Postdocs: What are they and how do I find one?

Dr. Nicole Michel (Nicole.Michel@usask.ca) and Dr. Lori Bradford (Lori.Bradford@usask.ca), PDFs, School of Environment & Sustainability, University of SaskatchewanDr. Alex Bond (Alex.Bond@ec.gc.ca), VRF, Environment Canada and University of Saskatchewan

What is a postdoc?

Who are postdocs?

Do I need a postdoc?

OutlineI. 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

I. IntroductionA. What is a postdoc?

B. What kinds of postdocs are there?

C. Who are postdocs?

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

UniversityPostdoc 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.

GENERAL ADVICE FOR SELECTING A POSTDOC

Dr. Nicole Michel, PDF, SENS

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?

Survey: what to look for in a postdoc

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 BondPostdoctoral FellowEnvironment Canada / University of SaskatchewanLabAndField.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 PDF Success Rate

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

WRITING YOUR OWN POSTDOC – US FUNDING SOURCES

Nicole Michel, PDF, SENS

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 Diseases 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 G

uide (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 F

ellowship 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 Fel

lowship 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-statist

iques/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/r

utherford-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-f

ellowship-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

APPLYING FOR EXISTING POSTDOCS

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 TO FIND A POSTDOC

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

IS A POSTDOC FOR ME?

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

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

DISCUSSION

Activity – what is your dream postdoc?