Postdocs: What are they and how do I find one?
Dr. Nicole Michel ([email protected]) and Dr. Lori Bradford ([email protected]), PDFs, School of Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Alex Bond ([email protected]), VRF, Environment Canada and University of Saskatchewan
Outline
I. IntroductionII. General advice for selecting a postdocIII. Writing your own postdoc IV. Applying for existing postdocsV. Networking to find a postdoc VI. Is a postdoc for me? VII. Group discussion of any other postdoc-
related issues, questions, and concerns.
Who are we?
Dr. Nicole Michel, SENS Ph.D., Tulane University, May 2012 Lecturer, Tulane University, Fall 2012 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, U Sask, Jan 2013 –
Dr. Alex Bond, Environment Canada Ph.D., Memorial University of Newfoundland, August 2011 Postdoc, University of Saskatchewan Biology, 2011 - 2013 Visiting Research Fellow, Environment Canada, 2013 –
Dr. Lori Bradford, SENS Ph.D., Lincoln University, Dec 2009 Part-time Professor and Lecturer, Jan 2010 – Apr 2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, Lakehead University, Aug - Oct 2011 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, USask, Oct 2012 – Mother and wife
What is a postdoc?
“Postdoc” refers both to a type of employment, and the person who does that work
Typically short-term (1-5 year) teaching and/or research positions held shortly after the PhD
Preparation for professional/academic career First postdoc: 1876 at Johns Hopkins Number of postdocs increasing
1975: 16,000 1995: 35,000 Today: >50,000
What kinds of postdocs are there? Postdocs available in:
Academia Industry/Non-profits Government
Postdocs may consist of: Research
Independent Existing
Teaching Service
Oregon State University
Postdoc job titles
The Canadian postdoc stratigraphy:
• ½ men, ½ women (53:47%)• ½ completed highest degree outside of Canada• Average postdoc is in their 30’s and married (69%)• Most expect to hold postdoc positions for 3-5
years (70%)• 1 in 3 have dependent children• 2/3 earn less than $45000 and have no access to
benefits• 46% Life Science, 32% in Physical Sciences or
Engineering, 14% in Social Sciences• Most are happy with work environment and
independence, but most are concerned with salary, career development, professional training, benefits
• More than half not exposed to career opportunities outside academia, 87% have no access to career counselling
• Can be labelled “employee, student, trainee, intern, independent contractor”
*2013 The Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars/L'Association Canadienne de Stagiaires Post-doctoraux (CAPS-ACSP) and Mitacs.
Ten Simple Rules for Selecting a Postdoctoral Position (Bourne & Friedberg 2006)1. Select a position that excites you2. Select a laboratory that suits your work
and lifestyle3. Select a laboratory and project that
develop new skills – diversify!4. Have a backup plan(s)5. Choose a project with tangible
outcomes that match your career goals
Ten Simple Rules for Selecting a Postdoctoral Position (Bourne & Friedberg 2006)6. Negotiate first authorship before you
start7. The time in a postdoctoral fellowship
should be finite8. Evaluate the growth path
Can you continue this research and take it with you?
9. Strive to get your own money10. Learn to recognize opportunities and
up-and-coming areas of research
Selecting a mentor and lab
Is this person active in their field? What topics are the lab (graduate students,
postdocs) working on? Will you fit in? Will this person be a good colleague and
mentor? Ask around to get the “inside scoop”
What is the funding situation? Just because they say they have/will have money
doesn’t mean it’s true Can you live in that city/region for a few years?
You’ve received an offer – now what?
