a list of names. At that point the junior professor will be equipped to provide that list. Finally, go into those fields understanding that you have a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those historically marginalized groups that you're studying. What's more, that person needs to understand that what comes with that is doing research that addresses some of the challenges those groups face.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Easy, have a vita that clearly shows strong credentials such as publications and the like, which will help said person get multiple interviews, which may lead to multiple offers. Once that person gets multiple offers, that person cannot be shy about negotiating. Everything is negotiable.
What will help Visiting Researchers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Judson Jeffries: Grant writing ability. Scholars will become increasingly reliant on securing grants as universities and colleges continue to tighten their belts. This is especially true for state schools where some state legislatures are not as generous with funding as they once were. The state supported The Ohio State University is one such example. There are many more.
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture and Womanist ThoughtVanderbilt University
Theological And Ministerial Studies
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I tell recent graduates to read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports your whole life and commitments.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I think it can be easy to immerse oneself in a specific area of study and become well informed, but isolated. I encourage graduate students to also expose themselves to the many co-curricular learning opportunities and intellectual ideas that will stretch and deepen their approach. Many of us have been taught to interrogate ideas that differ from our own. Graduate studies invite and require us to interrogate our own ideas and convictions too.
What will help Visiting Researchers increase their earning potential?
Phillis Sheppard Ph.D.: I tell recent graduates read the contract and the faculty manual. Make sure you understand the long term implications of your early salary. Second, plan for retirement now; do not wait until you are making the salary of your fantasies. Take advantage of opportunities to learn about financial health and management. Third, position yourself. Write and publish directly and clearly in your field of study and adjacent areas. Fourth, create a plan with vision for the career you think you want. Finally, one way or the other, you will carve out a career or job, but a vocation is nurtured by paying attention to where and you experience passion and a deep sense of belonging. A vocation is where your heart and intellect find a meaningful place in responding to the world's needs. Your salary best positions you when it supports you whole life and commitments.
Jan Levine
Professor of Law and Director, Legal Research & Writing ProgramDuquesne University
School of Law
What skills stand out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
Jan Levine: Formal recognition from one or both of the two major leading research companies, Westlaw and Lexis, is usually helpful, but pluses would also be listing experience doing research and applying it for a law review article or upper-level course paper, as a research assistant for a faculty member, or for a judge or law firm during an externship/internship or summer job.
What soft skills should all Visiting Researchers possess?
Jan Levine: While research skills are important, conveying what was found is even more important. Legal research is not conducted in isolation as an experiment in the bibliography; what matters is using what's found to solve a legal problem. So that means demonstrating the application of the fruits of research in a written document, such as an office memorandum, appellate brief, law review article, or another professional setting or context.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visiting Researchers?
Jan Levine: Understanding how to plan a research effort, knowing how to update research, so it is timely, finding materials online and in print (which is often ignored or downplayed), demonstrating a critical examination of sources (i.e., reading them closely and coming up with an independent professional assessment of the reliability and validity of the materials), and knowing to find and use non-legal sources of information to apply to a legal problem (including talking with experts, going beyond online and print research). Plus, good researchers know how to use librarians and secondary sources of the law to expand the scope of their work and to be more efficient in their research (both in time and cost). Finally, the ability to organize material is crucial to a well-conducted search for material.
What skills will help Visiting Researchers earn the most?
Jan Levine: Efficiency in research, clarity in explanation of the use of researched materials, and having a conscious plan of how to conduct research.
Mario Jimenez Chacon
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Humanities Department
What skills stand out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: The skills that stand out the most demonstrate that the candidate knows how to do independent, sustained, and relevant research. For example, having received some type of grant stands out because it shows that the researcher can formulate their ideas clearly in writing and that the ideas are relevant for their field of research. Also, a candidate who can engage in interdisciplinary research stands out; having the ability to have a conversation with multiple disciplines is an indispensable quality to have as a researcher in our times.
