after phd postdoctoral

• Postdocs: The Definitive Guide
• After a PhD

As soon as you step outside the world of academia, the number of people who know what a postdoctorate is, what they involve and how to secure one quickly plummets. Given that a postdoctorate can be a popular option, especially for Science and Technology-related PhD graduates, it’s essential to address this current gap in knowledge.

What Is a Postdoc?

A postdoc is only one of many paths you can take after having completed your PhD. A postdoc (also referred to as a postdoc or postdoctoral) can be best thought as a temporary position designed to refine your research and teaching skills while undertaking practical research work. Because of this, most regard a postdoc position as a temporary stepping stone for developing a career in a more permanent position.

There’s a common misconception that a postdoctorate is an advanced doctoral degree that is undertaken after having completed a PhD. This misconception arises from individuals associating the word “post” in “postdoctorate” with the word “after”. While you will learn a lot during your time in a postdoc position, it is nothing like a degree. There are no fees, coursework, exams or vivas to deliver (thankfully!). A postdoc is, in fact, a job, and as someone in a postdoc position, you will be considered an ‘employee’. And just like any other job, the position will come with its own salary, responsibilities, training and employers.

Most postdocs are awarded by universities or research institutes as temporary contracts. However, they can also be undertaken in private companies, non-profit charities or government bodies.

What Is The Purpose Of A Postdoc?

As mentioned above, the primary purpose of a postdoc is to help bridge the gap between your current skills and your current level of experience. Due to this, postdoctoral positions are popular amongst those who have recently obtained their PhD. This is especially true for individuals who which to pursue a career in academia or research but don’t yet have adequate experience in teaching or publishing.

For the ‘learning’ nature of this role, postdocs provide an excellent option for those to continue their self-development while pursuing research in a field they’re interested in.

What Does a Postdoc Do?

A postdoc works under the supervision of an experienced researcher known as a postdoctoral advisor. What you will do on a day-to-day basis will, therefore, depend on what they require support on at any given time.

While your responsibilities will depend on your postdoctoral advisor, you can expect the following duties as part of your role:

• Contribute to the supervision of PhD students who are undertaking research projects in a closely related field.
• Supporting the research team in managerial tasks related to planning, organisation and administration.
• Undertake research, including but not limited to: qualitative data collection, data analysis and data and lab management.
• Contribute to the production, review and dissemination of academic and non-academic writing, including publications.

Your responsibilities will also depend on who your postdoc position is with. Positions offered by universities will often place a high emphasis on the academic aspects of the role. This involves aspects such as working more independently, developing your supervisory and teaching capabilities, and improving your communication skills through participation in seminars and conferences. In doing so, they’re helping you to become an individual capable of both conducting research and transferring knowledge – in other words, a university lecturer!

The opposite is true for postdoc positions held in industry, such as a private organisation or government body. As you can expect, these roles will place almost all of its emphasis on conducting research and advancing projects forward, with little focus on anything that falls outside of this.

How Long Should I Be A Postdoc For?

There is no set rule for how long you should remain in a postdoc position. Regardless of this, most individuals stay within a postdoc position for between 2 to 4 years. During this period, it’s not uncommon to move between one or two postdoc positions, with one position being abroad for a more rounded experience.

The time you may choose to spend in a given postdoctoral position will depend on several factors. The most influential of these will be:

• The size of the research project’s scope,
• The support needs of the principal investigator/postdoc advisor,
• The amount of funding available.

Although you could undertake a postdoctorate for a year or less, most will advise against this. This is simply because you will likely not have enough time to gain valuable experience associated with producing publications, writing research grant proposals and speaking at conferences. Although it may be possible to complete these within a single year, most researchers will opt for a minimum of two years for a single position. This will provide them with ample opportunity to contribute a significant amount to a project, publish a handful of papers and attend several conferences. On top of this, it will allow you to develop a deeper relationship with the students you help teach or supervise. This will prove invaluable experience should you plan on becoming a university lecturer .

How Are Postdoc Positions Funded?

Postdocs are usually funded in one of three ways:

• The postdoc secures the funding themselves . This can be achieved in several ways, with the most common being applying to opportunities put out by government, research or charity bodies. Examples of these opportunities include the  NWO Talent Programme Veni  and the  Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship . Securing funding under any of these schemes will provide you with a ‘stipend’ (which acts as your salary), and ‘’research funds’ for enabling the project. It’s worth noting that if you secure funding in this way, you won’t typically be restricted to any one university. Although when applying to these opportunities you’ll be required to indicate where you intended to undertake your research, if successful, you can take your funding and associated research project to any university or research institution of your choice.
• A Principal Investigator (PI) secures a research grant  for a project, part of which will go towards hiring one or more postdoctoral assistants. In these scenarios, the university will employ you to work on the project they gained funding for.
• A research body hires postdoctoral assistants irrespective of any new funding . In these scenarios, the researching body, who could be anyone from universities to research centres, charities and private organisations, may put aside their own funds to secure a postdoc assistant as a regular salaried employee.

What is the Average Postdoc Salary?

It goes without saying that the average salary for a postdoc will vary from role to role, with factors such as your country, your employer and your level of experience being influential factors.

If working as a university employee, your salary as a postdoc will be determined via a set pay scale known as the “ HE single pay spine “. Under this pay spine, a postdoc can expect to earn an average of £31,000 per year, though, in reality, a postdoc’s salary can range between £29,000 to £34,800.

On the other hand, the stipend (which will act as your postdoc salary) associated with the funding you have secured yourself will directly depend on the opportunity you acquire. Because of the wide range of possibilities, your potential stipend can vary considerably. As well as having a high variance, they also tend to have a higher ceiling compared to the salaries associated with a PI’s research grant or a research body’s employment. For example, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship can be worth over £50,000 per year. However, these types of fellowships are not only highly competitive but are also not an entirely fair comparison to postdoc assistant roles. This is due to the fact that a research fellow will be expected to have a greater amount of experience and to assume a higher level of responsibility than a regular postdoctoral researcher.

In case you’re thinking of working abroad, it would be useful to know that the median salary of a postdoctoral researcher in the United States is approximately $42,000 (£33,000 at the time of writing) per year.

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What to Do After PhD? – Pros and Cons of Pursuing Postdoc

“Received my PhD. Where do I go from here? What to do after PhD?”—is one of the most common challenges for students who have recently graduated. So if you’re stuck at this point of deciding whether to go ahead with academia or switch to a non-academic career, you’re not alone! How do you plan on taking what you have learned in your PhD and capitalize on it? How do you start your new career or use your PhD to take the next step in your existing one?

What to Do After PhD?

After having spent endless hours conducting your research and passing up enjoyable opportunities to complete your dissertation, you have finally attained the coveted doctorate degree. It’s a remarkable feat! But one struggle that holds on to you is—what do you do now that you’ve finished your PhD?

Be it from your seniors at the university or just having heard it from scholars in your field, one thing you may have realized is that tenure-track positions in academia are hard to come by.  Despite the “default” propensity of PhD graduates pursuing academic research positions, they’re now moving beyond it. Additionally, an uncertain future in academia is a factor of concern amongst all. Here we shall discuss what to do after PhD?—and focus on the pros and cons of pursuing postdoc to make a calculated decision.

Should I Pursue Postdoc?

Navigating through the career waters after PhD can be quite treacherous. Moreover, with the job market in academia being intensely competitive, even students with excellent academic caliber aren’t assured of getting a position.

While the competition is persistent, doing a postdoc is becoming a prerequisite for a successful career. However, your zeal and confidence of wanting to stay in academia can take you a long way. The preliminary postdoc benefits to consider while applying for postdoc are:

• Additional time to expand your research through funding.
• Publish more research work to support or expand your research conducted during Phd.
• More opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Pros of Pursuing Postdoc

While the answer to “What to do after postdoc?” can vary for every researcher depending on their interests, the undeniable benefits of a postdoc position can’t be overseen.

1. Career Development Prospects:

Pursuing career as a postdoc fellow allows you an extended period to work on your research after your PhD. Furthermore, it offers you more flexible opportunities to leverage laboratory facilities than you could during your PhD. It allows you to travel freely for conferences, which lead to meeting scholars from your field and making newer professional connections. Additionally, a postdoc fellow gets opportunity to upskill themselves in their research field and allied domains.

2. Advanced Research Opportunities:

Given the immense value that a postdoc position poses, it opens doors to newer research opportunities. This is not just restricted to independent research but also to collaborative research. Consequently, due to lesser teaching and administrative responsibilities, it will provide you with time to publish more research work. Additionally, it allows you to revise your project cycle, begin a new project, and gain expertise in a given subject. Furthermore, it lets you collaborate with international researchers to work on similar projects. More importantly, as a postdoc your chances of receiving grants increases based on your success as a researcher during PhD.

 3. Technique Development Opportunities :

As a postdoc fellow, you have more time to acquire new technology and research skills. In addition, it lets you gain experience in allied fields that you work in with your colleagues. This leads to an excellent opportunity to perfect your distinctive set of skills and learn advanced techniques in growing times.

4. Intellectual Development:

A postdoc fellowship is a distinguished phase in your career to focus exclusively on your intellectual development. Moreover, it is an important and most influential part of your research training. Therefore, choosing a postdoc can bolster your ability to pursue an advanced and successful research career.

Cons of Pursuing Postdoc

Despite the impressive benefits, considering the flip side of pursuing a postdoc position is imperative before taking the big decision.

1. No Tenure-track Guarantee

The uncertain career prospects in academia does not guarantee a tenure-track position even after completing your postdoc. According to a survey, only 30% of postdocs in the United States, and 20% postdocs in the United Kingdom succeed in acquiring a long term academic position. Moreover, some even have to climb through a series of postdoc positions before reaching a stable academic position. This predicament often leads many postdocs to quit academia and move to an industrial career.

2. Lack of Support

As postdocs are expected to work as an independent researcher, they often receive little to no professional advice or training from experienced researchers at the university. On the contrary, some institutions take advantages of the postdoc fellow as a teaching or researching captive. Furthermore, you may also experience poor working conditions as a result of being neglected by your department and surviving postdoc position becomes difficult.

3. Monetary Challenges

One of the major disadvantages of pursuing a postdoc position is meager salaries. The financial situation of postdoc fellows is so critical that an assistant professor is paid more than them, although fractionally, but yes!

4. Over-qualification

After struggling to acquire a stable academic position, postdocs often try to switch to industrial jobs. In this process, it is found that postdocs are over-qualified for industrial jobs and have to begin from scratch in the new field.

It’s undoubtedly a great feat to have successfully defended your PhD dissertation. How do you decide? What to do after PhD? What do you choose? Let these pros and cons help you in taking a well thought out decision. Tell us how this article helped you in the comments section below! You can also visit our Q&A forum for frequently asked questions related to different aspects of research writing and publishing answered by our team that comprises subject-matter experts, eminent researchers, and publication experts.

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Tress Academic

#101: Preparing for a career after your PhD or Postdoc (with Tina Persson)

October 19, 2021 by Tress Academic

With a PhD or a Postdoc in your bag, you’ve got many options for your career: You can stay on the academic path, or look for a job in the private or public sector. Many PhD candidates and Postdocs find it hard to make up their mind and identify what their next career step should be. And even once that’s decided, there are a few things you should know about the job hunting game inside and outside of academia. We asked career advisor and leadership coach Tina Persson (PhD) for her advice for the transition period — especially when looking for a job in the industry. She has shared candid tips, personal experiences from her own career, and why it’s good to trust yourself in this process. 

Many of you who are working on a PhD or in a Postdoc position dream about a lucrative and rewarding career to finally make all the struggles and hardships worthwhile. While some think about staying in academia because it’s a well-known environment and they love to do research, others are attracted by professions in the public or private sector. 

From numerous discussions with PhD candidates and Postdocs, I know that for many of you, it’s a struggle to find the right career and in general, make the transition from PhD or Postdoc into a career. It’s never easy!

While I know a great deal about getting an academic career and help applicants to land a permanent academic position —I’m aware that  not everyone completing a PhD will later work in permanent positions at a higher education institution. So looking for outsider expertise is needed to find out what other career options you’ve got. 

For this reason, I’ve invited a specialist regarding the transition from academia to industry: Our colleague and good friend, Tina Persson is an expert when it comes to young academics heading for a job in the private sector. She has a PhD from Lunch University in Sweden, and did her Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen, Germany. She’s the founder of Passage2Pro , a consultancy providing career advice to folks like you. She’s also working as a leadership coach, and she created the podcast PhD Carrier Stories , which I find super entertaining and very informative.

