For some, the system is working well

Just received an email – the fall 2006 desk-to-desk message from Dr. Zerhouni, “Making it Work for our Emerging Scientists”
http://www.nih.gov/about/director/newsletter/Fall2006.htm. It says “For some, the system is working well. The best and brightest are reaching their full potential in solid, research careers. We have the evidence in the number of competitive grant applications being submitted. For others, the queue is backing up… Between 1980 and 2004 the average age of Ph.D. scientists earning their first R01 award went from 37 to 42 years… The problem appears to be largely the result of the ever-increasing age at which a researcher receives his or her appointment as an assistant professor.”
I would like to add that the average life expectancy also increased between 1980 and 2004, so the relative age remains the same. Yea, yea.

Addendum

Science magazine has different data on salaries of postdocs: academic salaries rose from $74,000 to $78,000 and industry salaries of $106,000 to $116,000 between 2005 and 2006.

Addendum

German salaries in biotech lab, research and marketing increased at the same time by 3.7% to €99,000 (for leading positions) and 3.3% to €74.000 (for specialists) according Laborwelt 1/2006 page 45.