What soft skills should all Visiting Researchers possess?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: Interpersonal skills, work ethic, the ability to work in teams, flexibility, and communication skills are all fundamental soft skills. Researchers are also humans and work with humans, so it's essential to have these soft skills to create a welcoming research community.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visiting Researchers?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: Of course, a researcher needs to have the ability to perform high-level, intense research; therefore, a qualified researcher needs to have the hard skills associated with their field, for example, the appropriate certification/ degrees or the ability to use technology effectively. Moreover, nowadays, a researcher needs to dominate more than one language; being multilingual is a skill that makes the candidate really stand out.
What skills will help Visiting Researchers earn the most?
Mario Jimenez Chacon: The skills that will make you earn the most depend very much on their field of research. However, doing the best research possible all the time, having great interpersonal skills, and understanding that one must never stop learning will make you an outstanding candidate in any field.
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.
Director, Center for STEM Research, Education, and Outreach, Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, ISSP Sustainability Excellence AssociateSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Department of Environmental Sciences
What skills stand out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: Quantitative literacy skills stand out. Environmental science students who have not shied away from taking courses requiring math and computational skills indicate a student is willing to persist in a challenging area. This might be demonstrated by using statistical software such as R and Python or working with large databases.
What soft skills should all Visiting Researchers possess?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -Strong written and oral communication are most important. If you cannot write well, you cannot be a successful scientist. Period.
-Evidence of skills in working as part of a team of diverse people and ability to understand the culture and language across scientific/technical disciplines--for example, an environmental chemist who understands something about policy or an environmental health specialist that would be able to collect and interpret data collected from community members.
-Willingness to be a lifelong learner.
-Something that helps an applicant stand out, such as experience with project management software or a foreign language.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: -How to use and calibrate field equipment such as water sampling or water quality measurement.
-How to design a research study/experimental design.
-GIS skills
-Environmental statistics skills
-Knowledge of lab and field safety protocols
-Something that helps an applicant to stand out, such as drone pilot certification.
What skills will help Visiting Researchers earn the most?
Dr. Sharon Locke Ph.D.: Quantitative skills such as statistics, computer programming, and GIS.
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes
Deputy DirectorUniversity of St Andrews
Graduate School for Interdisciplinary Studies
What skills stand out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes: Evidence of working between and across disciplinary boundaries. Evidence of new and innovative research premised on multiple disciplines. Evidence of synergies developed from combining one or more research disciplines.
What soft skills should all Visiting Researchers possess?
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes: The ability to communicate to academics and practitioners from out-with immediate disciplinary boundaries. The ability to listen to differing perspectives and work to understand differing perspectives through bridging knowledge gaps.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes: This would be dependent upon the disciplines involved and would be hugely varied.
What skills will help Visiting Researchers earn the most?
Dr. Jeffrey Hughes: I would suggest that cultivating the above skills would result in increased earning potential.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
(Lily) Li Linghong: Yes, remote work will play an increasingly important role in employment. The implications of this change include, but are not limited to, a more distributed workforce that is no longer concentrated in expensive metropolitan cities, and increasing demand for computer and internet savvy. Challenges to team member communication will require new tools for conducting meetings and brainstorming sessions, as well as facilitating project collaboration. The pandemic has accelerated the need for technological innovations that support remote learning and remote employment.
What type of skills will young Visiting Researchers need?
(Lily) Li Linghong: Internet and computer skills are required certainly, but also an ability to communicate effectively using new remote learning platforms such as Zoom and Teams. The challenge for managers is to create a cohesive workforce despite individual team members being geographically distant from one another. Graduates with abilities in modern communication modalities will have a clear advantage over those who are dependent upon face-to-face interactions as the primary mode of human interaction.
What experience really stands out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
(Lily) Li Linghong: Communication skills, problem-solving, teamwork in a geographically distributed workforce, and personal learning to continuously update skills to keep up with the pace of modern technological innovation.
Mary Yu Danico Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology, College of Letters Arts and Social Science Director, Weglyn Endowed Chair for Multicultural Studies, Cal Poly Pomona Director, Asian American Transnational Research Initiative, Cal Poly PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Visiting Researcher job market given the pandemic?
Mary Yu Danico Ph.D.: Based on studies shared by our College of Business Dean Erik Rolland, I think that the trend is an increased interest in data analytics and data gathering. While folks may think of computer science majors for this, the reality is that those who study in sociology or other social sciences are well equipped to tackle the technical and to understand social behavior during pandemics. The framing and contextual analysis are best conducted by social scientists.
