All posts written by Kelly Seaton

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Starting Your New Position

By on November 15, 2011 in Finding a Postdoc with 0 Comments

Kelly Seaton concludes her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?, Identifying the Right Position, Nailing the Interview. Kelly is also working on a list of resources for finding a postdoc, which we’ll publish as soon as it’s ready. 

Downtown Madison moving day

Finding a community is important - who else is going to help you move in?

I think one of the happiest days in a grad student’s life (next to the day after the defense!) is the day that a postdoc position is finalized and accepted. It is exciting to think about the possibilities that are ahead, and you will finally be earning a little more money! As you think about what lies ahead of you, I would encourage you to focus on a few key areas as you transition into your new position.

Your new post-doc position

I have found that I greatly enjoy being a postdoc — people tend to respect your opinion more (you are the expert, after all, in your subject area or technical skill), and there are many opportunities to grow and advance your career. It is important to keep in mind, though, that a postdoc position is a focused, somewhat intensive, and short-term training opportunity.

Photo credit: John Benson via Flickr

The relationship with your postdoc mentor will be key, and it is important that everyone is on the same page in terms of goals and milestones during your postdoc tenure. Take the time at the beginning to talk with your mentor about their expectations of you as a postdoc and to outline the path forward with clear goals and milestones that are mutually agreeable. There are several examples of postdoc/mentor agreements on the web to serve as a starting point for a formal or informal discussion of goals, such as AAMC.

In an academic postdoc setting, publications will be key to the advancement of your future career as a scientist. My postdoc mentors have encouraged me to try to submit 2 papers per year of my postdoc. This is a challenging goal, but nonetheless a good one. Because of this expectation, I have become involved in several projects in the lab and have been exposed to a breadth of research. Setting clear expectations from the start will help both you and your mentor stay focused on the desired outcomes from your postdoc and can only help your productivity during your time as a postdoc. Continue Reading…

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Nailing the Interview

By on November 8, 2011 in Finding a Postdoc with 3 Comments

Kelly Seaton continues her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?, Identifying the Right Position

Cornell students and postdocs at CERN

Though these Cornell postdocs at CERN are dressed a bit casually for most interviews, they did remember the most important item of clothing: their hard hats.

What questions do you have about the postdoc interview process? Do you have any interview experiences or advice to share?

Photo credit: solarnu via Flickr

Once you have submitted your applications and landed an interview, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Be prepared! This may seem like an obvious point, (and not even worth mentioning!) but there is more to preparation than meets the eye.

  • Who will be part of the interview process? Are you meeting just the primary PI, or multiple faculty members? You should read up and be familiar with the research of every person you’ll be interviewing with. My postdoc interview process included many people — 8 faculty members, the Division Chair, the COO of the Institute, multiple collaborators, and Human Resources. Ask for an itinerary if they don’t provide one, and know something about each person and their primary research, if applicable. By doing this, you’ll have a starting point to get them talking, and the 20 minutes or so will go much more quickly. Continue Reading…

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Identifying the Right Position

By on November 1, 2011 in Finding a Postdoc with 0 Comments

Kelly Seaton continues her series on finding a postdoc in the sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey, Where Should I Begin?

The friendly lab skeleton

Some labs are friendlier than others to postdocs.

Once you have decided to pursue a postdoc position and have a reasonable idea what you would like to study or where you want to live, the next step is to find a position that is a good fit for you. In this post I will give a few suggestions on what to think about in terms of a “postdoc friendly” lab and how to start looking for specific positions.

Looking for places that are “postdoc friendly”

While life post-graduation does offer more freedom and flexibility than graduate school, many challenges still remain for postdocs. Postdocs are in a transition period between student status and faculty or “real job” status, as it is essentially a time of extended professional training. There are many important life choices to make as well — buying a house, finishing paying off student loans, and whether or not to start a family. My suggestion is to look for “postdoc friendly” institutions — places that take into consideration the unique challenges facing postdocs, and that offer postdocs resources to help enhance their personal and professional lives.

A great resource for issues concerning postdocs is the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA). Their website contains several helpful links to resources for postdocs, and they help to advocate and drive policy-making for postdocs across the country. Look for universities, government or industry positions that have adopted these policies for their postdocs, and that take into account the unique challenges facing postdocs.

An important consideration for some post-graduation is the timing of starting a family. Many postdocs do successfully start families during their position, but be sure to review the prospective institution’s policy on leave for postdocs (particularly if postdocs are not considered university employees). The NPA recently developed some recommendations for maternity leave as a postdoc, which is very helpful to consider if you are thinking about starting a family during your training.