Make sure this is really the position you want Confirm the following in writing:
Salary Benefits Start and end dates Expectations of your research, teaching, and
service commitments Evaluate the institution Make sure you will be done with your PhD
before the start date (allow some time off, if possible)
What to expect as a postdoc Get your project up and running quickly
Often doing dissertation-level work in 2 years
Publish, publish, publish Network, network, network (in and
beyond dept.) Participate in seminars & group research
projects Look for supplemental funding
opportunities Teach a course and/or mentor students
(academics) Keep applying for “real” jobs
MAKING YOUR OWN POSTDOC IN CANADA(BIOLOGY)
Dr. Alex Bond
Postdoctoral Fellow
Environment Canada / University of Saskatchewan
LabAndField.wordpress.com / @thelabandfield
Start early
At least 12-18 months before you want to start a postdoc
Account for application deadlines E.g., NSERC PDF applications due in
October the year before you want to start Identify a potential supervisor early on
and develop a proposal together One proposal can be easily modified for
several competitions
Making your own postdoc
Using existing pools of unfettered money Funds go with you, not your
supervisor/lab
Highly competitive Few sources
NSERC
4 main programs Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) Industrial R&D Fellowships (IRDF) Visiting Fellowships in Government Labs
(VF) Banting Fellowships (with SSHRC & CIHR)
NSERC PDF Program
$40,000/year for 2 years Applications due to NSERC on 15 Oct Similar to PGS application
2-page research proposal List of publications Significant contributions to R&D Letters of reference
NSERC PDF Program
Canadian citizens or permanent residents only
PhD completed no more than 2 years before application deadline
Only get one shot! 2013 applications: 808
Down from 2011 high: 1431 applications 2013 awards: 110
Down from 2010 high: 286 awards
NSERC IRDF Program
$45,000/year (minimum) for 2 years No set application deadline
Notification of decision within 8 weeks of submission
No proposal required – just an industrial partner & satisfying eligibility criteria
PhD completed in the last 5 years No set competition – depends on
candidates finding an industrial partner
NSERC IRDF Program
Lengthy application procedure, especially if the industrial partner has not had an NSERC IRDF position before
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign students with a work visa & who completed their PhD in Canada at the time of nomination
No more than 6 months’ employment in R&D after obtaining PhD
NSERC VF Program
$49,513/year for up to 3 years duration depends on government funding; rate is
~90% of entry-level government scientist (RES-01)
No set application deadline Notification of decision within 3 months
No proposal required – just a federal government lab willing to take you on (or not*) & satisfying eligibility criteria
No set competition – depends on candidates finding a government supervisor
NSERC VF Program
Open to anyone of any nationality with a PhD from any accredited institution
If no government partner, applicants can be placed in a pool of “pre-approved” candidates for up to 1 year
Can only ever apply twice Can only ever hold one VF
Funding in one-year increments
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships $70,000/year for 2 years EXTENSIVE application process
First selected by supervisor, faculty, and put forward to university
Independent review (coordinated by applicants) of their proposal
University ranks & submits some applications to national competition (number determined by Banting program)
Takes >3 months to compile
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
Application deadline (at Banting): last week of September
University deadline is weeks before 4-page proposal, contributions to R&D,
list of publications 70 total across NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR
2013 NSERC pool: 23 awards/180 final applicants
Other Funding Schemes
Liber Ero Fellowship Program Killam Foundation Postdoctoral
Fellowships W. Garfield Weston Postdoctoral
Fellowship in Northern Research UBC Biodiversity Research Centre University of Toronto Ecology &
Evolutionary Biology
Liber Ero Fellowship Program $55,000/year +$15,000 for travel &
research for 2 years Applied conservation focus Requires a collaborating conservation
practitioner 4-page proposal, CV, and letters of
reference 4 awards every year Last deadline was 01 November
Killam Postdoctoral Fellowships UBC, University of Calgary,
University of Alberta, Dalhousie University Each university runs their own competition $44,000-50,000/year for 2 years Application deadlines vary by university
(some in the fall, others in winter) Generally require a proposal, CV, letters of
support, … ~2-4 awarded by each university each year
W. Garfield Weston Postdoctoral Fellowship
Canadian Northern Studies Trust $50,000/year for 2 years + $10,000 for travel Research in the Canadian North (defined as
the permafrost line) Canadian citizens & permanent residents only PhD within 2 years of the application deadline Letters of support from supervisor, university;
transcripts; research proposal Deadline: 31 January 2014
Biodiversity Research Centre, UBC
NSERC CREATE training program $43,000/year for 2 years + $7,000/yr
research stipend Research on core problems in biodiversity Work with one or more of 50 faculty
members All applicants welcome CV, three letters of reference, statement of
overall scientific goals and interests (2 pgs.) Deadline: 13 January 2014
University of Toronto EEB
$40,000/year for 2 years Work with existing faculty at U of T
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
CV, representative publications, research summary & future plans
Review starts 25 Nov
Other resources
International Scholarships Database (Government of Canada)
Applying for existing postdocs
As in Canada, start early
At least 12-18 months before you want to start a postdoc
Account for application deadlines E.g., NSF applications due in autumn the
year before you want to start, many private apps. in Jan/Feb
Identify a potential supervisor early on and develop a proposal together
One proposal can be easily modified for several competitions (recycle!)