Another is versatile communication skills. Millennials and GenZ are skilled in navigating the virtual environment. Still, not all of them understand how to communicate for work as it differs significantly from "chatting" or texting. The foundation of learning for social science students is based on understanding the micro to macro elements that impact the way people interpret information. The global and cultural competencies are so important, and understanding that folks are not a monolithic group is critical to ensuring that communication works.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mary Yu Danico Ph.D.: It depends on the graduate. If someone does not have to worry about the economic reality of paying their bills, I would say that volunteering and gaining opportunities where they give back is always wonderful. Get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, support underserved communities, and learn from them. For students who may not have that privilege, I would encourage them to find work that has meaning and purpose for them. The ideas of passion and happiness are a bit overrated as passion and happiness can be in flux. I'd try to find your core value or sense of purpose, and talk to mentors, elders, and peers about their careers and their life's journey.
If there is a career that you are interested in, then look at a job description with the minimum qualifications and ask yourself if you meet them. If you are missing some things, you can also take some courses to gain more knowledge which will showcase your confidence when you apply. There are also lots of great virtual internships outs there. InterTrend Communications has a wonderful summer paid internship open to all majors, and they love our social science majors. In fact, when I was an advertising educational fellow, many large ad marketing firms said that they loved sociology and psychology students because they have a better foundation of learning about human behavior. In the era of "woke" culture or "cancel" culture, it is really important to have a critical race framework. I would also encourage you to read books for enjoyment and fun. Explore the outdoors. Try to meet people with shared interests.
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Mary Yu Danico Ph.D.: I'm excited for all new graduates. I would say don't be afraid to fail. Take calculated risks, and if you are thinking of doing something that is completely outside of your bachelor's degree, go for it. The best success story I have is from a former psychology major who told me that he wanted to pursue culinary school. He was 22 and was considering next steps. I said then, and I still say, "You will be working for the rest of your life. Why not explore an area that you are really excited about?" Now, he is chef de cuisine at one of the most prestigious restaurants in the United States! He tells me that psychology comes in really handy! So don't be afraid to try new things, meet new people, and stay in touch with your professors and peers.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Visiting Researcher job market given the pandemic?
William K. Kroen Ph.D.: I work little with Delaware businesses, so pandemic-induced changes in jobs might elude me. However, some fields such as pharmaceuticals will certainly be doing well, while others such as outpatient physical therapy clinics might not. It is also likely that all geographic areas of the country are not affected equally.
What skills stand out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
William K. Kroen Ph.D.: Internships and "real world" research experiences always stand out for employers and graduate schools; that's one of the major reasons that Delaware has a vibrant summer research network. Unfortunately, many of these experiences were closed last summer due to the pandemic. Who knows about June 2021.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
William K. Kroen Ph.D.: I know of no specific geographic areas. Our recent graduates have found jobs and gone to graduate schools mainly in the Mid-Atlantic region.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Tom Solomon: I think that that would depend strongly on the particular student and what they had done at college. As I mentioned above, I think it is important for a person to have a broad education. Of course, I deal mostly with STEM students (being a member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy), but I always strongly encourage them to take courses in other fields as well.
If a graduate is taking a gap year, my recommendation would be to use that gap year to fill in any gaps. For instance, we have some students who discover late in their college career what it is that they want to do after graduation, and a gap year can be helpful to fill in any needed background. For instance, if someone decides late in their college career to go into medicine, they might need a few more chemistry or biology courses. If a student has completed a rigorous STEM education in college, they might benefit from a gap year that emphasizes working with people, e.g., teaching for a year, working abroad, or even doing an internship on policy. On that last note, I had a student who had majored in physics and chemistry, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do post graduation. She took a job with a science policy think tank in Washington, D.C. She enjoyed that work, but left after a year or two and decided to pursue a Ph.D. in physics. She is now at Lincoln Labs working on quantum computers.
A gap year can also be useful for someone to try out a particular field before making the commitment to pursue postgraduate degrees; for example, spending a year in a lab before going on to graduate school. I have had several students pursue that route as well.