Let’s get started with the interview with Tina: 

Bärbel:  Welcome, Tina, thank you for taking the time to talk to me and giving insights into what young researchers, PhD candidates, and Postdocs would need to do to get a smooth career start. Before we dive right into this interesting question, let us briefly talk about your experiences as a PhD candidate in Lund, Sweden, and as a Postdoc at the Max Planck Institute in Göttingen, Germany. What do you remember from that time? What are the memories that stick out?

Tina:  What I remember is that I had a lot of fun, and I was working with great people. We had parties and we spent much of our spare time together. I worked very hard in the lab, but I was never really worried that I was not going to get the PhD degree. I always had a mindset of: I’ll sort it out somehow, I will manage! So I remember mostly the happy days. I might have forgotten all the struggles. So what I tell every young researcher today is: Enjoy it! 

Bärbel: That is very encouraging to hear! 

Don’t panic when feeling uncertain about your career!

Bärbel: When I talk to PhD candidates and Postdocs about their career aspirations, they are often uncertain. If I have a group of 20 young researchers, there’s probably one who says upfront “I want to be a professor”, and two or three know they want a job in the industry. The rest are really unsure on what they want to do when their contract ends, and that makes them worry a lot. Is this also your experience? And what advice would you give them?

Tina: My first tip—and this is really the $10 million tip—is: Don’t panic! You will sort it out! 

Many researchers—and people in general—panic in such situations. I think, somehow, that society or the research environment has put so much pressure on people. So they think they are not allowed to say: “You know what? I’m not really sure what I want to do as a next career step. But it’s okay, I will figure it out!” My advice: Ignore the people who put pressure on you. If you get remarks like “Oh my God, you have done a PhD, and you still don’t know what you want in your career?” ignore them!

It is okay to not know. You have to be in that situation for a while in order to figure out what you really want. So tell them “Yes I don’t know, but isn’t that fantastic? Because I have so many doors to open up now. I have so many opportunities!” So lean back, not knowing is normal. If you don’t take the time to figure out what you want, you’ll easily enter one job after the other, and you are never really happy and satisfied.

I have written about this in my book “The PhD Career Coaching Guide.” You can download that chapter for free . It’s about resilience.

So, my first advice is: A normal transition from academia to industry needs about three months to a year, and it’s a learning process. It’s a process about you identifying what you like and don’t like.

Figure out what you want! 

Bärbel:  This is good to know: It will take time to figure it out, and you have to allow yourself to take the time, right? And it’ll probably not be the easiest period in your life, but what you say, Tina, is: Trust yourself. You’ll find out what suits you best! 

Let’s assume I am a PhD candidate or a Postdoc, and I really have no clue what I will do as a next career step. What would you suggest I do? How can I make up my mind? Could you give a few further hints about what would help our early-career researchers to take the first step and figure out which career they want?  

Tina: First, start thinking about what you actually like. Do I like to travel, and does that have to be part of my job? Do I want to be part of a team, or do I like to work on my own? As I mentioned at the start, I liked my PhD because there was a lot of partying going on. I loved that. Maybe that is because I like to be social, I like being among fun people. That is important to me. 

Second, reflect on the experiences in your PhD and Postdoc years. That can tell you a lot. Did you like working in the lab for yourself? Or were you happier when you could meet and connect with other people? Did you like managing your research or projects? Maybe it is more administration and finance you are interested in? Or are you super creative and you enjoyed writing or coming up with new ideas? 

If I can take myself as an example: From my background and knowledge, I could be a medical writer. But I would be deadly bored in that job after two weeks because I don’t like to write. So start to identify those things. 

Bärbel: So it’s really important to start reflecting on what you like and what you don’t like, right?

Tina: Yes. And then the next thing that you might think about is location. 

Find out where in the world you want to do which job!

Tina: With a PhD or Postdoc behind you, you’ll enter a global job market. But if you kept it entirely open, that would mean you are very unfocused in your job search. So try to narrow down your location preference.

Are you living in the United States and you’re going to stay in the United States? Well fine, then dig down further. I have clients who tell me they want to stay in Europe. “Great,” I say, “that’s 44 different countries—where do you want to go?” And, if you pick one, let’s say it’s France, then there are further practical issues as well. How well do you speak the language, or will you get a work permit there? Do you want to live in a big or small city? How is it with your family? Are you going to bring your family with you?

I have often experienced that people managed to identify their preferences and their dream job, but then they start searching in the wrong region. They looked for their dream job in a certain region in Sweden where I’m living. It’s just that the kind of companies they were looking for don’t exist in that region. So it’s a waste of time. You’ve got to look for the right job at the right place. 

At that stage, you need a more coherent strategy—one that brings it all together. In my coaching, that’s part of my hidden job strategy, because that is a strategy to learn. And when you start to organise these things, then it gets much easier to figure out in what direction you should look.

Bärbel: Let me just sum up what you said: Start with your preferences, what you like, and then think about the part of the world you’d like to live in and see if the jobs you are looking for are available there. So it’s literally like you pick a few elements at the beginning that are really, really important to you, and then you build it up until the picture of what you want is clear, right?

Tina:  Yes. And when you have figured it out and you know—“I’ll go to Berlin, I’m going to work with data science”—this is the point where coaching could come in. This is where I would suggest to an applicant: “Why don’t you start to connect with people who work as data scientists in Berlin? They can mentor you.” Now, you’re ready to have a mentor. So many researchers, I think, do it the other way around. They don’t know what they want, and tend to ask for advice from mentors. And then, they have too many mentors. But they still can’t figure it out.

Bärbel: I think that’s an important point. You say a coach or mentor is helpful in the job search, but it’s you who has to figure out what you want, that is your task. This is the question you have to answer, and of course, consider your family, or your partner. But you can’t just follow all the advice of parents, teachers, mentors, supervisors, everyone around you. At the end of the day, you can’t escape confronting yourself and figuring out what you want. I think that’s important to emphasise.

Send 100 applications to get one job offer

Bärbel:  Let’s focus a bit on the application process itself now. Let’s assume, someone has figured out what they want and they are ready to send out job applications. In my experience, PhDs and Postdocs are often hesitant when it comes to sending out their first job applications. They ultimately underestimate the number of applications they have to send to be successful.

I occasionally hear of candidates who are lucky and score a job after sending just 1-2 job applications. But these are exceptions. What are your thoughts? How many applications does one have to send to receive the first invitation to an interview? 

Tina:  If you get a job with the first application you sent, that is sheer luck! I call that luck! That’s the jackpot, but how high is the chance that you’ll get that? Slim, right?

So I would say, apply for 20 jobs and see what happens. And then we can talk! This is also what I tell my clients. And it might not be so comfortable to hear this, but it’s almost like you have to get rejected at the beginning of your job search. That is part of the journey. It will hurt, but it’s the only way you’ll get better. 

And if you have been rejected for all 20 jobs, then something might be wrong with your CV or with your strategy. Then you have to take a step back and check-in with yourself one more time.

After those first rejections, get rest, get feedback, and improve. At that point, a career coach can really help because they can independently look at your application and give advice on how to move forward.

Bärbel:  I’ll have to jump in here, Tina, 20 applications—that will probably be a surprising number for our audience. 

Tina:  My statistics, Bärbel, are the following: For the corporate job search, if you send 100 applications, you get invited to ten interviews, and you get one job. What’s your experience?

Bärbel:  Well, in most scientific fields you’d scramble to get 100 applications together, though the amount of job openings varies in the different scientific fields and depends on the career stage as well. 

But I share your experience that you need to send many applications: I call it the job-seeking pyramid—it’s very broad at the bottom when you start out, and narrows in towards the top at the end. I tell my job-candidates: You’ll probably read 200 job advertisements, you’ll send 30-40 applications, you’ll end up with two or three invitations to interviews, and you’ll get one offer for an academic position in the end.

Tina:  We are really reconfirming each other’s experiences here. So both from the corporate side and from the academic field, you just have to broaden your scope at the very beginning and do a lot of groundwork to actually harvest a few interviews and secure a good job in the end.

And here’s the next remark my clients usually make: 100 applications? But there are not that many open jobs in my field? So, to put that in perspective, this number—for the corporate side—includes unsolicited applications, networking applications, and hidden jobs that are not advertised. And then you can very well come up to 100 applications. You send applications strategically to key people at the companies you want to work for. 

And I think that many, many PhDs and Postdocs underestimate this networking strategy and the importance of communication.

Get better with every rejection you get

Bärbel : These are great insights that you share, Tina. I just want to come back to something you said a bit earlier. You need some rejections in your job-search, because this is what makes you a better applicant next time. You said the best way to learn this is by having your own—sometimes negative—experiences, right?

Tina: Yes, absolutely, it’s like you need to get through the first rejections. And if I put it that way, even though both career coaches and advisors can support you, the best training you get is your own life.

Bärbel:  I often find it hard to communicate this to my job applicants. To make them aware of how much they can learn and how much more professional they get with every single interview they attend. I have observed that many times: The first interview of a candidate is crap. Then they move on, and after a few nasty experiences, they learn to enjoy the interview process. Then after doing four, five interviews, bang! They nail it and get an offer. 

Don’t say ‘yes’ to every job—trust your feelings! 

Tina:  I’ve got to share a story from a friend of mine who is very experienced in the job market. She called me and said, “I’ve just been through the most funny interview in my life. After the first 5 minutes, I heard myself—as a candidate—saying You know what, thank you for inviting me. But this job is not for me! ” Then she asked me, “Tina, what do you think, was that good or bad?”

Well, I told her, this is how interviewing goes. It’s not only the company looking at you, it’s also about how you think and feel about working for them. If you realise in an interview that you don’t like the company, you’ve got to be honest with yourself and admit that this is not the place for you. 

Bärbel: I can totally relate to that. When I was searching for staff positions at European universities, I had an interview and the moment I set foot into that Department I knew I didn’t want to work there. There was something that put me off immediately. I don’t know, it was the entire atmosphere, the smell, the carpet, the colour of the doors, whatever. 

If there is something that puts you off during the interview, be honest with yourself. An interview really is testing both sides. But sometimes, of course, as an applicant, you’re so eager to land a job that you’re afraid to admit this. You think you have to say yes, just to get a job. 

Tina:  You think you have to say yes, but, please don’t. I share the same experience: I can tell you when I was afraid to be unemployed, I said ‘yes’ to do a job that my stomach said ‘no’ to. I said ‘yes’ because I was scared. And that was a mistake. One year later, I was unemployed again. 

So my advice for everyone in the job search: Listen a little bit to what your feelings are saying. When you go for the interview, how do you feel about it?

Bärbel:  I think that’s super good advice: Listen to your little inner voice. Is it saying “Yeah, super chance, I’ll jump on it?” Or does your flight instinct set in and you’d rather never come back to the place of your interview.

Celebrate every interview! 

Tina:  Again, this is interviewing: it’s not only about the company looking at me, it’s also about my feelings. Do I want to work for them? But when you are under pressure because your contract ends soon or has ended already, you experience turning down a position as a failure—you see it as if you have failed. Instead of saying: “Wow, I was invited for an interview! I’m gonna celebrate and learn as much as I can in this process.” That is the mindset that you should have as an applicant. 

Bärbel:  Fabulous. I couldn’t agree more: Securing an interview is a major success along the path to getting a job.

Prepare early for the job hunt!

Bärbel: Now let’s assume a candidate has made up their mind on what job to look for. And they are in the final months of their PhD or Postdoc contract, and want to get ready for the job market. What is the bread & butter, so to speak—the essentials of being ready for the job market? What should one prepare?

Tina:  When you have a few months left in your PhD or Postdoc, that’s when you should start sending applications, definitely. But let me be clear: I think you should start earlier, but with different activities. So in your last year, let’s say, maybe listen to the PhD career stories podcast , maybe go to career fairs, check-in with a career advisor, read books about career planning, and figure out your strategy a little bit.

The final months, that’s the time when you should actually start to nail down your résumé. So you have some kind of general résumé that is not tailored to any job. In the end, you should have a one-page application and a two-page application, that you can adapt for different jobs.

