How to Pick (and Fund) a Postdoc, Part 2

Last month, we read advice from postdocs all around the country, about their decision to do a postdoc and suggestions for the search process. This month we have part two of their much-needed advice! 

For those who missed last month's article and would like to read part 1, click here.

Why did you decide to do a postdoc?

• The opportunity presented itself
• To gain more experience
• To further my research portfolio
• Not ready for the academic job market just yet
• To continue doing research and develop my research skills
• Because I couldn't get an R1 faculty job

How did you hear about your postdoc position?

• Through a connection
• Online advertisements; listserv ads
• Via my personal network
• I cold-emailed people because I wanted to study a subject that is relatively specialized.

What advice do you have regarding the search process?

• I hate saying it, but everyone I know who is doing a postdoc got it through networking, so network, appropriately, at SPSP for sure.
• Search all possible sources and listings, don't rely on your mentor or professional network only. Start writing cover letters and personal statements and getting your CV in order well in advance. Make a wish list for the position by imagining your first job talk. Paint a picture of your career trajectory and apply to jobs that fit in that picture. When choosing which to apply for, think of these three key requirements: location, research area, and pay. Aim for all 3, but remember that 2 out of 3 is most realistic. Figure out which of the three is most important, and accept the job that provides it (and at least 1 other requirement).
• Ask everyone you know and read subfield email listservs.
• It is a lot about networking and reaching out. You have to put in the effort to make it work. Otherwise, you won't hear about a position or stand out among other applicants.

What are some red flags to watch out for during this process?

• Don't waste your time submitting a lot of applications.
• Many ads I saw were looking for postdocs to fulfill administrative duties (like lab manager responsibilities), so I tried to avoid those positions as it would take time away from research.
• A lack of community in the team/lab/department. Make sure that the people around you are supportive.
• A lack of resources to conduct your research. This includes the time and place to do your research. You typically have a limited amount of time to work on a project.
• Make sure you are not held back by issues that should have been resolved BEFORE the project started (e.g., there is no lab space; the PI is still applying for grants).
• Make sure they listen to and value your opinion. You have a PhD, make sure they respect that. You are not just an assistant.
• Make sure both you and the PI clearly outline expectations beforehand. There is huge variation in how productive people are during their postdoc.
• Make sure you get outside feedback about the PI. For example, a graduate student in my department works with an academic who expects him to work 10 hours a day, including weekends. The academic does not permit him and other members of the laboratory to speak to one another except for work-related reasons. These situations can be avoided by making the effort to talk to past lab members, collaborators, etc. beforehand.

Any additional advice or comments?

• Grad school is a de facto pyramid scheme. To replace each faculty position, a faculty member needs to produce only one grad student in their lifetime. If you assume half of grad students won't be good enough, they need to produce two. Instead, we produce one student every three years on average. There are not and never will be enough academic jobs for all those students, it's a mathematical impossibility (and there's some nice population modeling by biologists to prove it). Don't do a postdoc if you don't have both the desire and the track record for a career in academia. Be brutally honest with yourself about this. Ask your advisor and folks you trust if 1-2 years is going to make a difference to your job prospects, and keep in mind that everyone else will be getting that additional experience as well. Don't enter the postdoc holding pattern, just because you graduated and need a job. You should have a clear idea of what doing a postdoc will do for you - give you time to publish that big paper that's almost ready to submit, give you a couple of rounds on the R1 job market, whatever it is. But if you don't have a shot at the job you want now, don't expect a couple of years of a postdoc to fix that. Be realistic and think about industry alternatives.

Again, thank you so much to the postdocs whose answers are presented here. We appreciate your wisdom!