Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with postdoc

How do I write a one-page research plan for a postdoc application in the humanities?

Original 1928 Flavor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:48:32 -0800

What should be included in a "one-page research plan" for a postdoc application (in the humanities)? What should the format be? I can find a lot of advice and samples for the sciences, but not for a humanities position. Advice and links would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Apparently you CAN level up beyond the PhD bonus round

Busoni — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:47:48 -0800

How does one apply for a postdoctoral position/fellowship/job? I have a cousin from overseas who would like to come to a school in the Boston/Cambridge area for postdoctoral work in Chinese. Since I hadn't even imagined there was such a thing as academic work after getting one's PhD, I also have no idea how one might go about applying for it. Is this done through the school, or department, or should she contact a professor directly, or … ?

selling out while staying academic

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:55:44 -0800

How can math postdocs switch into more applied fields? I am a mathematician finishing my second postdoctoral stint, working in one very pure branch of mathematics. I'm good enough to occasionally get shortlisted for assistant professorships by respectable universities, including a couple top 10s. So I'd eventually get a job in my area if the economy was better. But I've not gotten any offers & the economy will suck for several years. Btw, the smaller schools naturally don't want anybody too focused on research.

I think it's time to take a step back and work on other interesting problems that get more funding. It might be fun getting a second PhD in physics, but this seems excessive, and I'd be more interested in analysis & probability. Any advice?

What do you do in an advanced degree?

divabat — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:27:31 -0800

Those of you doing [post]graduate degrees...what exactly are you doing? I've been looking into various advanced degree programs (Grad Cert, Grad Dip, Masters, etc) but I'm finding it difficult to imagine what sort of work one does in an advanced degree.

My family comes from a science background: my sister did biotech research for her Ph.D and my dad did coursework in engineering for his Masters. Apparently my aunt did a Masters in Sociology but I don't know what this entailed for her. I'm getting a degree in the Creative Industries, and have been looking into advanced degrees in non-profit management, arts, or education.

What DO you do in your degree? Do you do a lot of reading? Is yours more practical? Do you get to do a project?
How academic is your degree? Do you have to do a lot of writing in a certain style?
How much opportunity do you get to travel, or do experiential learning? How about conferences?

I figure this would differ wildly between programs and schools, but my only concepts of advanced degrees are either sit in a library then write a long densely academic thesis, or do research in a lab and write a long densely academic thesis (research is fun, but writing long densely academic theses is my definition of hell).

What should I discuss before agreeing to a postdoc?

grouse — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:04:16 -0800

I've been interviewing for bioinformatics postdoctoral positions in the U.S. and will soon be discussing the details of taking a position. Do you have suggestions over things I should discuss with my prospective mentor or research on my own before agreeing to the job? Obvious things include: project scope, independence, salary, benefits, whether I have to apply for my own funding. I've visited and met with lab members so I know what these places and future co-workers are like to a certain extent.

Academia: Should I stay or should I go?

TheyCallItPeace — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:01:50 -0800

I will finish my PhD in a few months, and now is the season for postdoc applications. Thing is, I am not sure if I want to stay and academia. Should I apply for postdocs anyways and keep my options open? If not, any Ph.D.s out there (especially physicists) who have any advice on making the transition away academia? I do research in a field (Physics) where it is absolutely required that I do a few years of postdoctoral research (3 or 4) before I can even apply for a faculty position. While I really enjoy collaborative research, the prospect of taking short term jobs (1 or 2 years) for a few years, moving around, only to then have very little choice of where I could possibly get a faculty position, is really not all that attractive -- the jobs are few, and I'd have to go wherever they are. There is also the simple fact that there are way too many applicants for faculty positions, and very few positions, and hell, I am old (32), and will be even older when looking for a faculty position (35? 37?). Sounds kinda late to settle down and START a life.

For various personal reasons, I feel that moving half-way around the world for a temporary job would be selfish and irresponsible, even if it sounds exciting to live abroad and meet new people.

