Time-to-position as an indicator of research system efficiency and equity: evidence from early career scholars in Taiwan

Abstract Early-career researchers (ECRs) face a critical and uncertain transition from doctoral training to independent scholarship, shaped by disciplinary norms, research infrastructure, and institutional support. As competitive grants increasingly replace faculty appointments as the pivotal route to research independence, this study reconceptualizes time-to-position (TTP) as the interval between PhD completion and the first PI-eligible competitive award. This reframing captures the structural onset of independent research authority within contemporary funding systems. Using data on 1,714 scholars who secured funding from Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), spanning diverse disciplines and institution types, the study examines cross-field differences in research independence, compares funding outcomes between ECRs and non-ECRs, and evaluates how disciplinary, institutional, and productivity factors jointly shape TTP. Results show marked and systematic disparities: institutional conditions exert the strongest influence on TTP, while scholarly productivity plays a secondary but significant role. These findings underscore that research independence is co-produced by individual outputs and multi-layered organizational environments. Although the analysis is limited to funded researchers, TTP provides a policy-relevant diagnostic of how efficiently and equitably research systems integrate emerging scholars. The indicator offers practical value for assessing funding architectures and designing evidence-informed early-career support mechanisms.