Making your own postdoc in the US Using existing pools of money Some funds go with you, not your
supervisor/lab, but most funds are linked to specific labs & projects
Highly competitive Few sources
more than in Canada, but there are also more applicants
National Science Foundation Independent Federal agency created by
the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 “to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering.”
Multiple divisions, funding sources
NSF Postdoctoral research fellowships
Programs are subdivided by research area Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS-PRF) Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF) East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI)* Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research (MSPRF) Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability
Fellows (SEES) Ocean Sciences Research Fellowships (OCE-PRF) Postdoctoral Fellowships in Polar Regions Research (PRR-
PRF)† Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE-PRF) Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
* For graduate students, must be enrolled at time of application† Suspended April 2013, may be reinstated
NSF Postdoctoral research fellowships
Programs are subdivided by research area Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS-PRF) Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships (EAR-PF) East Asia & Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI)* Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research (MSPRF) Science, Engineering, and Education for
Sustainability Fellows (SEES) Ocean Sciences Research Fellowships (OCE-PRF) Postdoctoral Fellowships in Polar Regions Research (PRR-
PRF)† Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE-PRF) Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
* For graduate students, must be enrolled at time of application† Suspended April 2013, may be reinstated
Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability Fellows (SEES) “Seeks to advance science, engineering, and education to inform the
societal actions needed for environmental and economic sustainability and human well-being while creating the necessary workforce to address these challenges”
Who can apply: US citizen, national, or permanent resident; have the PhD by the start date; <36 months post-PhD. Others may apply through affiliation with universities, colleges, or non-profits.
Stipend: $88,000/yr including benefits Research funds: $60,000 over 3 years Indirect: none Funds transportable: yes if applying as unaffiliated individual Duration: 3 years Due dates: November 26, 2013 Number of awards annually: 15-20 Application limits: 1 per applicant, no limits per university
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) Four areas: (1) Broadening Participation in Biology; (2) Intersections of
Biology and Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Engineering; (3) National Plant Genome Initiative Postdoctoral Research Fellowships; and (4) International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology
Who can apply: US citizen, national, or permanent resident; have PhD in science, math, or engineering by the start date; <12 months full-time employed post-PhD; have not accepted academic appointment; have received <$20,000 federal funding (not counting GRFP, DDIG)
Stipend: $54,000/yr Research funds: $15,000/year (no foreign travel) Indirect: none Funds transportable: Yes. May work in US or internationally Duration: Area 1: 3 yrs + 1 yr teaching (optional); Area 2: 2 yrs + 1 yr
abroad (optional) + 1 yr teaching (optional); Area 3: 3 years; Area 4: 2 years
Due dates: October 8, 2013 Number of awards annually: 15 per competitive area Application limits: 1/year, 2 consecutive per applicant, no limits per
university
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE-PRF) Two tracks: (1) Broadening Participation, (2) Interdisciplinary
Research in Behavioral and Social Sciences Who can apply: US citizen, national, or permanent resident;
obtained PhD <24 mos. before application or within 10 mos after deadline; no full-time tenure-track position. Must be affiliated with university or non-profit through which proposal is submitted.