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Tom Solomon: This one is pretty obvious - pursue your passions. It is more important to pursue a career in a field that inspires you than to focus on salaries. You will always be more successful if you are engaged in what you are doing. It's also important to realize that even in the "ideal" job, you won't always enjoy everything that you are doing, but if you enjoy the basic work that you are doing, you will be able to get through the more difficult moments as well.
Also, never underestimate the importance of writing and oral communication. Everyone needs to be able to communicate their ideas to other people.
Be patient. Sometimes it takes a while to find the best fit for you.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Visiting Researcher job market given the pandemic?
Tom Solomon: I don't think that what I am saying here is different than what you will hear elsewhere, but it is pretty obvious that the importance of higher education and technical skills becomes even more important in light of the pandemic. It seems pretty clear that people working in the service sector are the ones who are getting hit (economically) most hard by the pandemic, especially since face-to-face interactions on a regular basis can be dangerous. I have not seen a significant slow-down in the technology sector. Scientific and industrial research have always been important, but they are even more so in the midst of a pandemic. It is important to note that the coronavirus pandemic isn't the only crisis facing the planet over the next decade or so. Of course, global climate change is critical, as is the need for sustainable energy sources (cough! nuclear fusion!) and economical production of fresh drinking water. These are all areas that are going to require people who are well-trained in the natural sciences.
I also want to emphasize that it isn't just natural sciences that are critical. The social sciences and arts and humanities are also a critical part of higher education, as people graduating from college need to understand the human element of the work that they are doing. So, I feel very strongly that a strong and broad liberal arts education best prepares someone to address and meet the future challenges facing society going forward. As an example, I always tell my students that they could come up with the most brilliant scientific discovery or engineering development in the history of civilization, but it will be completely worthless if they are unable to communicate their ideas to other people.
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Pedar Foss Ph.D.: The advice to students who are graduating is that college prepares them not just for their first job but for a lifetime of adapting to the changing labor landscape. What matters is not what one is doing at age 25, but at age 40. Flexibility, adaptability, and nimbleness, combined with an open mind and exposure to multiple points of view and numerous disciplinary approaches to problems, will ensure that a student can surf their career and not get swamped by a wave of change that overcomes someone who has learned/done only one thing and is therefore stuck in that job.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Visiting Researcher job market given the pandemic?
Pedar Foss Ph.D.: The short term is uncertain and depends on the pandemic. Long term, I'm betting on clean energy tech, health tech, and innovative delivery technology.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pedar Foss Ph.D.: I always advise graduates to build experience in written and oral communication because those skills are needed no matter what the field. Read a lot and read widely.
What experience really stands out on Visiting Researcher resumes?
Dr. Jason Schenker Ph.D.: I don't know if I have any unique insight into what employers are looking for from upcoming graduates. I teach graduate students, but I don't help them find jobs, although I may write the occasional letter of recommendation. Students who graduate from our graduate degree program work in various fields, both public and private, so there are likely different criteria that employers are looking for based on the position.
As far as what stands out on resumes, if the student is looking for a university faculty position, I would say that publications and grant work are valued the most. With reductions in state funding for many public universities, they are looking for ways of enhancing their revenue, and the ability to obtain grant money helps with that. As for other jobs related to our field, I can't say, other than probably proficiency in various software programs related to statistical analysis, spreadsheets, project management, databases, data visualization, etc.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Jason Schenker Ph.D.: As for technology impacting the field, I certainly think that technology has had a substantial impact on the area and will continue to do so over the next five years. Statistical analysis software has continued to advance to handle more complex data sets and more sophisticated data analyses. I also think software related to online collaboration, project management, and communications will play a large role. Additionally, software companies have begun to explore various pricing options and contract lengths to make the software more affordable.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Jason Schenker Ph.D.: On the positive side, I think the enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates will be more flexibility in work schedules and locations. Graduates will be able to apply for jobs all over the country, or perhaps outside the country, without necessarily having to move to a new location. On the negative side, perhaps less commitment from employers to employees, and vice versa.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
David Woodward: Like many fields, the public History and historical interpretation fields have had to be creative and find alternative ways to reach the public. Many museums and heritage organizations have increased their online presence by having virtual tours/events, and many have moved their collections on-line so the public may still access and interact with them. Our graduates will find that on-line skills and social media may be much more important in the future.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
David Woodward: I believe that the pandemic will have lasting impacts on a lot of different industries, including History/Heritage employment. The most immediate effect will be a contraction of entry-level positions as museums and heritage organizations are in crisis. It is estimated that up to 40% of museums won't survive the pandemic. This is likely a short-term problem as the economy and tourist economy rebounds; new opportunities will develop.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
David Woodward: While the traditional path to employment in History has been through education licensure (secondary education) or through graduate degrees to become university faculty, most historians and heritage professionals are employed outside of academia. Prior to COVID 19, the field of public History was expanding. Public History covers museums, historic site management, historic preservation and compliance, and heritage interpretation. Many of our graduates over the past couple of years have found positions with local and regional museums and historical societies; others have found employment in historic preservation.
