Trajetória profissional de egressos de cursos de doutorado nas áreas da saúde e biociências Professional paths of alumni from doctorate programs in health and biological sciences

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze the career path and professional satisfaction of alumni from the doctorate degree programs in health sector. METHODS: Exploratory study with 827 alumni of doctoral programs in public health, biological and health sciences at the Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, Southeastern Brazil, from 1984 to 2007. The subjects were grouped in three cross-temporal cohorts according to year. The profiles of the alumni were analyzed, their career paths mapped and information on the perceptions of the education they received and the reasons that led them to choose the institute for their doctoral courses gathered, as well as their evaluations of the courses. The data were collected by means of an online questionnaire. RESULTS: There are differences between cohorts of alumni related to the periods they followed the courses, their distinct educational backgrounds and labor processes between those from the biological and health sciences areas, and to the specificities of the different areas where the institution offers doctoral courses: public health, biological and health sciences.