Stipend: $45,000/yr + fringe benefits per institutional rates Research funds: $10,000/year Indirect: included at institution’s indirect rate, in addition to
stipend & research funds Funds transportable: No Duration: 2 years Due dates: Last Monday in October Number of awards annually: 15 Application limits: 1/year, 2 consecutive per applicant, no limits
per university
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Research into the interface between science (including
engineering) or technology, and society, using social science, historical, and philosophical methods
Who can apply: US citizen, national, or permanent resident; obtained PhD <5 years before start; no full-time tenure-track position. Can not work at Ph.D. institution
Stipend: $75,000/yr including indirect Research funds: none Indirect: included at institution’s indirect rate, deducted from
stipend Funds transportable: Yes if made to individual Duration: 2 years Due dates: February 1, August 1 Number of awards annually: 15 Application limits: none
Other NSF funding sources
Core program grants CAREER grants RAPID grants EAGER grants Dear Colleague Letters Special solicitations
Core program grants
Wide variety of funding topics/clusters Biology: Biological Infrastructure,
Environmental Biology, Emerging Frontiers, Integrative Organismal Systems, Molecular and Cellular Biosciences DEB: Ecosystem Science, Evolutionary Processes,
Population and Community Ecology, Systematics & Biodiversity Science
SBE: Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Social and Economic Sciences, Office of Multidisciplinary Activities BCS: Anthropological Sciences, Geography &
Environmental Sciences, Psychological & Language Sciences, Interdisciplinary Behavioral and Social Science Research
Application process (DEB)
Pre-proposal (5 pgs.): January 23 Full proposal (if invited): August 4 May only be PI, Co-PI, or lead senior investigator on
2 proposals/year Budget: flexible. In 2014 $72M for ~200 awards May be submitted by:
Universities and colleges (typical) Non-profits or for-profit (rare) organizations Unaffiliated individuals (rare, must be US citizens)
PI typically a senior scientist. Postdoc helps write the grant, may or may not be listed as Co-PI
NSF CAREER grants
Awards for junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through research & education.
Who can apply: US universities, colleges, or non-profits; PI must hold PhD; be on tenure-track but untenured until 1 Oct after deadline; have not received CAREER award
Application date: late July Budget: $500,000 BIO & Polar, $400,000 other Indirect: included in budget Duration: 5 years Number of awards: 600/year Application limits: 1 per competition Highly competitive: <10% funding rate
Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) Funding mechanism used for urgent proposals,
e.g., quick-response research on disasters (BP oil spill)
Available through various programs. Must contact NSF program officer pre-submission.
Project description 2-5 pgs. Internal merit review only Budget: up to $200,000 Duration: up to 2 years Extensions and supplemental funding available
Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Funding mechanism used to support exploratory
work in early stages on untested research ideas High risk / high payoff Must contact NSF program officer pre-submission Project description 5-8 pages Internal merit review only Budget: up to $300,000 Duration: up to 2 years Extensions and supplemental funding available
Special Solicitations
Special solicitations provide opportunities for funding on selected topics, often cross-cutting Assembling the Tree of Life Dimensions of Biodiversity Dynamics of Coupled Natural & Human
Systems Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease
s Long-Term Ecological Research MacroSystems Biology
Other funding programs
Dear Colleague Letters advise applicants of NSF’s particular areas of interest Proposals are submitted through regular channels
Proposals for Conferences, Symposia, & Workshops Catalyzing New International Collaborations
Support short international planning visits by US researchers
Research Experience for: Teachers Undergraduates
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GAOLI)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences Funding Rates
DBI: Biological Infrastructure DEB: Environmental Biology EF: Emerging Frontiers
IOS: Integrative Organismal Systems
MCB: Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences Funding Rates
DBI: Biological Infrastructure DEB: Environmental Biology EF: Emerging Frontiers
IOS: Integrative Organismal Systems
MCB: Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
NSF DDIG & PRFB
DDIG funding rates: 20-35%, by division/year
PRFB: ≤15 awards given in each of 4 areas Broadening Participation in Biology Intersections of Biology and Mathematical
and Physical Sciences and Engineering National Plant Genome Initiative International Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships Funding rate? But ~8,000 Biology
PhDs/year in US
NSF DEB core program grants
Pre-proposals submitted: 1,624 Invited for full proposal: 380
23.4% Recommended for funding: 259
15.9% Early career investigators: 29 of 401
7.2% Primarily undergraduate : 18 of 287
6.3% institutions
Writing a NSF grant
Grant Proposal Guide (76 pp.)
