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How to find a science postdoctoral position

How to find a science postdoctoral position. Carol Thornber, PhD Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences University of Rhode Island thornber@uri.edu. Talk Outline. What is a postdoc? How do you find postdoc openings? Getting the most out of your postdoc. What is a postdoc?.

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How to find a science postdoctoral position

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  1. How to find a science postdoctoral position Carol Thornber, PhD Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences University of Rhode Island thornber@uri.edu

  2. Talk Outline • What is a postdoc? • How do you find postdoc openings? • Getting the most out of your postdoc

  3. What is a postdoc? • Need PhD or equivalent (e.g. MD) • Full time research/teaching • Appointment from 1-5 years • Supervised by mentor/advisor • Prep. for professional/academic career • Independent or on someone’s grant

  4. History of postdocs • First postdocs-- 1876-- at Johns Hopkins U. • Recent increase in postdocs • In 1975: 16,000 postdocs • In 1995: 35,00 postdocs • Today: over 50,000 postdocs • Out of 350 doctorate-granting institutions surveyed, more than two-thirds from 50 institutions

  5. What types of postdocs exist? • Academia • Government • Industry/Nonprofits

  6. The good & the bad of postdocs • Good: • Opportunity to develop new, independent research project • Form new collaborations • Flexibility • Bad: • Low pay • Nebulous status

  7. Do YOU need to do a postdoc? • Determine your ULTIMATE career goal • Is a postdoc needed/useful for career goal? • Pitfalls: Postdocs may… • Fail to find full time employment afterwards • Receive insufficient mentoring/support • Not have enough independence to establish themselves as scientists

  8. Talk Outline • What is a postdoc? • How do you find postdoc openings? • Getting the most out of your postdoc

  9. How to find a postdoc • Biggest resource::: networking • Go to lots of meetings, talk with PIs whose research you like • Ask your colleagues/advisors • Email potential mentors

  10. How to find a postdoc: specific • Science http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/ • Nature http://www.naturejobs.com • The Chronicle of Higher Education http://www.chronicle.com

  11. How to find a postdoc: specific • Major funding agency websites: • NSF • NIH • NOAA • …and others! • Professional societies: • Websites • Listservers • Meetings • Individual university websites

  12. How to find a postdoc: specific • Research organizations (examples): • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories • Los Alamos National Laboratories • Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute • Professional websites: • www.findapostdoc.com (Europe only) • www.postdocjobs.com • http://www7.nationalacademies.org/postdoc/

  13. Things to consider… • Different fields - will broaden your CV • New “hot” topics with more funding • Geography: where to live? • United States • International

  14. Postdocs At UC Davis • UCD Office of Grad Studies’ website http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu • PROF (Professors of the Future, http://prof.ucdavis.edu) • UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

  15. What to look for in your mentor • Is this person active in their field? (publications, grants, etc) • What are his/her grad students, postdocs working on? • Will this person be a good colleague? • What is the funding situation?

  16. Before you accept an offer…. • Is this what you want?? • Confirm in an offer letter: • Salary • Benefits (family coverage?) • Starting, ending dates • Expectations of your research • Evaluate the institution

  17. Before you accept an offer…. • Make sure you will be done with your PhD PRIOR to the starting date • Take time off!

  18. Talk Outline • What is a postdoc? • How do you find postdoc openings? • Getting the most out of your postdoc

  19. What to expect when you start • Ability to get a new project up and running QUICKLY • Different dynamics than grad students

  20. What to expect when you start • Ability to get a new project up and running QUICKLY • Different dynamics than grad students • Advise, mentor grads and undergrads And/Or • Run the lab • Look for local postdoc network for info

  21. Make the most of your time! • Meet, network with range of faculty/colleagues • NOT just your mentor(s)! • Participate in seminars, group research projects • Publish like mad

  22. Make the most of your time! • Go to meetings and more meetings, even if you have to pay for them • Look for supplemental (funding) opportunities • TEACH A COURSE, if you want to become a professor

  23. Start looking for “real” jobs…. • Develop your career • Make your research independent of your grad, postdoc mentors • Network, network, network • Realize that a postdoc is not a permanent position

  24. For more information…. • UCD Postdoctoral Scholars’ Association http://postdocs.ucdavis.edu • Postdoc Network (Science’s Nextwave) http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/pdn/index.shtml • Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisers, Institutions, Funding Organizations, and Disciplinary Societies http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9831.html (under $12)

  25. THANK YOU: • Joanne Bookmeyer • Tom Peavy

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