Bärbel: One second, I know this is confusing for many applicants: There’s one clear difference between applications for corporate jobs and for academic jobs. For the industry résumé, you prepare a short 1-2 page summary of your experiences and expertise (see this podcast episode Why companies ignore your Resume ). Whereas the academic CV gives a full record of your experiences and achievements, and is therefore much more comprehensive and longer (for advice on setting up an academic CV, see blogpost no. 31: Six smart strategies for a strong Academic CV and no. 33: Why a great academic CV is a work-in-progress! )

Tina:  Oh yes, clearly. I think my academic CV was about 60 pages long—research agenda, teaching portfolio, publications, all included. So be aware of which sector you are applying to. 

And then you should make sure to have a LinkedIn profile. And start connecting with people. This is also the moment when you need to get in touch with people in your network that might be helpful. Get out there and spread the word that you are looking for a job, and send out applications. 

Don’t be afraid to decline an offer

Bärbel:  That brings me to another observation: Researchers often seem to think that everything has to be kept top secret and if they apply, then maybe this or that person might hear about it and that will negatively affect them in the future. So they often hesitate to send out more applications, and instead wait for that one special opening to go up one day. 

Tina:  Sounds familiar: Does it affect my chances in the future if this committee has rejected me or if that institute knows I am looking for a job? No, I say! Don’t be afraid of that, really. Just start out, even if it’s not 100% what you are looking for! Gain experiences and learn from them.

And then you may worry, “But what if I get that job?” Well, that’s good! Then you can make a decision. Just because they offer you a job doesn’t mean you have to take it.

Or you think: “But what if I get two jobs, three jobs?” Well, that’s great I say! Now, you have a choice. 

What’s the worst thing that can happen? You may have to decline an offer. And that’s not the end of the world, you know.

Bärbel: I’ve got to repeat it because I think this is such great advice: You can get a job offer, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it.

Make a decision and be happy with it!

Tina: When you get an offer, you always have a choice to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Certainly, you have to check the details of the offer and first of all, get the contract and see what exactly is written there. And then take your time and make a decision. And Bärbel, I know, there are candidates who are afraid to say ‘no’, because they are afraid they will regret it, and then they call me as their coach for advice. 

And I have to tell them: “This is your choice. Now it’s time for you to sit down and look inside. What is the plus side to this job, and what are the negative aspects? Then you evaluate it. And then you make a decision.” That’s it, don’t look back. Once you make a decision, be happy with it. And when you wake up the next day, it’s a new morning. Don’t look back.

Bärbel:  That’s so good to hear from you, and it might take away a bit of the pressure: No one knows whether a decision you make now is the best choice ten years down the line. But on the day you make that decision, it is the best choice. Otherwise, you wouldn’t make it. That’s it. Once more, it is about being confident and trusting your abilities. 

Tina:  Absolutely! I mean, you made it through your PhD. You made it through a first or second Postdoc. You will make it through the next career step. This is the strength of being a PhD. You have that toughness and persistence, and these are super critical and very positive abilities in the job search. You are a trained scientist, wonderful! 

Bärbel:  Thank you Tina for all the great advice you provided here. I think we managed very well to outline the overall strategy of the job hunt after completing your PhD or even after the Postdoc years. Good luck to you guys out there! Now it’s up to you to start with the first step! 

About Tina Persson:  

Tina is a career and leadership coach, author, and entrepreneur whose creativity, confidence, and tenacity have earned her a reputation as a dynamic leader. She is also a public speaker, facilitating seminars and workshops to PhD professionals and early researchers alike, supporting them in their career development. As a businesswoman, she is founder of Passage2pro AB and Aptahem AB (a biotech start-up company), is featured in over 20 scientific publications, is the inventor of 2 scientific patents, and is the host of the PhD Career Stories podcast. 

After spending nearly two decades in academia, Tina decided to enter the staffing industry, where she gained eight years of expertise working as a Recruiter and Talent Sourcer. Combining her multifaceted experience, she is adept at empowering researchers to pave their way to a smooth transition from the academic world to a fulfilling career beyond academia.

Relevant resources:

• Passage2Pro
• Persson, T. 2020. The PhD Career Coaching Guide. Passage2Pro AB.
• Podcast “PhD Career Stories”
• Blog post 18: CV-makeover: revamp the design of yours
• Blog post #31: Six smart strategies for a strong Academic CV
• Blog post #33: Why a great academic CV is a work-in-progress!
• Blog post 77: When should I start searching for my next job?
• Blog post #93: The top 5 reasons to have a LinkedIn profile as a scientist

More information:

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What to Do After Your PhD? Post PhD Career Guide

Navigate the post-PhD career landscape with our comprehensive guide. Explore diverse career options, develop essential skills, and make informed decisions for a fulfilling career beyond academia.

Derek Pankaew

Jun 13, 2024

Congratulations on reaching this significant milestone in your academic journey! Completing a doctoral degree is a remarkable achievement that opens up a world of possibilities for PhD graduates, including postdoctoral positions, industry roles, and entrepreneurship. However, as you transition from the world of academia to the professional realm, it’s natural to feel uncertain about what steps to take next. This blog post is designed to serve as your comprehensive guide to navigating the post-PhD landscape and exploring the diverse array of career opportunities available to you.

Self-Assessment and Reflection for PhD Students

Self-assessment is a critical first step for PhD graduates considering their next career moves. Reflecting on your skills, interests, and values will help you identify the best career path for your individual circumstances.

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, as well as any areas of expertise you have developed through your research projects and academic pursuits. Taking proactive steps in shaping your own career is crucial for long-term success.

Example: Consider whether you enjoy teaching and mentoring others, conducting research, working in a team, or leading projects. Reflect on whether you prefer a structured environment like academia or a more dynamic setting like industry.

Assess Your Career Interests

Understanding what excites and motivates you is essential. Are you passionate about data science, project management, software engineering, science journalism, digital marketing, education , public health, or industrial chemistry? These fields offer diverse career opportunities for PhD holders.

Example: Reach out to professionals working in different fields to learn more about their career paths and day-to-day responsibilities. Attend industry-specific events or workshops to gain insights into different sectors and job opportunities. Remember that not every PhD student continues in academia, and there are diverse career paths available.

Exploring Career Options for PhD Graduates

PhD graduates have a wide array of career options available to them, both within academia and beyond the university itself. It is crucial to explore these options thoroughly to make an informed decision about your future .

Academic Career Paths

If you are considering an academic career, postdoctoral positions, adjunct faculty roles, and assistant professor positions are common pathways. Academic jobs often require a comprehensive and lengthy academic CV, showcasing your research projects, publications, and teaching experience.

Example: Apply for postdoc positions in research institutions or universities where your expertise can be further developed. Networking with senior researchers and attending academic conferences can also provide valuable opportunities.

Industry Career Paths

Beyond academia, many PhD graduates find fulfilling careers in industry roles. Fields such as data science, project management, software engineering, finance and digital marketing are particularly welcoming to PhD holders due to their strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Example: Explore roles in the public sector, commercial employers, and the publishing industry . Positions in industrial chemistry, public health, social sciences and intellectual property are also viable options for PhD graduates.

Entrepreneurship and Starting Your Own Business

For those interested in entrepreneurship, starting your own business can be a rewarding path. Your expertise and skills developed during your PhD can be valuable assets in launching a successful venture.

Example: Consider leveraging your research knowledge to develop innovative products or services. Seek mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and join startup incubators to gain valuable insights and support.

Networking and Building Connections for Early Career Researchers

Networking is a vital component of career development for early career researchers. Building a strong professional network can open up job opportunities, collaborations, and support throughout your career journey.

Attend Professional Events

Attend conferences, seminars, and networking events both within and outside academia to expand your professional network. Engaging with peers, mentors, and industry professionals through online platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and professional networking groups can also be beneficial.

Example: Connect with alumni from your graduate school who have transitioned into various careers. Join professional organizations related to your field of interest and participate in online forums or discussion groups to engage with industry professionals.

Engage with Research Groups

Joining or leading a research project or group can provide valuable support and guidance. Engaging with a research group can help you develop and implement research projects effectively and connect with other researchers and professionals in your field.

Example: Participate in collaborative research projects and seek opportunities to present your work at conferences. These activities can enhance your visibility and reputation within your academic and professional communities.

Gaining Experience and Skill Development

Practical experience and skill development are crucial for PhD graduates transitioning into new career paths. Seek out opportunities to gain hands-on experience through internships, fellowships, or freelance projects.

Develop Transferable Skills

Transferable skills such as data analysis, project management, communication skills, and analytical thinking are highly valued across various industries. Enhancing these skills can significantly contribute to your career development.

Example: Volunteer to take on leadership roles in professional organizations or community projects. Enroll in online courses or workshops to develop new skills or enhance existing ones relevant to your desired career path.

Gain Industry-Specific Experience

Hands-on experience in your chosen field can make you a more competitive candidate. Internships, fellowships, and freelance projects are excellent ways to gain practical experience and build a robust professional portfolio.

Example: Apply for internships or fellowships in companies or organizations related to your field of interest. Freelance projects can also provide valuable experience and help you build a network of professional contacts.

Crafting Application Materials

Tailoring your application materials is essential when applying for positions, whether in academia or industry. Highlight your research projects, academic achievements, and relevant skills for each academic position you apply to.

Academic CVs and Resumes

Academic CVs should emphasize your research projects, publications, teaching experience, and any awards or recognitions. For industry positions, focus on demonstrating your transferable skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication abilities.

Example: Provide specific examples of projects you’ve led or contributed to during your PhD that demonstrate your skills and expertise. Highlight any publications, presentations, or awards you’ve received related to your research.

Cover Letters

Your cover letter should complement your CV or resume by providing context to your achievements and explaining your interest in the position. Tailor each cover letter to the specific job and company, emphasizing how your background and skills make you a suitable candidate.

Example: Use the cover letter to explain how your academic background has prepared you for various career paths and challenges. Highlight your ability to tackle complex problems and work in teams.

Interview Preparation

Preparing for interviews is a critical step in the job application process. Research the company or organization thoroughly, familiarizing yourself with their mission, values, and recent projects or initiatives.

Practice Common Interview Questions

Practice answering common interview questions, focusing on articulating your research expertise, problem-solving abilities, and analytical thinking skills. Highlight your transferable skills and how they apply to the role you are interviewing for.

Example: Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses to behavioral interview questions. Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer that demonstrate your interest in the role and organization.

Mock Interviews

Participate in mock interviews to build confidence and improve your interview skills. Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or career advisors to identify areas for improvement.

Example: Schedule mock interviews with colleagues or use online resources to simulate the interview experience. Practicing in a realistic setting can help you perform better in actual interviews.

Making Decisions and Taking Action

Evaluating job offers and career opportunities involves considering various factors such as job stability, salary, benefits, location, and alignment with your long-term career goals.

Evaluate Job Offers

PhD graduates often find diverse opportunities in postdoctoral positions, industry roles, and entrepreneurship. Each path has its own advantages and challenges, so it’s essential to evaluate each offer carefully.

Example: Create a pros and cons list for each job opportunity you’re considering to help weigh the decision. Consider factors such as job stability, salary, benefits, location, and alignment with your long-term career goals.

Seek Advice and Support

Consider seeking advice from mentors, peers, and career advisors to gain additional perspective and insights. Talking to those who have gone through similar transitions can provide valuable guidance and support.

Example: Schedule informational interviews with professionals working in your desired field to learn more about their career paths and experiences. Mentors can offer valuable advice and help you navigate the decision-making process.

Completing a PhD is a significant accomplishment that opens up a world of possibilities for your future career. By engaging in self-assessment, exploring diverse career options, networking, gaining experience and skills, crafting effective application materials, preparing for interviews, and making informed decisions, you can successfully navigate the post-PhD job search process and embark on a rewarding career path.

Remember that the journey to finding your post-PhD career may be challenging at times, but with perseverance, determination, and a proactive approach, you can achieve your goals and build a fulfilling career that aligns with your interests, values, and aspirations in life. Best of luck on your post-PhD career journey!

Additionally, consider the benefits of joining or leading a research group, as it can provide young researchers with valuable support, networking opportunities, and guidance from senior academics. Engaging with your professional community and staying proactive in your career development will help you transition successfully from academia to your next professional chapter.