Follow directions very carefully!
Often submitted through Grants & Awards office at University => allow extra week
Other US-based Postdoc Funding: Databases
UC Berkeley’s database of Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Biosciences (heavy on biomedical)
UC Berkeley’s database of Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Social Sciences
UCLA’s Graduate & Postdoctoral Extramural Support (GRAPES) database
Other US-based Postdoc Funding (cont’d)
American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grants (small funds - up to $6,000 - for research)
Columbia Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Earth, Environmental, and Ocean Sciences
Columbia University Earth Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships
Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program Life Sciences Research Foundation Michigan Society of Fellows National Academy of the Sciences National Institutes of Health Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences
Other US-based Postdoc Funding (cont’d)
Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation Research
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Postdoctoral Fellowships
Smithsonian Institution Fellowships (many) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Tupper Po
stdoctoral Fellowship (3 year)
University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
University of Chicago Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Chicago Society of Fellows (teaching)
University of Michigan President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Fulbright funding for International Study
US Student Program US student at time of application, work outside the
US Non-US Student Program
Foreign student at time of application, work in the US
US Scholar Programs Short- and long-term programs to send US faculty
and professionals abroad Foreign Scholar Programs
Short- and long-term programs to bring foreign faculty and professionals to the US
Other postdoc funding
L’Oreal program for women in science Marie Curie Research Fellowships (Europ
e)
National Geographic Explorers Programs United Nations
University Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme research at the intersection of societal &
natural systems
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCES
Lori Bradford, PDF, SENS
My experiences
Two postdocs Turned down postdoc in New Zealand in
2009 Postdoc 1: 3 months at Lakehead University Postdoc 2: 14 months at UofS – renewed
contract 1 year, renewal up again in 4 months
Two very different supervisors Have developed into a social science
‘methodologist’ and know-mo expert
SSHRC-CRSH
• SSHRC Postdoc Fellowships:– to support the most promising Canadian new scholars in
the social sciences and humanities and assist them in establishing a research base at an important time in their research careers
• $40 500 a year for up to 2 years• Success rate ranges from 14-20% - results are posted
and can be checked here:• http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/results-resultats/stats-stati
stiques/index-eng.aspx• Can only apply twice, must be within 2 years of getting
Ph.D. (unless career interruption)• Criteria for evaluation – challenge, feasibility, capability
Banting postdocs
• Aims to “attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally, to develop their leadership potential and to position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada’s economic, social and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.”
• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are valued at $70,000 per year (taxable) for two years.
