Professor on PhD stipend debate: students are cost centers, not hired workers
Afinetheorem · x · 2026-11-10
Responding to debates over PhD stipends, the author argues a PhD is training, not a job — no school would pay $100k including training costs for a "PhD worker". He notes he has spent substantial effort ensuring his own students' stipends let them focus on research and graduate on time, but warns student organizers that universities viewing PhD students as massively costly cost centers is simply a fact, and students wouldn't be hired "just for the work".
Related event: Economist Argues PhD Students Are Costly Apprentices, Not Workers(6 posts)→
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