“It’s a very risky thing to do a Ph.D these days,” said Claybaugh.

THE HUMANITIES POSTDOC

The realities of the job market have made postdoctoral research an often appealing option for unemployed graduate students.

Smoot, who is in his fifth year of graduate studies, said he will apply for a job as a professor, but if he does not succeed his backup plan is to remain in academia as a “postdoc.”

Smoot’s story is one echoed by many graduate students looking to grow their credentials before applying to jobs.

“[Postdoctoral research] allows them to build up their credentials to go on to the academic job market, because it’s become more and more difficult,” said McCavana. McCavana said he has noticed a recent rise in the number of humanities postdocs.

László Sándor, a Ph.D candidate in the economics department, said he thinks the option of pursuing a postdoc became more attractive to graduate students in the humanities following the fallout from the economic crisis.

He described the postdoc market as one that emerged for students who wanted “to wait” and spend more time at a university before entering the job market.

But despite the fact that it is often long and uncertain, the path towards academia is one that Harvard graduate students continue to pursue.

“Our department does really well,” Claybaugh said of Harvard graduate students in the English department applying to be professors. “Our students are cautiously optimistic and they have good reason to be.”

For Jiang, the discussion about the difficult job market overlooks an important factor, one that continues to motivate graduate students to apply year after year.

“You really have to have the passion and enthusiasm and love for the thing you do,” Jiang said. “Without these things, I don’t think people will be able to stand the difficulties they face on the path to academia.”

—Staff writer Laya Anasu can be reached at layaanasu@college.harvard.edu.