Additional Tips

• Stay Updated with Industry Trends: Keeping up with the latest trends and developments in your field can give you a competitive edge in the job market.
• Build an Online Presence: Creating a professional profile on platforms like LinkedIn can help you connect with potential employers and showcase your expertise.
• Consider Short-Term Projects: Freelance projects or consulting work can provide valuable experience and help you transition smoothly into a new career path.
• Seek Funding Opportunities: Applying for grants and funding can support your research projects and enhance your academic CV, making you a more attractive candidate for academic positions.
• Develop Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, and leadership skills are crucial in any career.

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What is a Postdoc?

Most people outside of academia know what a PhD is, but a postdoc is more confusing. Are postdocs students? Do they actually earn a degree? Are they called postdoctoral researchers or fellows or scholars or associates or assistants? Let’s clear up some of that confusion.

So, What is a Postdoc?

In many fields, a postdoc is the de facto next step on the academic career path after earning a PhD (hence the name.) A postdoc is a temporary position that allows a PhD to continue their training as a researcher and gain skills and experience that will prepare them for their academic career. Most postdoc positions are at a university or in industry, but there some postdocs positions at nonprofits and in government. While the vast majority of postdocs work in STEM fields, these types of positions are becoming more common in social sciences and the humanities.  

What Does a Postdoc Do?

A postdoc is primarily a researcher who works under the supervision of a mentor as part of a larger research group. As such, they conduct research, either on a pre-specified project or one of their own design and publish that research. At the same time, a postdoc is meant to prepare young researchers to become principal investigators or junior faculty members, so they also take on senior responsibilities like mentoring, grant writing, and teaching.

How Long Are Postdoc Positions?

There is no set length for a postdoc. It will depend on a number of factors such as the university, country of research, PI, or funding. That being said, most positions are two to three years and some can be extended. It is common to do more than one postdoc before applying for faculty positions. Some countries do limit the total number of years a person can work as a postdoc. For example, in Canada and Sweden, it is only possible to be a postdoc for five years total, while there is no limit on postdoc years in the US.

How Are Postdocs Funded?

Postdoc positions can be funded in several ways. Some postdocs are salaried employees of a university, institution, or company. Other times they are paid a stipend from a grant, fellowship, or scholarship. In some countries, the name of the position indicates the funding source. In the UK for example, a postdoctoral assistant works on a project developed for and funded by a grant awarded to the PI, while a postdoctoral fellow is awarded their own fellowship giving them a larger say in the scope of their project.

Find hundreds of available postdoc positions on Academic Positions.

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• Postdoc vs. PhD: Becoming a Postdoctoral Researcher

Becoming a Postdoctoral Researcher

Written by Hannah Slack

For many individuals, becoming a postdoctoral researcher represents a significant milestone in their academic careers. Often referred to as research assistant or research associate roles, these positions offer you the chance to consolidate the knowledge and skills gained during your PhD.

Ready to dive into what a postdoc is and determine if it's the right next step for you? Let's explore everything you need to know about becoming a postdoctoral researcher –from what the role involves to the funding and application process.

What is a postdoc?

A postdoc, or postdoctoral research position, is a temporary, funded role typically based at a university or research institution. Commonly, these positions are sponsored by Research Councils, supporting individuals to work in specific institutions.

Although postdoctoral researchers are considered university staff, they often work under supervision and in teams led by senior academics. Unlike a PhD, a postdoc does not culminate in a thesis or viva. Instead, the focus is on producing results and disseminating findings through publications and conferences.

Postdoctoral vs PhD

Let’s looks at the key differences between a postdoc and a PhD. Although both roles involve extensive research, a PhD focusses on completing original research culminating in a thesis, which must be defended.

A postdoc, on the other hand, involves completing advanced research projects but does not end with a thesis or a defence. Postdoctoral researchers are expected to publish their findings and often partake in teaching and mentoring activities, bridging the gap between learning and contributing new knowledge.

Why pursue a postdoc?

There are several reasons why you might want to pursue a postdoc:

• Further research : it offers an opportunity to complete any unfinished research or pursue lines of enquiry excluded from your doctoral thesis.
• Skill development : it helps in honing specialised research skills and gaining expertise needed for a career in academia or industry.
• Networking and reputation : a postdoc provides a platform to network within the academic community and build a solid professional reputation, essential for securing future positions or funding.
• Career progression : for those aiming for a permanent academic role, postdocs serve as a stepping stone, enabling continuous professional development and experience.

How does postdoc funding work?

Typically, postdoctoral researchers are externally funded by large research organisations such as the UKRI Research Councils . Alternatively, funding can come from universities or private companies. The funding body determines the length of the contract and the nature of the research to be undertaken based on grant applications.

Postdoc salary

In the UK, the average postdoc salary is approximately £34,124. Unlike PhD stipends, postdoc salaries are taxable income. As an employee, you may also contribute to pensions and be eligible for student loan repayments. Additionally, you’ll have access to benefits offered by your employer, such as healthcare or insurance.

What does a postdoctoral researcher do?

As a postdoctoral researcher, your role can be diverse and multifaceted. Although responsibilities may vary depending on the field, common tasks include:

• Conducting research : performing advanced research aligned with the project's objectives.
• Disseminating findings : publishing results in academic journals, presenting at conferences, and engaging with the wider academic community.
• Teaching and mentoring : some postdocs involve teaching undergraduate students or supervising postgraduate students.
• Grant and funding applications : assisting in applying for research grants and other funding opportunities.

How long is a postdoc?

The duration of postdoctoral positions can vary widely, typically ranging from six months to three years. These may be extended if additional funding is secured. Many PhD graduates complete several postdoc positions before securing a permanent academic role.

How to get a postdoc position

Applying for a postdoc is similar to job hunting. You’ll need an academic CV, a cover letter, and references. Some applications might require a research proposal or a statement of research intent if the role allows for individual research projects. Here are key steps to follow:

• Check eligibility : verify that you meet the specific criteria for each postdoc position, which typically requires a completed PhD.
• Prepare your application : tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills.
• Submit your application : follow outlined procedures for submission, ensuring deadlines are met.

Where to find postdoctoral positions

There are many places where you can find postdoctoral positions. Universities and research institutes typically advertise internally as well as externally. Make sure you’re signed up for emails from relevant career hubs. There are also many independent websites specialising in job postings for academics, such as FindAPostdoc . Additionally, you may find positions on popular career websites like LinkedIn.

Some aspiring postdoctoral researchers also hear about positions ‘through the grape vine’. Networking is a prominent part of being an academic and so attending conferences can be a great way to keep in touch with upcoming research projects.

What is the next step after a postdoc?

You're probably wondering what the career trajectory looks like after completing a postdoc. Here are a few avenues:

• Academia : many aspire to secure permanent academic roles such as lecturers or professors. This often requires completing multiple postdocs and building a strong academic record.
• Fellowships : prestigious fellowships offer greater research independence and can be a significant career milestone.
• Industry : transitioning to industry roles is also a viable path. The skills acquired during a postdoc can be valuable in private research sectors, healthcare, and technology companies.

Is a postdoc right for you?

Completing a postdoc can be a rewarding experience, offering valuable research opportunities and professional growth. Whether you aim to secure an academic position or move into industry, a postdoc can provide the skills, network, and expertise needed to advance your career.

If you’re looking for some options outside of academia after completing your PhD, take a look at our alternative career paths after your PhD guide.

Hannah Slack

Hannah worked at FindAPhD as a Content Writer from 2020 to 2023. She started with us part-time whilst studying for her PhD, giving her personal experience with balancing work responsibilities with academia. Hannah has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of East Anglia, and both a Masters in Early Modern History and a PhD on Early Modern English seafarers from the University of Sheffield.

Ever wondered what being a postdoc is really like? We've chatted to Kshitij Tiwari, a postdoctoral researcher in robotics, to find out about his academic career path and what his everyday work involves.

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Postdoctoral fellowships and research explained

Written by Michael Feder

Reviewed by Hinrich Eylers , PhD, PE, MBA, Vice Provost for Academic Operations and Doctoral Studies.

A postdoctoral fellowship, or “ postdoc ,” is a period of training and research that some students pursue after completing a PhD or doctorate. It can provide many benefits, including the opportunity to further improve research skills while building your network.

The program you choose will depend on your skills and your professional field. Many popular fields offer research associations and fellowships, including neuroscience, biology, chemistry, business, healthcare, humanities and political science.

What does postdoctoral mean?

Postdoctoral fellowships provide doctoral graduates with the opportunity to pursue further research opportunities in their fields. Students participate in a fellowship to improve their skills and knowledge during research and to potentially assist in their transition to a tenure-track academic position. Some students also participate in programs as they work their way into the professional world.

The length of a postdoctoral program can vary, depending on your institution and field of study. Many positions typically last one to two years, though some last up to five years. Your specific research project and available funding can also affect the length of a fellowship.

Do postdocs get paid?

Postdocs are generally paid positions, though the payment amount varies widely. Factors like your experience, program, funding and project length can all affect how much you’re paid for your research efforts.

Dependent on their program, some  recipients are granted  a benefits package in exchange for their work. These packages often include paid time off, health insurance and a retirement savings plan. Some benefits packages also offer housing allowances and reimbursement for travel-related expenses.

Although prestigious, these  positions often pay less than a professional one  in the same field.

Who is eligible for postdoc positions?

PhD graduates in science, technology, engineering and math ( STEM ) fields are most likely to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities. However, graduates of other  research doctoral programs  can also participate in these programs to achieve many of the same benefits.

Eligibility is also determined by previous education and experience .  Most participants will have completed a doctoral degree within the last few years. They also have strong skills in research, communication and teamwork, and demonstrate a desire to continue their education past the doctoral level.

Some opportunities are subject to certain requirements or parameters, such as guidelines or experience in a particular field. For example, you might need to be of a specific nationality, hold a certain degree or have experience with particular research methods to participate in a given postdoc program.

How to apply for a postdoc

The process to apply for these opportunities will depend on your preferences and the institution offering the program. Postdocs are usually funded and posted on job boards, academic websites, through professional societies and at other locations. You’ll need a resumé or CV highlighting your strengths and experience in research, along with details about your career goals.

If your application is selected, you may need to participate in an interview process. Leaders at the institution will ask further questions to determine how you may contribute to their program.

Some institutions and funding sources have different application processes and steps. For example, a program might require that you submit a research proposal or that you have a certain number of already-published articles in your field. The type of research a postdoc program requires will help determine the parameters for application.

Types of postdoctoral research

Doctoral graduates can pursue many types of postdoctoral research fellowship opportunities based on their career interests. The opportunities represent one of several career options for doctoral graduates and give participants the chance to contribute to their field.

Academic postdocs offer research opportunities to doctoral graduates, individuals who typically want to pursue a career in academia. These positions are typically funded and posted by academic institutions and offer recipients the chance to contribute research to a university.

An academic postdoc places participants in close proximity with field analysts and senior researchers — experts who serve as mentors and valuable networking contacts. They work on independent or group projects, contributing to research eventually published under the institution’s name.

An industry postdoc is a research opportunity for aspiring business professionals who want to work in the private sector. These programs are often offered by private research firms, including companies and institutions that might be affiliated with a university’s fellowship.

Postdoctoral research fellowships in the private sector provide graduates with the chance to perform research on behalf of an independent firm. For example, students might participate in an industry program that focuses on pharmaceutical science, energy, cloud computing, biotechnology or aerospace engineering.

In other cases, students might pursue an agency postdoc — a research opportunity typically offered by a government agency. A state or the federal government or a government-funded project fund and offer these programs.

In some cases, this allows students to work directly for a large government organization like the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . In other cases, independent branches of government sponsor smaller programs.

Agencies can lead to careers working for the government or for a public or private research firm; they can also create careers in academia due to their wide scope.

Pros and cons of postdoc positions

For some participants, the  postdoc path  is rewarding and career changing. For others,  a fellowship might create problems  for their work-life balance or financial situation. It’s important to consider the positive and negative aspects of a potential fellowship before accepting to make the best decision for the next stage of your career.

Reasons to participate in a postdoctoral fellowship

Participation in a postdoc has some advantages. You’ll meet new people, research new topics and deepen key skills.

Here are some more  potential benefits :

• Gaining additional research experience and training
• Working with experienced mentors and building a stronger network
• Developing new skills and strategies for use during your career
• Learning new and emerging strategies and techniques
• Potentially learning how to establish further research funding and other funding opportunities

These and other benefits mean a postdoc can be a great next step for many doctoral graduates passionate about research opportunities in their field.