However, it is now the season to apply for postdoctoral jobs. The jobs I am applying for now have a starting date of roughly Fall 2008. I feel inclined to apply anyways, just to keep my options open, because everything is months away anyways. Is this bad form? I'd only apply for jobs I'd be interested in taking if I decide to stay in academia, so I think it is fair that I learn more about my potential choices to make an informed decision.

I plan on looking at what my options are in industry, but there is no doubt that there will be the need for some adaptation, because my area of research has close to zero direct practical applications at this time. I have skills that are transferable (both soft and hard), so I am confident I will be able to find something. Although I hear that a Ph.D. is valuable when looking for a job even outside your field of research, I have been in academia for so long that I am not sure if that is true or not. I did work in industry for a couple of years before going to grad school, but that was unrelated to what I did my research in, and it has been 5/6 years.

So, my questions:

1) Is it bad to apply for postdoc jobs even though I am unsure if I will want to stay in academia?

2) Anyone out there with experience moving from academia to industry/real world after doing a PhD on something that has little or no direct practical applications (e.g. theoretical Physics)?

Even if you don't have direct advice, but care to share your personal experiences with similar issues, that'd be greatly appreciated.

Job Interview for my First Postdoc - help!

TheOtherGuy — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:04:55 -0800

I have just finished my PhD (Biochemistry) and will shortly be having a job interview for my first postdoctoral position. What can I expect in the interview? Any advice? i am a pretty confident person, and I would like to think I am pretty articulate about science. But I really don't know what questions I can expect to be asked in my interview. I have a phone interview for a position in a research group in the UK.

I find that meetings and interviews are generally a little less structured in science, so I guess it really depends on who is conducting the interview - hence the difficulty in knowing what to expect! Naturally I have looked into the background of the lab, even speaking to past and current members (at the recommendation of my potential boss), so questions about the science itself are fine. But what can I expect to be asked about my suitability as a person and a worker, and medium to long-term career goals?

So have any Mefites been in a similar situation? What questions were you asked for your research position? what advice would you give?

Thank you in advance!

Pros and cons for an American taking a postdoc in Europe?

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:31:47 -0800

What are the pros and cons, professionally and personally, for an American taking an academic postdoc in Europe? I am currently a candidate for a postdoctoral position in Amsterdam. My interview is coming up soon, but due to external circumstances I may need to make a decision within a few days afterwards so I'm trying to figure out as much in advance as I can. I'm of course seeking detailed field-specific advice from my advisors and other members of my current department, but I'm interested in a few more general things.

Professionally, since I plan to apply for faculty positions in a few years, I'm interested in the impact that this move might have on the perceptions of a faculty hiring committee. Is going to Europe going to hurt my chances in the U.S.? Will it open up more opportunities in Europe later on (and how hard is it to get faculty positions in Europe anyway)?

Personally, what do I need to think about? One big question I have concerns my wife, who will be staying in the States for at least six months but who will eventually join me wherever I end up. How difficult would it be for her to get a work permit, etc.?

I'm not looking for anyone to convince me one way or the other, since my decision will involve a lot of things I haven't discussed here. But, beyond these two specific issues, I'm interested in literally every possible angle on this, because there are surely a lot of things I haven't thought of. What kinds of things to I need to think about and plan for, what questions do I need to ask, etc.?

What advice do you have for a new PhD candidate?

k8t — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:29:54 -0800

PhD advice! I am starting a PhD program in Communications this fall. I'd like some general advice from those who have survived. I'm looking for ideas on wise steps to take as far as department politics, TAing, getting published, attending conferences, funding, trying to survive on no money, being in a relationship with a non-student, etc. More specific details: I already have an MA in International Relations and Development and my BA is focused on a specific area of the world, for which I have gained extensive language skills. (I also spent the last 5 years working in either tech jobs or international development with a tech focus.) I chose my PhD program because the university has a multi-discipline institute for Technology and Society with a PhD focus in Technology and Society in developing countries. This is exactly what I want to study.
I was offered only a TA-ship for my first year. (Boo.) I've applied for a Fulbright next year.
Thanks!