• 7-22% success rate depending on stream• Here:
http://banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/res/2012-2013-eng.html
Other government opportunities• DFAIT – Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade (3 opportunities – change frequently) - http://www.scholarships-bourses.gc.ca/scholarships-bourses/news-nouvelles/2011-10-02.aspx?lang=eng
• IDRC – International Development Research Center – opportunities for researchers you know to write you into their budgets http://www.idrc.ca/EN/Pages/default.aspx
• United Nations University: http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=6&ddlID=127
• Other agencies – AgCanada, Environment Canada, Matched funding with Mitacs – Mitacs Elevate program:
• http://www.mitacs.ca/elevate/information-for-participants
International Opportunities
• Commonwealth fellowships• Country-by-country examples:
– New Zealand Rutherford Postdoctoral Fellowships:• http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/programmes/funds/
rutherford-foundation/funding-opportunities/post-docs/
– http://www.scholars4dev.com/category/level-of-study/post-doctoral-fellowships/
– Malaysia international Scholarships: • h
ttp://www.scholars4dev.com/4765/malaysian-international-scholarships/
– Germany, Humboldt Foundation:• http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/humboldt
-fellowship-postdoc.html
Other means… the sneaky ways New Administrators New Faculty Single project work Big partnership grants Mitacs funding
Searching for opportunities
• University Affairs: http://oraweb.aucc.ca/pls/ua/ua_re• University Websites (look off-the-beaten-track):
– UOIT: http://research.uoit.ca/faculty/research-industry-funding/internal-faculty-funding/uoit-medi-post-doctoral-fellowship.php
– Ryerson: http://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/hfe/documents/Post_Doc_HFE2012.pdf
– UPEI: http://hr.upei.ca/competition/academic• CAPS website:
https://sites.google.com/site/canadapostdoc/postdocopportunities
• Job-Bank (Canadian Government): http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/prov-eng.aspx?RchJobType=Reg_jobs&OpPage=50
Overview
Upsides of applying for existing postdocs The money already exists => lower risk Quicker turn-around (often 1-6 months) Good as a backup plan
Downsides of applying for existing postdocs Lower risk = lower reward. May not be as
prestigious as writing your own (depending on who you work with)
You’re working on someone else’s project Study area, and perhaps project design, already chosen May have less independence and freedom
Job search sites
AGU (American Geophysical Union) APECS (Assoc. of Polar Early Career Scientists) CAGLIST (Canadian Assoc. of Geographers) Chronicle of Higher Education (postdoc, academia) Conservation Job Board Duke University Physiological Ecology Job Board Ecolog (Ecology listserv) Environmental Career Opportunities ESA Physiological Ecology Section Evol postdoc job board (McMaster University) HigherEd Jobs (postdoc, lecturer and faculty jobs) HigherEdSpace
Job search sites (continued)
NASA (NASA Postdoctoral Program opportunities) Nature Jobs Ornithological Jobs (birds) PAGES (Past Global Changes) PhDs.org Postdoc Jobs Science Careers Jobs Society for Conservation Biology Job Board Texas A&M Wildlife & Fisheries Job Board USAJobs (government jobs, mostly US citizens) The Wildlife Society Job Board
Other ways of finding postdocs Teaching: review websites of relevant
departments at universities where you’d like to teach
Networking
Networking: your biggest resource Go to meetings and conferences, talk
with researchers whose work you like Work your connections
Your own Your advisor’s Colleagues’ and committee members’
Cold-contact researchers doing interesting work by email
Networking: just do it!
Start early! Prepare and practice your elevator
speech Tailor to specific audiences
Remember this is common in our field
The Good
Opportunity to develop and/or work on new, exciting research projects
Form new collaborations, make new connections
Flexibility Freedom to focus on research
Few(er) teaching or service requirements
The Bad
Low pay (relatively – unless you’re in Australia) Nebulous status – not quite student, researcher, or
faculty May fail to find full-time employment afterwards
Average time spent as a postdoc >4 years (can be 8+)
May receive insufficient mentoring/support Conversely, may not have enough independence to
establish yourself as a scientist
…and The Ugly
Do you need to do a postdoc? What’s your long-term
goal? Academia: yes
Even some community colleges prefer postdoc experience
Government: yes, preferably in government or at a co-op
Industry or consulting: maybe not