Things to consider about a postdoc

Postdoc opportunities aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking to immediately join the professional world or you’re not excited by the prospect of ongoing research, a postdoc may not be the best option.

Here are a few other reasons why this path may be one you avoid:

• Programs might end after a few years or funding concludes
• Limited time for family, personal life and other priorities
• Income levels remain below what industry professionals make
• High pressure from funding institutions or agencies to produce results
• Competitive market for available positions
• Little control over your research topic or methodologies

These points are sometimes enough for doctoral graduates to look elsewhere for a job.

Alternatives to postdoctoral fellowships

It’s important to consider all options when making decisions about the next phase of your career. While postdocs can be incredibly beneficial, they are not the only employment option that can meaningfully improve your career.

Some graduates will consider a postdoc before launching a professional career. These jobs might still offer some research responsibilities so candidates can continue learning and building skills before transitioning to better paying professional roles.

Doctoral programs at University of Phoenix

If you’re looking to distinguish yourself in your field and considering a doctorate, University of Phoenix offers five online programs nationwide.

• Doctor of Business Administration : Develop a mindset of change and innovation that breaks the sea of sameness. Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) can help you gain a strategic vision and skills to position yourself as a business leader.
• Doctor of Education : This prepares you to use analytical, critical and innovative thinking to improve performance and solve complex problems in education.
• Doctor of Health Administration : If you’re a health professional who is seeking greater responsibility in shaping the future of the health sector, the Doctor of Health Administration can help you get there. You’ll meet the challenges inherent to today’s healthcare landscape, including economic fluctuations, burgeoning patient needs and industry-changing legislation.
• Doctor of Management : This program equips you with critical thinking skills to find creative solutions to complex problems, so you can bring out the best of your leadership skills.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice : This program is designed for working nurses who require a doctorate for advanced practice or nurses who desire their terminal degree. It does not prepare students for professional certification or state licensure as a nurse or as an advanced practice nurse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Dr. Eylers is the University of Phoenix vice provost for Academic Operations and Doctoral Studies. Prior to joining the University in 2009, Dr. Eylers spent 15 years in environmental engineering consulting, sustainability consulting, teaching and business and technology program management. He was amongst the first to be licensed as a professional environmental engineer in Arizona.

This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.  Read more about our editorial process.

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• Career Development

What To Do After a PhD: Exciting Career Options for PhD Graduates

Choosing what to do after your PhD isn’t always easy, particularly when you’re not sure if you want to work in academia. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of career opportunities that come with a PhD – and a good chance it’ll increase your earning potential.

Weve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Will a PhD help you get a job or earn a better salary? And what are your career prospects in and outside of academia?

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work as a student or recent graduate in the USA.

Everything you need to know about part-time and full-time work in Germany as a student or recent graduate in Germany.

If you’re completing or applying for a PhD, it’s likely that at some point you’ll consider working in academia. Academia is the career path of researchers who work to advance teaching and research in institutes of education. While most academics are employed by universities, institutes could include government-funded experiments or sites of historical preservation, for example.

The main objective of academia is to produce original research. Though not all academics work in university, this page shall focus mainly on the university progression path.

Earning a PhD is a huge accomplishment that requires years of intense study and research. But once you’ve completed your doctoral degree, an important question arises – what’s next? Your PhD has equipped you with highly transferable skills, opening doors to diverse career opportunities. This article explores the many exciting options available for PhD graduates within and beyond academia.

Completing a PhD demonstrates your expertise in a specialized field through rigorous research and analysis. It also cultivates critical soft skills like project management communication, critical thinking and perseverance. With such versatile capabilities, there are diverse possibilities for stimulating post-PhD careers.

Common PhD graduate roles include teaching professionals, natural and social science professionals, research and development professionals, therapy professionals, and business/administrative professionals. But your options expand far beyond these traditional pathways. Whether you desire to stay in academia, transition to industry, or explore unconventional alternatives, this guide outlines promising directions to take your career after PhD graduation.

Academic Careers

For many, a PhD serves as preparation for an academic career centered on research and teaching. Academic environments allow you to utilize your subject-matter expertise and passion for discovery on a daily basis.

Postdoctoral Positions

After earning a PhD, one of the most common next steps is completing one or more postdoctoral appointments. Postdocs involve temporary research positions usually 1-3 years, under the guidance of senior academics. Postdocs build your skills, network, and publications to boost competitiveness for permanent faculty roles.

Research and Teaching Faculty

With postdoctoral experience, you can attain full-time academic positions like lecturer, professor, or researcher. Faculty spearhead courseloads, pursue grants, publish studies, mentor students, and more. Your PhD equips you to shape minds and advance knowledge within your discipline.

University Leadership

Further along your career, you may transition into academic administration as a dean, provost, or university president. These roles oversee university operations, formulate strategic plans, and represent the institution. Your PhD demonstrates the research background necessary to guide universities.

Research-Focused Careers

For those passionate about research numerous career paths allow you to apply your analytical acumen beyond academia. Your advanced methodological skills combined with deep subject-matter expertise make you an asset to research teams and think tanks.

Research and Development (R&D)

R&D drives innovation in various industries and companies by creating new technologies and products. Fields like engineering, computer science, life sciences, and more hire PhDs to lead complex R&D initiatives.

Government Research

Government entities like the CIA, Census Bureau, NIH, and Department of Defense house research divisions that benefit from PhDs’ expertise. Projects can cover wide-ranging topics from public health to national security.

Think Tanks

Think tanks are organizations that undertake in-depth research on policy issues to advise government, academia, businesses, and the public. PhDs often direct projects and author publications for think tanks.

Science and Health Careers

For PhDs in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health fields, your advanced knowledge equips you for specialized technical roles improving society and lives.

Scientific Research and Consulting

PhDs enter private research firms analyzing chemicals, materials, agricultural products, and more to advance innovation. Consultants apply scientific expertise to advise companies on meeting lab standards, regulations, and safety.

Health Care

With a PhD in fields like microbiology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, and public health, you can take on vital health care roles. Options include epidemiology, lab management, hospital administration, and leading research/technical teams.

Business Careers

While less traditional, PhDs also thrive in business settings by leveraging their analytical abilities and mastery of complex concepts. Companies value PhDs for solving problems with critical thinking.

Data Science and Analytics

With expertise in statistical analysis and computational methods from your PhD research, data science roles allow you to uncover game-changing business insights from vast datasets.

Management Consulting

Strategy consulting firms like McKinsey, Bain, and BCG recruit PhDs to tackle multifaceted business challenges like operations optimization, growth strategy, and risk management.

Investment Banking and Finance

PhDs have the quantitative chops to excel in finance, whether analyzing economic trends, developing trading algorithms and risk models, or advising clients on investments as an advisor or portfolio manager.

Policy and Writing Careers

For PhDs in social sciences and humanities, your advanced writing and analytical skills open doors to careers shaping policy, public perception, and discussion through writing.

Policy Research and Analysis

Government entities hire PhDs to research and evaluate policies on topics like economics, education, transportation, and more to optimize effectiveness and outcomes.

Journalism and Publishing

PhDs are equipped for journalism with training in compelling writing and ability to explain complex issues to general audiences. Options include books, newspapers, magazines, websites, and more.

Also mentioned in research careers, think tanks utilize PhDs in social sciences and humanities for policy-focused writing and advising on domestic/foreign affairs, economics, education, and more.

Entrepreneurship

The critical thinking, perseverance, and passion cultivated during your PhD also prime you for entrepreneurship in wide-ranging fields. Your expertise and research skills give you an edge.

Academic Entrepreneurship

Commercialize your research through academic entrepreneurship. Options include starting spinoff companies, patenting/licensing inventions, or joining startups translating research into real-world tech and products.

Mission-Driven Ventures

Bring your PhD experience to mission-driven startups innovating in areas like health, environment, government services, and more. Lead teams applying technology to benefit society.

Start an independent consulting practice offering your specialized expertise to help companies solve complex problems in your field through strategic advising.

A PhD is incredibly versatile, preparing you for diverse, stimulating careers improving companies, societies, and lives. While academia is a common path, roles in research, science, business, policy, writing, entrepreneurship, and more allow you to apply your advanced expertise. Assess your skills, interests and values to determine the best direction for your post-PhD journey. With an open mind, you can land your dream career capitalizing on your PhD capabilities.

What is a fellowship?

Research fellowships are competitive and prestigious positions. Unlike postdocs, you will be funded to complete your own research project. Some positions will also guarantee a permanent academic role after completion. To successfully achieve a fellowship, you’ll need an interesting and viable research project, a history of academic excellence, and experience in writing successful funding or grant applications.

The other type is a teaching fellowship . These roles are not always for early career academics and will be offered to senior researchers so make sure you check the job description.

Non-academic PhD graduate jobs in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

If your PhD is in an Arts, Humanities or Social Science (AHSS) discipline, the skills you have to offer differ from STEM PhD holders.

Your aptitudes as a AHSS PhD graduate are likely to be suited for industries where communication skills are necessary. The ability to research and write about complex topics will be in-demand across any number of leading companies and sectors. Also, creative thinking will be highly valued by employers in strategic planning or industries such as marketing.

After a PhD what next? | 6 popular options

What is the next stage after PhD?

What comes after a PhD?

What happens after I get my PhD?

What can I do with a PhD?

Writing, lecturing and advocating a business all help market each other, and doing all three in tandem can help build a stable career with your Ph.D. Gaining a Ph.D. means you gain verified proof of your expertise on a subject. With this expertise, you can become a consultant in your field of study.

What can I do after getting a PhD?

Related: 38 Careers That Require a Doctoral Degree After getting a Ph.D., you have multiple options for what you can do next, including: Once you study and complete a Ph.D., you have expert knowledge in a focused portion of the field. As an expert, you can begin writing publications concerning the industry as an authority in the field.

How can I live a better life after a PhD?

If your goal is to live a better life after attaining your PhD in comparison to the one you had during your research, pick a career path that meets two requirements: Choose something you’re passionate about. Make sure the job is well-suited to your lifestyle. For example, consider three people with the same degree.

What can a postdoc do after a PhD?

A postdoc can be a crucial stepping stone to a successful career after completing a PhD. Find out what they are, what they involve and much more. From communication to time management, you will gain a large variety of transferable skills from completing a PhD. Learn what these are and how to use them in your CV. Life After a PhD: What Can You Do?

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What Next After PhD? Decoding Your Life After a PhD

Acquiring a doctoral degree is undoubtedly a momentous occasion worthy of celebrations—students can relax, unwind, and let go of the many stresses associated with the past few years of hard work. But soon, these celebrations are followed by questions on the steps needed to grow professionally after a PhD. In this post, I hope to guide you toward finding an answer to the question “What comes after a PhD?”

So what does life after a PhD look like? It is inevitable that your PhD will leave you with an array of skills that are transferable across different sectors. These could be technical skills that are domain-specific and, more importantly, broad skills such as project management, data analysis, and effective communication. Often, it takes a while after a PhD for students to acknowledge that they are indeed equipped with these skills. Hence, it is a good idea to create a portfolio, mapping different skills to the projects and tasks that were undertaken during and after your PhD.

Choosing the next step in your career and life after PhD would then trickle down to your personal preferences and leveraging your skills tactfully. If you’ve felt stuck with the question of what to do after a PhD, here are some career options to consider:

• Postdoctoral fellowship. After a PhD, if you are keen to continue doing research, you can pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in an academic institution and then work toward securing a tenure-track professorship. And while this path surely has its perks, especially if you want to set up your own research lab, it may be helpful to know that this is not the only worthwhile career path in life after a PhD.
• Industry research. If you are not keen on research in academia after a PhD, you can opt to join the industry directly or after a few years of academic or industrial postdoctoral fellowship. If you choose this life after a PhD, you may need to invest additional time and energy in understanding the differences in work ethic and culture between industry and academia. However, orientation to these aspects is usually part of the training that you might receive as a new employee. Upon entering the industry, you can expand your portfolio by exploring sales and marketing, product development, and business development options.
• Publication support. If you envision your life after PhD to be closely associated with research, but not directly involved in it, you can opt for careers in publication support, and work with publishers/journals or organizations specializing in scholarly communications.
• Science journalism and social outreach. If after a PhD, you are keen to explore your communication skills and contribute to filling the gap between science and society, you can opt for a career in science journalism/communication and can look for organizations that are involved in science outreach and social engagement.

