Fellowship outcomes and factors associated with scientific successfulness of junior researchers in Croatia

We analyzed data on the junior researchers, using a sample of junior researchers whose fellowship supports from the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports were terminated between 1999 and 2005. Completing a PhD degree was positively associated with female gender, co-authoring a scientific article with the mentor, and above-average scientific production of the junior researcher. Junior researchers who were among top 10% of students according to their grade point average during undergraduate studies had significantly lower odds of completing a PhD degree during fellowship, as well as junior researchers who were employed in biomedicine. The study results indicate the potential points which could be influenced during the junior researchers selection process and at the moment of granting fellowships, both with an aim to improve the effectiveness of the junior researcher fellowship support system in the Republic of Croatia.