The preservation industry revolves around certain local, state, and federal laws that protect heritage and historic sites. The most comprehensive of these is the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. There are also state and local ordinances that also address historic preservation. Federal, state, and local governments, along with private developers, often enlist historians and public History professionals to help comply with these regulations. Most large infrastructure projects (roads, mines, pipelines, energy development) have a historic preservation component.
Derek Catsam
Professor of History and Kathlyn Cosper Dunagan Professor in the HumanitiesUniversity of Texas of the Permian Basin
History Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Derek Catsam: Obviously, the harder a place was hit, the more constricted the job market. There are places that truly did lockdown, and the economic impact (and the lag in recovery) have been hard hit but may well see a better recovery down the road. Some of the places that shut down late and less intensely have found that the virus has hit in waves and may last longer. The entire country was hit hard, but some a lot less hard than others. I think the real insecurity will come when COVID-19 continues to hit intermittently. A good number of our students want to be teachers, and that sector always seems to be hiring because, in many places, there are shortfalls, though what a rough time it is to be a first-time teacher, trying to figure out a new career and figuring out how to do so in whole or in part remotely!
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Derek Catsam: So my discipline is History, which means students take a whole wide range of jobs that may or may not be in "History" per se, but that utilize the skills we try to impart-critical thinking, analytical ability, the ability to read closely and to write effectively, the ability to communicate verbally, and so forth-and so how technology impacts that field will be wildly variable. My guess is that remote meeting apps/websites like Zoom and Teams will become a greater part of our lives, and there may well be more fluidity for people with regard to being able to work remotely (which also may be especially valuable for folks who have long sought ADA accommodations to work remotely full- or part-time). Meanwhile, even before COVID, technology was constantly evolving, and alongside that evolution, our use of and need for and adaptability to technology.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Derek Catsam: Undoubtedly there will be, and probably already is, some impact that will endure for a while. I would imagine that the data on employment for recent graduates will be a reasonable example of a lagging indicator-as it is, it sometimes takes a little bit of time for recent college graduates to find jobs, so my guess is that we will really be learning about the impact of all of this in the years and months to come. Most institutions are actually not great at tracking graduate job outcomes, so a lot of what you get may well be anecdotal.
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.
Chair, Associate ProfessorChristian Brothers University
Department of History and Political Science
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: History, like all fields, will surely move to more virtual forms of communication and internet-based work. I think history majors and professors will continue to become more creative and skilled in their use of technology to communicate, teach, and research. I expect professional historians will increasingly use virtual platforms to share their research and communicate with the general public. I expect history majors to enter the workforce with increased comfort, confidence, and knowledge regarding technology.