If you have wondered about your career after a PhD, by now it may be clear that what comes after PhD is not a question you should stress about as there is no dearth of career options. However, here are a few additional points to consider helping you shape your life after PhD and to ensure that your career choice aligns well with your personal preferences.

• Financial aspirations. Financial perks vary drastically across the above-mentioned career options, and it is important to understand your personal financial goals before deciding what to do after PhD. Choosing an option that will help you grow both professionally and financially will keep you happier in the long run.
• Working in a team vs. working solo. As a PhD student, you may be used to working on your own and taking complete ownership of your projects and ideas. You may not always have this option in your life after PhD. It is important to acknowledge your preference regarding the change that might occur in an organization where you are expected to engage in teamwork and share credit for your ideas.
• Fixed work hours vs. flexible work hours . The doctoral journey is filled with unpredictability and you might have started getting used to the flexible work hours. However, after a PhD if you are planning to work in an organization where fixed work hours are a norm, then you might want to relook at your preferences and reconsider what to do after a PhD.
• Hierarchical vs. non-hierarchical work environment. This can be an important point to consider when assessing where you can thrive the most in your life after a PhD. A structured work environment, like an established company with a defined hierarchy may provide you security, stability, and opportunities for a steady rise up the career ladder. On the other hand, working in a non-hierarchical or non-structured environment like a start-up may require you to perform a variety of roles simultaneously, give you the flexibility and chance to explore new domains and acquire new skills regularly, and could be rewarding in its own way after a PhD.

Through this article, we hope you found an answer to the common conundrum of what’s next after a PhD. Ultimately, for a happy and satisfying life after PhD, adopting a growth mindset will take you far in your career, no matter which direction you choose.

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Research Article

Postdocs’ advice on pursuing a research career in academia: A qualitative analysis of free-text survey responses

Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Hunter College, City University of New York, New York City, NY, United States of America

Roles Formal analysis, Methodology

Roles Formal analysis

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliation Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America

• Suwaiba Afonja, 
• Damonie G. Salmon, 
• Shadelia I. Quailey, 
• W. Marcus Lambert

• Published: May 6, 2021
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662
• Peer Review
• Reader Comments

The decision of whether to pursue a tenure-track faculty position has become increasingly difficult for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees considering a career in research. Trainees express concerns over job availability, financial insecurity, and other perceived challenges associated with pursuing an academic position.

To help further elucidate the benefits, challenges, and strategies for pursuing an academic career, a diverse sample of postdoctoral scholars (“postdocs”) from across the United States were asked to provide advice on pursuing a research career in academia in response to an open-ended survey question. 994 responses were qualitatively analyzed using both content and thematic analyses. 177 unique codes, 20 categories, and 10 subthemes emerged from the data and were generalized into two thematic areas: Life in Academia and Strategies for Success .

On life in academia, postdoc respondents overwhelmingly agree that academia is most rewarding when you are truly passionate about scientific research and discovery. ‘Passion’ emerged as the most frequently cited code, referenced 189 times. Financial insecurity, work-life balance, securing grant funding, academic politics, and a competitive job market emerged as challenges of academic research. The survey respondents note that while passion and hard work are necessary, they are not always sufficient to overcome these challenges. The postdocs encourage trainees to be realistic about career expectations and to prepare broadly for career paths that align with their interests, skills, and values. Strategies recommended for perseverance include periodic self-reflection, mental health support, and carefully selecting mentors.

Conclusions

For early-career scientists along the training continuum, this advice deserves critical reflection before committing to an academic research career. For advisors and institutions, this work provides a unique perspective from postdoctoral scholars on elements of the academic training path that can be improved to increase retention, career satisfaction, and preparation for the scientific workforce.

Citation: Afonja S, Salmon DG, Quailey SI, Lambert WM (2021) Postdocs’ advice on pursuing a research career in academia: A qualitative analysis of free-text survey responses. PLoS ONE 16(5): e0250662. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662

Editor: Frederick Grinnell, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, UNITED STATES

Received: December 24, 2020; Accepted: April 8, 2021; Published: May 6, 2021

Copyright: © 2021 Afonja et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Funding: WML acknowledges support by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR002384. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

Postdoctoral researchers (“postdocs”) seeking research faculty positions are facing increasing challenges in their career pursuits [ 1 – 5 ]. The first and most dynamic is the large number of postdocs competing for a limited number of faculty positions. In the early 1970s, the number of NIH principal investigators (PIs) was equivalent to the number of biomedical postdocs and exceeded the number of graduate student researchers by more than 50% [ 6 ]. Growing from 7,000 to over 21,000 biomedical postdocs today, some argue that there is an oversupply of postdocs and overemphasis of academic tracks, leading to a hypercompetitive culture among trainees for faculty positions [ 7 , 8 ]. This oversaturation may be partially attributed to insufficient preparation of graduate students for career options outside of academia [ 9 – 12 ], leaving postdoctoral positions as a default career step for many PhD holders [ 13 , 14 ]. Others maintain that postdoc oversaturation is a misperception as postdoc positions should not be considered only as preparation for an academic job but rather as an opportunity for skill development for a multitude of fields [ 10 , 15 – 20 ]. In addition, the total number of tenure-track faculty positions has remained relatively constant over the past few decades, and the disparity between postdoctoral appointments and available tenure-track positions has not been proportionally adjusted for [ 6 , 7 , 21 ]. Currently, tenure-track faculty positions only represent approximately 15% of postdoc career outcomes [ 22 ].

Second among these growing challenges is the poor sense of financial security felt by many postdoctoral researchers. Previous reports note low salaries and a long overall training length for many postdocs [ 22 , 23 ]. The postdoctoral position, intended to be a temporary training period, has been increasing in length without a substantial increase in pay, with recent studies reporting postdocs completing more than one postdoc [ 24 , 25 ]. McConnell et al. [ 22 ] found that postdoctoral salaries are not maintaining parity with the cost of living increases. At the time of their study (2016), postdocs reported salaries in the range of $39,000–$55,000 (median $43,750, mean $46,988) [ 22 ]. The financial sacrifices and increasing time commitment made during this training phase are compounded by a lengthy biomedical doctoral training period with a median time to degree of greater than 5 years [ 26 ].

Over the last five years, the National Institutes of Health have increased the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) stipends by four to five percent on average for postdocs [ 27 ]. This adjustment is consistent with recommendations from the 2012 Biomedical Research Workforce Working Group report from the NIH and the 2018 Next Generation of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Researchers : Breaking Through report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine [ 27 – 29 ]. Many institutions are starting to follow suit, either using the NRSA levels as guidelines for setting postdoctoral salaries or setting the minimum in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act [ 30 ]. Historically low stipends and a sense of financial insecurity are associated with increased interest in non-academic careers [ 25 ].

Researchers who begin a postdoctoral position despite awareness of the salary support and limited availability of faculty positions may still lose interest as their training progresses [ 31 , 32 ]. Some evidence suggests this is due to the incompatibility between their career preferences and the demands of the academic lifestyle [ 9 , 33 ]. Unrealistic expectations or lack of knowledge about aspects of academic life such as academic freedom, administrative obligations, funding, and the time commitment may cause many to prematurely abandon this track despite already committing a significant number of years to it [ 33 ]. With regard to women and underrepresented minority (URM) postdocs, the largest exit from the academic research pipeline can be observed in the first two years of postdoctoral training [ 25 ]. An increase in transparency about life in academia and the dissemination of more information on the critical steps for securing an academic research position should increase the retention of trainees by giving those who choose to commit to this track, despite the known challenges, the opportunity to make well-informed career decisions that reflect their personal and professional values [ 34 ].

Postdoctoral researchers can provide a unique perspective on the benefits and challenges of a research career. They are in a distinctive training period that serves as the branch point for their future careers and have personally experienced many of these benefits and challenges. Our previous work identified the most influential factors for those who intend to pursue teaching or non-academic career paths (this includes teaching-intensive faculty positions, non-academic research positions such as industry, non-research but science-related positions, and non-science related positions) [ 25 ]. Job prospects , financial security , responsibility to family , and mentorship from their PI were the most cited reasons for those opting for careers outside of academia [ 25 ]. Postdocs who pursue academic research careers produced significantly more publications (9 vs. 7, p<0.001), more first-author publications (4 vs. 3, p<0.001), and have a higher first-author publication rate (0.56 vs. 0.42, p<0.001), yet, a significant portion (40%) of even the most productive postdocs opt out of pursuing an academic career [ 25 ]. Thus, a greater understanding of how postdocs perceive the path to academic research independence is warranted. In addition, strategies to overcome the challenges faced along the way are also needed.

This current study amasses the guidance and recommendations of 994 postdocs on pursuing an academic career. Our objectives are:

• To understand how postdoctoral research trainees perceive the benefits and challenges of pursuing an academic research career;
• To provide ways to overcome these challenges.

The advice gathered from the postdoctoral researchers in this study will help prospective trainees make more informed career decisions. Instead of only describing some of the obstacles they have faced, the postdocs provide numerous strategies and suggestions to help future and current researchers take greater control of their career outcomes. These primary accounts further elucidate many of the challenges researchers encounter when choosing career paths. Therefore, such disclosure can increase transparency about the benefits and challenges of pursuing a tenure-track faculty position and encourage a more efficient transition from training stages to careers across the scientific workforce.

U-MARC survey

Postdoctoral scholars (“postdocs”) in the biological and biomedical sciences from across the United States were invited to complete an original survey instrument entitled U-MARC (Understanding Motivations for Academic Research Careers) in July of 2017. The 70-item survey (1) measures views on determinants of career choice in science and (2) measures outcome expectations and self-efficacy around research careers using two original scales. The study’s theoretical framework was derived from (i) Social Cognitive Career Theory which states that self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals affect career decision and (ii) Vroom’s Expectancy Theory which infers that motivation is a result of how much an individual wants a reward (valence), the probability that a specific effort will lead to the expected performance (expectancy), and the belief that the performance will lead to the reward (instrumentality) [ 35 , 36 ]. We used expectancy theory to build an outcome expectations instrument in the U-MARC survey, with some items taken from the Research Outcome Expectations Questions (ROEQ) [ 37 ]. For full details on the development of the U-MARC survey instrument, refer to our previous work (Lambert et al.) [ 25 ].

Data analysis

In this study, we qualitatively coded 994 survey responses to an open-ended question from the U-MARC survey using hallmarks of both content analysis (examining patterns in text, highlighting frequency counts) and thematic analysis (interpreting themes within the data). The question states: “What advice would you give to someone thinking about an academic research career?” Two researchers were involved in the coding process, each independently deriving codes. A process of open, axial, and then selective coding was followed by generally coding and discussing major concepts, categories, and themes. A third researcher was consulted to help determine crosscutting themes and recurrent patterns, in consideration of analytic connectedness. We repeated this cycle until we achieved thematic saturation, and novel themes stopped emerging from the data. NVivo 12, a qualitative transcript software, was used to assist with the coding of the data.

Throughout the manuscript, we include transcript numbers corresponding to the survey respondents’ answers so readers can differentiate between the sources of any given set of quotations. The full list of responses and derived codes are included in the S1 Table .

Data collection and sampling method

All work was conducted under the approval of the Weill Cornell Medical College Institutional Review Board (IRB# 1612017849), and all respondents self-selected and provided consent for participation in the study. A purposeful sampling strategy where participants were recruited through postdoctoral listservs from top-ranked research universities and institutions was used instead of snowball sampling, where existing participants would have recruited other potential candidates from their networks. All survey respondents self-selected to participate in the survey based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria previously published [ 25 ]. The sample represents wide geographic (over 80 universities) and subfield diversity. The number of institutions and the percentage of respondents from each institution were published in supplementary file 2 of our previous publication [ 25 ]. We also determined the percentage of respondents from highly-ranked life science research institutions in the US based on counts of high-quality research outputs between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 according to rankings from Nature Index ( Fig 1 - figure supplement 1D) [ 25 ]. The majority of respondents are from highly-ranked US institutions, but the differences in institutional ranking do not fully account for the differences in career intention [ 25 ]. It should also be noted that postdoctoral appointees at the top 100 institutions in the United States (n = 56,092) account for approximately 88% of the total number of postdocs in the country (n = 63,861) [ 38 ]. From the total sample of participants who completed the U-MARC survey (n = 1248), only respondents who identified as a postdoctoral scholar or research associate were included in this analysis (n = 994). The sample postdoc participant pool represents 6% of the total amount (21,781) of appointed biomedical and biological postdocs the year the survey was conducted (2017) according to the National Science Foundation. The REDCap electronic data capture tool was used to collect and manage the 70-item anonymous U-MARC survey instrument. REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure, web-based application designed to support data capture for research studies.

