In the previous post, I was asked by reader and fellow scientist Riverie to comment on my experience in finding and securing postdoctoral research scientist positions. Submitted under the category of scientific philosophy, I have chosen the following response as a separate entry.
Like most employment successes, my postdoctoral opportunities have been initiated through positive connections between my former advisor (or myself) and interested parties. My credibility for scientific research improves with each year of additional research (improved network and letters of recommendation) and with successive publications (improved CV). In my experience, one improves the odds of selection for an initial postdoctoral position by searching within the known network of one’s advisor(s), and by always requesting the advisor to make initial inquiry contact regarding a position. With successive years, you should be developing your own network, but this process takes some time to “seed”.
Although I have a second position now, I can attest to the difficulty of a “cold call” to another professor (especially outside of their field) expressing your interest in a research position. Professors have exceedingly busy schedules, and often don’t have the time to confirm your credentials without some advanced confirmation from a peer, expressing that a candidate is worthy of consideration. Given the inadequate time allotted to the selection process by the professor in need, the risk for selecting a poor candidate is high and one must expect them to be very conservative in drawing their short list. Even so, if the prospective position has no funding and you have no funding, there can be no opportunity, and professors should inform the advisor right away of such a limitation.
If you are selected as a candidate and if it is possible, visit the lab. This was not possible for me to do for my experience in France, so it was extremely fortunate that my postdoc was both highly successful in research and that I had an excellent working environment with the group and group leader. I know the lab that I am currently working in, so I was certain I would be able to adjust and work efficiently.
The truth is, you need to be at the right place and time, with the additional nod from a peer, to garner consideration for a position. As much as they may be though of in terms of inexpensive labor from the point of view of the graduate student, a postdoctoral researcher is substantially more expensive to support and is required to accomplish much more than a student. There are also expectations from the postdoctoral researcher that some mentoring will occur, as an apprenticeship to managing your own future research team (in academia or business). The collaboration is an additional time investment for the professor, and can be looked upon as a means for the postdoctoral researcher to become more efficient at what she/he already does well. So, one should be able to make a good case for an independent work initiative, and expect to perform the majority of the assigned research on your own (with critiques along the way).
Once you are in the research position, expect that a mentoring professor is there to correct your form; you must be open to listen to what they suggest, even if you want to stubbornly adhere to your own hunch. On the other hand, you should continue to express your own opinions regarding the research to spur scientific discussion. If you don’t have the data to back up your claims, be prepared to listen to suggestions and go back to the bench to find that data that clarifies the discussion. Often, you will be surprised by the results of the compromise.
Finally, never underestimate the network of people that are in the surrounding group and laboratories. These people will all be potential connections. Keep your mind open to interdisciplinary connections, even if the moment is not ripe now. And remember that you are the transient in the laboratory; more so than the graduate students, even. Respect that the laboratory and office is your temporary home, and keep the peace. A postdoctoral position is not the place for the great revolt against the machine, and you are expected to behave according to the internal rules of the lab (provided they do not breach ethical standards of scientific behavior).
Bearing all that in mind, good luck!
Hey dude, thanks for sharing.
hmmm… I recognise that! It’s the up staircase of Arc de Triomphe, Paris, am I right? You got it half right. It’s always an uphill journey; but instead of looking downwards, remember, look up and forward, because… there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel! =)
(urgggh, cant get the html tag to work)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/jamie2005/2003_0916Travels20030001.jpg
A certain famous church in Budapest. Can’t remember the name off-hand.
I would like to chip in my experience, or should I say disappointment?
I have made numerous applications for a position, and until recently, with no luck. Not a peep. What went wrong, I wondered? I critically assessed myself.
Did I apply for the wrong positions? For some positions I applied for, I have a perfect match in terms of experience, perhaps even more. Heck, in fact, I am doing exactly what the group is doing. So it can’t be a problem with relavent skills and experience. Is it because I don’t have a good track record? At the risk of sounding bossy (unintentionally, of course), I dare say I have more publications than an average person with equivalent experience. The fact that they are in tier-one peer reviewed journals is a bonus. Could it be because I wrote my cover letter badly? It may not be the best, but it couldnt be that bad! No visa/ work permit? Maybe, but I can sort that out pretty easily. Was I reviewed badly by my referees? Not likely, cos I was .bcc the reference letters. So what is it?
So, at the end of the day, I figured out that network is indeed important, and exactly because a postdoc is more expensive to support than a graduate student, the professor will be looking out for people who already knows exactly what the research involves. So who is the best candidate in this case? Their own graduate students, of course. Especially if it involves an ongoing project which the same student developed. And more often than not, the student will be happy to secure the post-doc.
This was confirmed by a friend who’s in the scene. Very seldom will there be a genuine vacancy. If there’s an academic vacancy being advertised, chances are, it’s just part of the procedure and the candidate has been pre-chosen. It’s very sad, but i think it’s somewhat true. And an interesting thing i observed is that it’s the new and young researchers who will consider fresh graduates. Maybe, like you said, full Professors are busy people.
Having said that, I think that in general, fellowships which requires a research proposal to be submitted, are probably genuine, as well as commercial-academic openings. No surprise, so far, my interviews are from semi-academic establishments. I am not disheartened. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Wish me more luck!
Riv