Increasing　the　attractiveness　of　research　careers　for　PhD　students　has　been　a　key　objective　of　science,　technology,　and　innovation　policies　worldwide.　This　study　draws　on　an　expanded　career　construction　theory　framework　to　examine　the　effects　of　proactive　personality,　employability　social　capital,　and　career　adaptability　on　PhD　students＇　research　career　intentions　as　well　as　the　moderating　role　of　gender　in　this　structural　model.　We　collected　data　from　795　Chinese　PhD　students　at　10　universities　via　an　online　questionnaire　survey.　Structural　equation　modeling　analysis　revealed　that　proactive　personality　had　no　significant　direct　effect　on　research　career　intentions;　however,　it　could　influence　research　career　intentions　indirectly　via　the　separate　and　chain　mediating　effects　of　employability　social　capital　and　career　adaptability.　In　addition,　gender　was　shown　to　moderate　the　relationship　between　employability　social　capital　and　research　career　intentions.　The　theoretical　and　practical　implications　of　this　research　are　highlighted,　and　recommendations　for　future　research　are　discussed.