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

(A) To estimate the prevalence of advice from postdoc respondents, the frequency of the codes was analyzed and displayed by the bars (left axis) in descending order along with its contribution to the cumulative percentage, represented by the line (right axis). (B) The top 20 most frequent codes are displayed and (C) listed by frequency.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.g001

To establish a representative framework of life in academia at the postdoctoral stage of training and gather recommendations for success in this field, we asked postdoctoral candidates, “What advice would you give someone thinking about an academic research career?” The sample of 994 postdoctoral researchers included US citizens (n = 557, 56%), international fellows (n = 434, 44%), female postdocs (n = 615, 62%), male postdocs (n = 378, 38%), and underrepresented minorities (URM) postdocs (n = 174, 13%) ( Table 1 ). URM postdocs include the racial and ethnic categories of American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic or Latino. The participants responded similarly across gender, race/ethnicity, and national status. The average time reported to earn a PhD in the biological or biomedical sciences for the postdoctoral respondents was 4.6 years, with an additional 2.7 years spent in postdoctoral training. The average time to PhD recorded here is lower than that of the national average due to the inclusion of the international students’ shorter doctoral training lengths.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.t001

With the information gathered from the 994 responses, 177 codes and 20 categories emerged. To estimate the prevalence of advice across postdoc respondents, we determined the frequency by which each code was cited ( Fig 1A ). ‘Passion’ emerged as the most frequently cited code, referenced 189 times across 994 responses, more than twice the amount of other codes ( Fig 1B ). The top 20 most frequently cited codes included: hard work, self-reflect, strong mentorship, don’t go into academia, financial stability, need for funding, consider career alternatives, perseverance, explore all options, research before committing, long-term commitment, grantsmanship, need for publications, sacrifice, network, choose the right laboratory, work-life balance, luck, and backup plan ( Fig 1C ). In the following text, we summarize the postdoc respondents’ advice across two major themes: Life in Academia and Strategies for Success .

Life in academia

Academia is a lifestyle..

According to the surveyed postdocs, a career in academia is not merely an occupation; it is a lifestyle ( Table 2 ). The postdocs express that the time and commitment required for success in academia often shapes a researcher’s personal, professional, and social life:

…anyone who pursues a research career has to be [prepared to] work in a high-pressure environment that consumes your life. There is really no separation between your research and life. You must be prepared to sacrifice holidays and special occasions with your family. (379)

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.t002

So, the postdocs advise performing a self-assessment of your values and priorities to determine whether this career can satisfy your personal and professional needs:

Consider what balance of work and personal time is acceptable and will make you happy. Those who reliably and regularly receive high impact publications and large grants tend to spend a majority of their time in lab writing, and have less free time outside [of the] lab. (157) Set the professional goals you are willing to achieve without endangering your personal life. (197)

Respondents describe the challenges they face as postdoctoral researchers to also include long hours, a demanding workload, unanticipated setbacks, a competitive funding and research climate, and delayed gratification, consistent with other studies [ 5 ]:

Academic research is great if you enjoy working hard, tolerate frustration, and accept that sometimes you need to work for years before seeing results. It’s not that great if making money is important for you, if you need a lot of free time for your non-work life, and if you need frequent reinforcement and sense of success. (17)

The trade-offs to these challenges include scientific creativity, problem solving, academic freedom, and travel. Academic freedom was cited as one of the main benefits of pursuing an academic research career:

If making discoveries on a day to day basis, big or small, is what you crave for then [this] is the career. If you have the patience to go through failure or unexpected results to find something new and interpret it, be criticized without giving up and then prove your point then this [is] the career. If you are curious enough to get to the truth, no matter what but at your own pace then this is the career. (427) Be prepared for a lot of freedom in thought and ability to pursue academic interests with a great deal of effort in lab management, grant writing, and grant management. (75)

Many also note that luck (or probability) plays a significant role in your success in experiments, publications, funding, and job opportunities. This perception has been previously linked to levels of outcome expectations among postdocs, i.e., whether their hard work leads to high performance [ 27 ]:

You can put in 80 hours a week, but unless you get lucky, you will not be able to publish in multiple high impact journals in order to attain a position in Academia. The hyper competitive climate in science is extremely discouraging to intelligent and innovative minds… (951)

However, several caution against allowing your research success to define you:

Do not base your sense of self-worth on having an academic position. Give it your best shot, but there are many viable pathways out there and you shouldn’t feel that being an academic is the only viable option. (186)

Overall, the postdocs describe life in academia as one characterized by significant time demands for conducting research and fulfilling other responsibilities. They note the importance of establishing a healthy work-life balance and advise prospective researchers to determine whether their fields of interest can meet their personal and professional expectations.

Postdocs feel underpaid and undervalued.

Several survey respondents indicate that compensation at the postdoctoral level is unsatisfactory:

Relative to their educational attainment and training, postdocs are very poorly paid, and there is little or no job security. (199) …academic institutions arbitrarily devalue your contributions both financially and through the game of non-promotion. (835)

Many call prospective candidates to be aware of these financial challenges:

Can you live with a salary of 20k-30k as a graduate student until you are 30? Are you ready to start a family with a salary of 50k as a postdoc when your friends are making 70k-80k without a PhD? (979)

However, the postdocs indicate that passion should be the primary motivation for those interested in pursuing an academic career, not financial gain:

If you care about money, don’t come. This field is sustained only by passion now. (448) Science should be your number one passion. It must be strong enough to overlook the many long hours and the fact that you’re spending your peak earning potential years in a stressful, low-pay, unstable ’training’ position. (736)

Though several postdocs feel many institutions fail to provide the level of professional development, career placement, and employee benefits to postdocs as given to students or faculty [ 39 , 40 ]. These limited job prospects lead to feelings of not being appreciated in postdoc positions [ 41 ]:

You will be mentally run-down, under-paid, under-appreciated, and in the end make less than you’re worth with fewer benefits. (732) I don’t want my kids to go into research; I want them to do something where their work and knowledge is actually appreciated. And where this appreciation is reflected in the salary. (693)

So, many highly recommend being proactive about choosing the best work environment to complete your postdoctoral training:

…environment matters. Being at a supportive institution with excellent mentorship and opportunities in your field of choice will be important for success. (777) Have a strong mentor and support system at your institution because your institutional resources will be heavily counted toward successfully obtaining a grant. (367) Make sure to choose a lab that publishes regularly and a mentor who will actually act as a mentor and not just get science out of you. (594)

The postdoctoral researchers find that the state of funding in academia has made it difficult to not only support their research but also their personal cost of living. However, they find that if you are passionate about your work and can find a supportive institution with strong mentorship, those sacrifices can be reduced and are ultimately worth the effort.

Strategies for Success

Prepare for multiple career paths..

Some postdocs do not recommend pursuing an academic research career at this time. Despite hard work and considerable sacrifice, the probability of obtaining a tenure-track faculty position and financial insecurity were cited as the main deterrents for pursuing an academic research career:

Do something else. I am a successful young research scientist, but I would not advise a student to pursue a career in academic research. The balance between the effort put in, and the benefits gained is completely skewed. Dedication and hard work are no guarantee of success in terms [of] publications. Very often, early career decisions as to the lab you apply to, to do your PhD training, have an inordinate influence in your career. Also, mentors have an inordinate influence in their [students’] happiness and success… (199) I just started to apply for tenure-track openings and have been told by dept. chairs that I need to have funding (K-award) in hand to be seriously considered for a position. I have 30+ publications and received my own funding since I was a graduate student (NIH F31 & F32 plus over $120K in supplemental funding). My K-award is currently under revision and feel my future is currently 100% dependent on my whether I get a K regardless of what is on my CV or my past accomplishments. (238)

In consideration of these challenges, several postdocs indicate that there are many other viable career opportunities for researchers. They also suggest that academic research careers should be framed as a part of a myriad of successful post-PhD careers, rather than an alternative to those unsuccessful at achieving a faculty position:

Please, don’t consider [an academic research career] as the only respectable career for a scientist. Keep your options open. (474) I think the PhD is still a worthy goal. But I’ve come to realize the faculty position isn’t the be all and end all of the process. There are many other useful and creative and important ways to use a [PhD] degree. I think new generations are coming around to that: they embrace alternative careers and they are being trained for them in better ways as universities accept the fact that most of us don’t attain the faculty job… Another thing is, if you get the [PhD] and you want to leave academia, make a plan for that career- don’t get sucked into a postdoc when you [don’t] want to become a PI. (390) If you can succeed in basic research, you can be more successful in industrial, financial or other [fields]. (446)

Some of the postdocs recommend exploring multiple career options immediately, while others encourage keeping an open mind about multiple career paths in case the academic track becomes less viable ( Table 3 ). Pursuing a career in industry was the most cited career choice outside of academia by the postdoc respondents because of its competitive salaries, structured career advancement, better work-life balance, and the opportunity to continue scientific research or make contributions in other capacities.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.t003

Reflect on your motivation.

Passion, coupled with resilience, was cited as the primary driving force for pursuing an academic research career:

Be sure you are passionate about your field of [study] and are pursuing the career for the right reasons, because it is not an easy career path. It allows for creativity, flexibility, and joys of learning and discovery, but is challenging in terms of funding, navigating bureaucracy and politics, administrative obligations, etc. (101)

The postdocs assert that researchers should not be driven by extrinsic factors such as wealth or fame:

People that are successful in the academic field are not in it for the money or fame. Chances are you won’t become famous or rich, but you do have the potential to help countless amounts of people, and if you are passionate about research and helping others, you shouldn’t let the troubles of funding or the woes of others deter you from your goals. (415) Never forget that the goal of biomedical research is to eventually find targets for human health issues that will hopefully help eradicate disease… and that research does not occur in a vacuum and requires passion, leadership, hard-work, and collaboration. (635)

Many of the respondents described the absence of passion as one of the leading causes for abandoning the pursuit of an academic research career. They maintain that love for the sciences and the impact of academic research is what makes the sacrifices worthwhile.

Assess readiness.

To supplement this advice, the postdocs define the qualities of a good scientist:

…true scientists care very little about money or taking the easy route. They are just intellectually curious and looking for answers to their questions. (77) Make sure you really enjoy coming up with your own hypotheses, have the knowledge to assess their novelty, and the writing skills to get them funded. (613) [Researchers’] daily tasks rely on numerous skills like writing communication, teamwork, problem solving, planning, learning, self-criticism, etc. (730)

According to the respondents, good scientists are passionate researchers who conduct thorough scientific investigations, demonstrate resilience in the face of difficulty, and are disciplined leaders in their fields. They are confident, excellent collaborators, and comfortable with failure and uncertainty. Their ability to take criticism and recover from setbacks allows them to overcome rejection and persevere through the many challenges present on this track:

Doing good science is slow and hard, and there are many times in research that it is easy to get discouraged—make sure you identify a way to reignite your passion for research so that you can overcome those times of frustration—we need more people and more diverse ideas in this profession, not fewer. (210)

Based on these qualities, the postdocs call prospective researchers to assess their strengths and weaknesses to determine if they are well-suited for this profession:

Do you truly enjoy research and the responsibilities (i.e. writing papers/grants) that come with those responsibilities? Are you competitive and confident in your ability to do science? Are you able to compartmentalize when research fails and not place blame on yourself? (206) There is always someone smarter out there, but you can control how hard you work. Research, like many things in life, is a battle of attrition. Work hard in the lab, write a lot… .like more than you think you should, read often, collaborate with others, keep growing. And most importantly, don’t let a paper or grant rejection define you. Your worth is derived from the things in your control, not the things out of your control. (798)

The postdocs recommend performing an honest self-assessment of your motivations and abilities to determine whether you have the drive and character necessary to maximize your chances at successfully obtaining a tenure-track faculty position.

Be strategic.