What general advice would you give to a Visiting Researcher?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: I think the pandemic will affect history graduates in many of the same ways it will affect graduates in any major. I hope they will be struck, hopefully, humbled by the power of the natural environment to dictate the terms on which humanity can function. I also hope that it teaches the importance of group cohesion and cooperation in confronting problems. If this happens, I think it could have long-range effects on the personal and political behavior of these graduates as they confront future environmental and social challenges. If you are asking about the more mundane question of jobs, I think history majors should fair well in the post-pandemic world. History majors leave college with communication and thinking skills that will help them adapt and succeed in a fast-changing and unpredictable world.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: I think the pandemic will affect history graduates in many of the same ways it will affect graduates in any major. I hope they will be struck, hopefully, humbled by the power of the natural environment to dictate the terms on which humanity can function. I also hope that it teaches the importance of group cohesion and cooperation in confronting problems. If this happens, I think it could have long-range effects on the personal and political behavior of these graduates as they confront future environmental and social challenges. If you are asking about the more mundane question of jobs, I think history majors should fair well in the post-pandemic world. History majors leave college with communication and thinking skills that will help them adapt and succeed in a fast-changing and unpredictable world.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
What Visiting Researcher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Neal Palmer Ph.D.: The answer to that question likely won't change from pre- to post-pandemic. Southern cities such as Nashville and Memphis were booming before the pandemic, and that will likely continue. These are good places to find jobs because the cost of living is relatively low, there are vibrant culture and entertainment, and there is not as much college-educated competition for jobs as in larger cities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Doug Page Ph.D.: That is difficult to say. What I imagine might be a short-term shifting of in-demand fields, so that our current technology needs might be better addressed. This would include further development and support of software that enables us to meet virtually. That said, History graduates, like others who study within the Humanities, are well-situated to engage in a broad range of areas, given the breadth of their education.
While History is topic-specific, it offers training and practice in those skills that are desired, and allows one to move in the worlds of business, industry, education, law, museums, and others. And, luckily for History graduates, much of the work in all of those fields can be done virtually. Indeed, some exciting and innovative things have been done by museums, especially that makes it possible for more people than ever to "visit" these museums; this could be a big new avenue for History graduates.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Doug Page Ph.D.: As I indicated, there is a broad range of occupations that a History graduate can pursue. These opportunities tend to present themselves more apparently in metro areas, where the skill sets of graduates can be best used. However, if some of the fields, in which History majors flourish, retain some virtual presence, that pushes into bigger cities could lessen.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Doug Page Ph.D.: Our technology is changing and becoming more sophisticated at such a rapid pace; it is challenging to imagine what it will bring to the field of History. I can imagine improvements in the delivery of historical materials in places like the classroom, but also in museums, archives, and libraries. Archival preservation and retrieval are bound to improve, benefitting the public world of libraries and museums, but also corporate and governmental offices as well. If we are extremely lucky, such growing access could create a more informed citizenry, dedicated to using all that History can teach us about ourselves and how to best work together for progress.
Dr. Michael Workman
Associate ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of History & Political Science
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Michael Workman: I'm afraid that the Covid-19 pandemic already has affected our History graduates here at WVSU in a big way. Some have delayed plans for grad school; others are hunkering-down and delaying job searches. Those who have taken teaching positions face hurdles reaching students remotely. And those who are engaged in research and writing find themselves unable to travel to perform research at various archives. But I seriously doubt that these impacts will be enduring. This storm cloud may have a silver lining of sorts because many have further developed their computer skills and learned how to access information remotely.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michael Workman: A History Degree at WVSU equips students for a variety of work opportunities-not just in the field of history. Graduates learn about U.S. & world history, but they also develop skills in research and analysis, writing and argument, as well as presentations that are valuable in many fields, including government and politics, education, and even business. Teaching and working for local, state, and federal government agencies will remain the main fields for our history graduates. With the American public's growing appreciation for history, our graduates will find jobs in historic preservation and interpretation.
Living in a mostly rural state does limit the number of new jobs available, so some graduates will find their way to more urbanized areas, where salaries are usually higher as well. We've also found that some of our graduates truly love our state and are willing to stay and work here, albeit at lower salaries, because of the high
quality of life and family-like relations.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Michael Workman: Information technology will continue to have a major impact on history. What has happened in the last thirty years or so with the digitization of information has changed the whole landscape of history. We can now do research on national and international subjects through the internet, which was not available when I matriculated back in the Stone Age.