Consider universities or government positions that have an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs or a Postdoctoral Association. Often, institutions that have these offices have put some thought into postdoc employment, and can help provide both professional and personal resources as needed. Particularly look for places that clearly delineate policies on matters such as time off for postdocs, employment classification (are you a university employee or not?) health benefits, dispute resolution, etc. This can be a huge advantage — otherwise you may be dependent on the lab you land in, and it will feel more like graduate school than extended professional training.

Finding a specific postdoc position

At the end of the series, I will put together a resource page with links and ideas on how to find postdoc postions. In the meantime, here are some places to get started.

  • There are several locations where postdoc postions are advertised, including including Science (Careers portal, Postdoc listings) and Nature (Careers portal, Postdoc listings), or through advertisements in national societies.
  • Some universities do not consider postdocs as employees/staff and therefore do not post those positions on a Human Resources website. However, if a university has an Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, contact them or look at their website to see if they have postdoc listings.
  • Contacting someone personally may also be a good way to find a position. You can look through the NIH RePORTER website to find professors with NIH funded research in a subject area or institution of interest, and it also lists the duration of the grant funding.
  • It is definitely ok to e-mail professors and state that you are interested in their work and inquire if they have any postdoc positions open. Make sure, however, to attach a CV, and clearly indicate that you are familiar with their research. Keep your e-mail short and to the point, and emphasize how their research fits with your current skills and future interest. If you can find a personal connection, that is even better (i.e. through LinkedIn, your advisor, or if you can find alumni from your school that have worked with them).

Next up: Tips for making it through the interview process

Do you have any questions for Kelly about finding the right position? Are there other resources that you’ve found helpful in your search?

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: Where Should I Begin?

By on October 25, 2011 in Academic Vocations, Finding a Postdoc with 3 Comments

This is the second in Kelly Seaton’s series on Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences. Previously: One Postdoc’s Journey. ~ Mike

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

bike map

Where should I begin?

In my last post, I mentioned that a postdoc position is highly recommended, even a necessary next step after the completion of graduate school. For some grad students, continuing in a postdoc position feels like an exciting opportunity to continue research and advance your visibility and career. Or maybe you’re in the position where the thought of staying in academia or bench research makes you want to take up underwater basket weaving or run away and join the circus! The good news is that a postdoc is generally more flexible than graduate school. You are more in control of your location, your research, and the length of time you spend as a postdoc. Positions can range from short 1-2 year stints to 4-5 years or more, depending on the type of position you choose. It is also easier to switch subject areas or labs if necessary, to explore alternative careers, and to establish yourself as an independent scientist.

Photo credit: Mike Britton via Flickr

That being said, beginning a postdoc search can be challenging, particularly if you are not limited in your search by geographic, family, or dual career concerns. The possibilities are endless! I used to be jealous of my med student friends — at least they knew on a certain date that they would have a residency position, and it would be decided for them. Short of throwing darts at a map of the US (or a more biblical approach of casting lots), there are a few key items you can consider and focus on when looking for postdoc positions.

Where should I begin?

A good place to start is with the first “P” — passion. Continue Reading…

Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences: One Postdoc’s Journey

By on October 11, 2011 in Academic Vocations, Finding a Postdoc with 10 Comments

We have recently featured series about surviving graduate school from a humanities PhD and life as a faculty member from an anthropologist. Now we begin a series about finding a postdoc in the sciences and flourishing in the process. Guest writer Kelly Seaton, currently a postdoc at Duke University, will grace the blog for the next few weeks with her series Finding a Postdoc in the Sciences. Most of the series will focus on practical details of the process, but Kelly begins this week with some personal reflections. Thank you, Kelly! ~ Mike

Francis Collins and postdocs

NIH Director (and IVP author) Francis Collins speaking to postdocs at the Indiana University School of Medicine

God’s faithfulness and life beyond grad school

I suppose I ought to answer the burning question right off the bat – yes, there is life after graduate school! Graduate school can be a rough and challenging process, but there definitely is light at the end of the tunnel. My hope is that this series of posts will bring encouragement to you wherever you are on your journey, as well as providing some practical tips to help navigate your way to a postdoc position.

One of the major things I have appreciated along the journey is ESN’s encouragement to wholeheartedly pursue professional skills, passion, and Christian witness together – as part of an integrated life. I have come to appreciate that Christian witness is not distinct from everyday life. In fact, everyday life can provide rich opportunities to share Christ’s love – without, I might add, a lot of extra time or effort. The next logical question might be – so how does a postdoc position fit in? Is it really necessary, or is it simply glorified graduate school (long hours, little pay, and no real recognition)?

Photo Credit: IU School of Medicine via Flickr

Is a Postdoc Necessary?

Most academics and scientists will tell you that yes, a postdoc is highly recommended, even necessary for most positions. Continue Reading…