One of our students is studying various aspects of the Protestant Reformation by accessing records in Scotland from a PC in his basement! Storage of digital information has enabled some of us to clear the paper-clutter in our offices. This trend will no doubt continue, though I fear that accessing digital information will become more difficult as providers erect barriers and monetize access.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Benjamin Scharff Ph.D.: It is impossible to gauge at this time what enduring impact the pandemic might have. Obviously, the immediate impact of high unemployment on recent graduates who are unlikely to have much professional experience is profound. As society and the economy rebuild and reinvent themselves during whatever recovery is to come, I would place my bets on History and other liberal arts majors being ideally suited to thrive. Their broad and flexible skill sets will allow them to fulfill a variety of needs that may be more difficult for graduates trained to do specific jobs in pre-professional programs to do.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Benjamin Scharff Ph.D.: History majors develop a broad range of skills that do well anywhere with a dynamic, robust, and healthy economy. If they plan on pursuing a degree in the field, they are better off searching in states that invest in and emphasize our civic institutions (schools, museums, etc.).
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Benjamin Scharff Ph.D.: Technology evolves so quickly that it is difficult to imagine exactly how it will impact the field. However, the general trend has been an increasing emphasis on digital humanities. Graduates will therefore be more digitally literate than in the past.
Dr. Timothy Roberts
Professor and Director of Graduate StudiesWestern Illinois University
Department of History
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Dr. Timothy Roberts: The coronavirus, of course, has affected education profoundly by accelerating, at least at the moment, the trend away from face-to-face learning and toward distance learning. That transition will hurt students' learning experience, in my opinion, although, besides allowing classes to occur with safe social distancing, distance learning allows nearly anyone with a computer and internet service to take (or, though it's a different kind of hazard, offer) courses.
I think it's easy to imagine that high school and college students who navigate education substantially through online courses will become more independent or self-reliant and tech-savvy. Those are the benefits. The risks are that they may not have the chance to interact with and learn from other students in the class, and not ever experience or be rewarded for learning in any formal setting - a campus, a library, a classroom, a professor's office, a graduation ceremony.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Timothy Roberts: Job-rich areas in history traditionally have been in cities, like other jobs. But again, as distance learning and jobs-from-home become more common, cities may not be as attractive. Some American cities are already seeing a "brain drain." In the last few decades, high school teaching jobs have ebbed and flowed; currently, there is a shortage of qualified teachers, not only in STEM but also in history, in some parts of the country, believe it or not. Reforms are being discussed in some states that that raise high school teachers' salaries, which will create opportunities for qualified new graduates.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Dr. Timothy Roberts: Probably more than in teaching, in the last few years, public history jobs - archivists, curators, librarians, website developers, social media bloggers, documentary filmmakers, digital collections, and historic site managers - have become more numerous. Liberal arts graduates with some digital and/or social media skills, as well as strong writing ability for diverse audiences, should be situated well for jobs.
Crystal Sehlke
Program Director,University of Maryland
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Visiting Researchers?
Crystal Sehlke: Almost certainly, but the impact will endure longer in some interest fields than others; for example, the hospitality and travel industries, where the impact has been so devastating, will probably not recover quickly once the pandemic has subsided. However, many fields still need the skills our social science students possess, including their quantitative skills/tools, scientific inquiry, and critical thinking skills, and thus will still have options. The biggest problem will be graduates of 2020 competing head-to-head with graduates of 2021-much like traffic backing up on an overcrowded interstate. Graduates that pivot effectively to other fields will fare better than those who wait for conditions in the primary interest field to improve.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Visiting Researchers to find work opportunities?
Crystal Sehlke: Some sectors are growing: E-commerce, online services, almost anything related to the delivery of goods. Technology skills will remain in demand, and there is an expanding need for data analytics and people who can extract key messages from masses of data. Another area of rapid expansion is human-focused services that can be delivered remotely, such as telehealth and tele-counseling. The popularity of "remote work" in the job and internship market has exploded out of necessity, and some of our current students have benefited from it by applying for remote internships at jobs and organizations that might have posed a geographic challenge prior to COVID-19.
How do you envision technology impacting Visiting Researchers in the next 5 years?
Crystal Sehlke: As we've found with our own immediate conversion to remote operations, some of the programs, resources, and services that were previously provided in person have had to evolve into different mediums quickly. Post-pandemic, many of these new resources-e.g., self-help online modules, automated training, AI-driven chatbots-will permanently complement in-person resources, which will become more specialized. Professionals in fields that provide information, consultation, or other in-person services will need to become fluent using these technology-based tools.