The postdocs emphasize the importance of being diligent and methodical about career development:

Pursuing science for the sake of exploring how the world around us works, and planning an academic research career are two very different endeavors, which require many mutually exclusive skills. Working towards a career in science must include careful choice of mentors, labs and projects in graduate school and post-doc. (714)

They also advise strengthening your research skills, staying informed about current research, and finding a supportive community to grow and develop in:

Learn how to critically read data and develop independent ideas and experiments. Work hard both at the bench and at understanding and staying current in the literature. Learn to ask for help and take criticism. Build your professional network to include [scientists] of various backgrounds and expertise. Meet and discuss your science as [frequently] as possible with these colleagues. (568)

The following sections expand on these strategies for success ( Table 4 ).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.t004

Choose the right laboratory.

The postdocs stress that your choice of laboratory is one of the most critical steps for career advancement:

Find a lab that has [a] track record of postdocs transitioning to professorships. Your postdoc boss has the most influence on your own independent academic career. [It’s] all about mentorship. (279) Do intensive research, not only about the area you’re interested in, but the environment/morale of the lab itself before taking a job in a lab. (175)

The postdocs recommend carefully assessing all aspects of the laboratory environment before committing to a mentor or laboratory. This might involve conducting informational interviews to gain insight into your potential work environment, the laboratory’s publication record, and your prospective PI’s expectations of you. Due to your PI’s influence on your future, many advise assessing mentorship compatibility before committing to a laboratory to ensure that your values and expectations are compatible.

Choose mentors wisely.

The postdocs strongly emphasize the importance of strong mentorship on career growth:

Find a mentor who has the time and passion to see [you] grow and is willing to explain what the different career trajectories are, how you go about finding them, and wants to assist you in that journey. You need to find a mentor who values your potential as a future scientist and doesn’t just view you as cheap labor. (282) The greatest component to my success thus far has been asking the right people for help with grants, experiments, and other challenges. Without the support of my community it would be difficult to push forward research initiatives and secure funding for them. (31)

The postdocs share that insufficient support from PIs may leave researchers underdeveloped in some critical academic skills. So, they highly recommend seeking out multiple mentors at various stages of their careers because these professionals offer invaluable perspectives, skill sets, advice, and resources.

Publication strategies to consider.

Although there is debate about the significance of journal impact factor, there is certainty among the postdocs about the need for publications to become established in the academic community:

[Academia is] not a meritocracy. Either you have to publish a lot, or publish in high impact journals only. (515) Papers are the currency of research, so it is crucial to publish extensively in reputed journals. In the job market, being able to market your ’brand’ of science—topics, approach, methods, [etc.] becomes an important ingredient to success. (714)

Many recommend strengthening your research and writing skills to maximize grant and publication success:

Develop your brainstorming/project design skills. The opportunities to do that as a postdoc may be slim, but it is essential to being able to write your own grants and secure independent funding. (172) I would recommend that they try to be as independent as they can in their research ideas, strategies and grant writing (from Grad school and on). If they are successful at each of these, and their ideas are well perceived by their field, then they likely have a shot. It is important to think about what you bring to the field and what you want to teach others through your research and mentoring. (405)

They also advise assessing the publication record of the laboratory you are considering before committing to it:

For grad school and postdoc [choose] labs where the PI is established in his field because this is the way to get published in high ranking journals and to get your grants approved, without which you cannot develop a long-lasting career in Academia. (312) Get the training from the lab [with a] history of publishing top journals. Name of the school is not as important as the quality of the paper your candidate lab publishes. (330)

Some suggest working on various projects to enhance your academic record:

…do not only work on one project, but several, if you work on a risky project, get a second safer project to ensure you get regular publications… (25) Having a diverse portfolio helps, rather than one big project, one big book, or one big paper in the pipeline. I built my pipeline very slowly, and that gave me stress. I do think there is a need to step outside the publish or perish game, and craft one’s own rules of engagement if possible. One way to do this is possibly doing work meaningful to oneself rather than looking at where the funding comes from, or what everyone else is doing. (891)

The postdocs highlight the importance of publishing because it gives your research exposure, builds your credibility within the scientific community, and increases your competitiveness for an academic research position.

The postdocs find networking to be an essential component of success in academia:

[Networking] with peers and labs you’re interested in and offering your help or services or forming collaborations provides vital long-lasting and fruitful connections. [It’s] often who you know that counts in terms of publications. [Get] involved with excellent research labs, learn from them and become a vital part of the team. (518) Go outside your comfort zone of the lab, engage in science outreach, network, interact! Science is more than working hard at the bench, and I wish somebody had told me that earlier in my career. (685)

The postdocs recommend attending conferences, building connections, and collaborating with others because those are important ways to develop relationships with scientists throughout the community, learn from their expertise, find mentors, and share your own research and ideas.

Overall, the postdocs’ provided these recommendations to help prospective researchers make more informed decisions about their research career pursuits:

In order to achieve a successful career in academic research, one needs to understand early enough that it is more than a job in science—it a permanent dedication to scientific topics, with a lot of workload for a single person. Persistence and patience are essential traits to succeed. (469)

In this manuscript, we present the advice of 994 postdocs on pursuing an academic research career. The postdocs’ responses were analyzed to derive codes that encapsulated the major concepts being discussed. We found 177 distinct codes in 20 categories across 10 subthemes and two broad themes. In the first theme, Life in Academia , postdocs detail a picture of academic life from the point of view of the trainee, not often captured in the literature. According to several studies, the postdoctoral experience in the United States has not been captured comprehensively in more than a decade [ 7 , 22 ]. This scarcity of data negatively impacts postdoc career outcomes and the overall vitality of the scientific workforce.

In this study, postdocs highlight both the flexibility and challenges of academic life: “It allows for creativity, flexibility, and joys of learning and discovery, but is challenging in terms of funding, navigating bureaucracy and politics, administrative obligations, etc.” They also report that this track demands a significant commitment to seeking funding and publishing research, typically exceeding normal work hours. Thus, for many postdocs becoming a faculty member would fulfill their passion for research and discovery, but success requires managing the constant tension between work demands and their personal lives. Before committing to this career path, one has to decide if the lifestyle and its challenges are worth the reward.

One major challenge that the postdocs frequently referenced in this study was financial insecurity. We suspect that not everyone considers the financial impact of years of training until they are immersed in it. In this study, we find postdocs’ frustrations over aspects of financial support. Some postdocs advised not pursuing this path unless you come from a wealthy family. Others were very specific about the personal cost of this education and training: “…I’m in my mid 30’s and have worked 60+ hours a week for 10+ years for essentially minimum wage in hopes of getting an academic position.” Such openness is needed to help future trainees have a clearer understanding of the challenges in the field and help funding agencies understand how to improve access for all trainees. Choosing to pursue an academic career should not be dependent upon how long one can sacrifice financial stability and security. Postdocs should not be driven away from academic paths because they do not have the financial means to complete a postdoc.

The increasing length of this poorly funded training period with no guarantee of success causes financial instability and job insecurity [ 22 ]. Moreover, the increasing age for establishing scientific independence also translates into why there is a limited availability of faculty positions. Zimmerman shares that the reported average age for scientists to secure their first NIH grant is 42 [ 7 ]. This data along with the fact that the number of tenure-track faculty positions has remained consistent over the past few decades may in part account for the shortage of available positions as more senior researchers maintain their tenure to reap the benefits of the personal, professional, and financial challenges they have endured [ 7 , 21 ].

In our second theme, Strategies for Success , postdocs provide recommendations for maximizing the potential for success in achieving an academic research career. The postdocs overwhelmingly emphasize the importance of possessing a strong love and passion for science. The current literature does not capture this emphasis on passion for success. ‘Passion’ being the most frequently cited code in this paper, referenced 189 times, highlights the weight of intrinsic values in the supposed impersonal scientific world. As previously mentioned, one respondent shared that “this field is sustained only by passion now.” For many, passion is absolutely key for longevity in the field. A unique category that emerged under this theme of passion was characterized by a caution in letting happiness or self-worth depend on scientific research or obtaining an academic position. One postdoc noted: “Don’t make your happiness depend on your academic research career.” Similarly, another noted: “Do not base your sense of self-worth on having an academic position.”

Under our second major theme, the postdocs also expressed frustration about several other aspects of the field. A portion of them adamantly discouraged pursuing academia. Their responses confirm previous reports showing that the current state of academia is underscored by hypercompetitive climates, poor sense of financial security, and a perceived shrink in available tenure-track faculty positions [ 22 , 25 , 42 ]. One postdoc stated, “Put it this way, even if you are in a top Ivy League school you still need a mentor who will fight for you (I see my supervisor who is an MD/PhD every 4 weeks or so, left to troubleshoot alone), a lab that is well published in your field of study, multiple other postdocs all working in a synergistic way and all the while accepting you live on a ’maybe’ with regards to your future and getting paid poorly for it.” The perception of most disgruntled postdocs is this: the chances of securing a tenure-track faculty position are slim, even with tremendous passion and sacrifice, largely attributed to conditions that cannot be controlled. Many feel their hard work does not in fact pay off. The alternative perspective, and advice that we summarized from non-disgruntled postdocs: “I understand the chances of obtaining a faculty position and the challenges that come with it. However, I have a passion for this path, and I want to try to achieve it anyway, with the understanding that I will explore alternative career paths if this one does not prove successful.” We find this latter frame of mind, coupled with a framework where academic careers are one of many (not better or worse) successful career options for postdoctoral scholars, key for researchers in training.

While we did not ask the postdoc mentors about their trainee attitudes, a recent publication by seven institutions that hold Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) programs report the results of faculty surveys of their BEST mentors to understand faculty perceptions around career development for their trainees [ 43 ]. The faculty believed that there was a shortage of tenure-track positions and felt a sense of urgency in introducing broad career activities for their trainees [ 43 ]. However, many do not feel they have the knowledge and resources necessary to guide and support the 85% of trainees who need professional development for careers outside of academia [ 22 , 41 ]. The study also found that faculty perceived trainees themselves as lacking in the knowledge base of skills that are of interest to non-academic employers. For budding scientists along the training continuum, the advice given by postdocs in this manuscript could help enhance the knowledge base to best prepare them for non-academic career tracks.

To better illustrate the cost-benefit ratio of pursuing an academic research career, we separated codes into either a benefits or costs category and indicated the frequency of references ( Fig 2 ). Codes that were more associated with the benefits of pursuing an academic research career included academic freedom, strong mentorship, network, and passion, whereas administrative obligations, backup plan, financial stability, and hard work were associated with the costs. While the frequency of codes associated with the costs outnumbered the benefits, 546 to 489, sacrifices (or costs) and benefits are weighed differently between postdoc respondents.

The codes are listed alphabetically in their respective columns. An end limit of “45” (a double of the average frequency value of 22.5) was set for the data bars to provide a representative visual comparison of the codes’ frequencies.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.g002

Our study has several limitations. One is that the free-text method of gathering these data prevents engagement with the participant and clarification of intent. With this format, respondents have the ability to address a broad array of topics which promotes variety in their responses but limits our control over what the subjects choose to discuss. Focus groups with postdoctoral participants can explore in more depth the benefits and challenges perceived by postdocs. Due to the subjective nature of the survey respondents’ experiences, much of this work also reveals the postdoctoral trainees’ perceptions rather than absolute truths or facts about the scientific and career development process. Another limitation is that this sample is not random, and therefore frequency counts should be considered in this context. Given the large number of responses, the frequency by which codes appear can be helpful in understanding trends and emphasis in the sample, but not for comparing significance across codes. In addition, the sample population consists of postdoctoral scholars from top-ranked US universities and institutions, so their perspectives reflect the experience of those who train in similar environments. However, it is important to note that postdoctoral appointees at the top 100 institutions in the country (n = 56,092) account for approximately 88% of the total number of postdocs in the United States (n = 63,861) [ 38 ]. Therefore, our sample is representative of a significant portion of the U.S. postdoc population.

Overall, our study shows that most postdocs understand the travails and risks associated with pursuing a tenure-track faculty position in academia. Many perceive the challenges as surmountable and the reward of an academic research career worthwhile. As noted by one postdoc, “Being a successful academic researcher is somewhat akin to pursuing a career in music performance or professional sports. Science and research must be your real passion for which you are willing to work extremely hard and sacrifice. And even with hard work and sacrifice, and of course the requisite level of talent, you may not make it to the big leagues. Be sure you are willing to take this risk and that you can enjoy the journey no matter what happens.” These accounts should benefit students and trainees interested in pursuing a research career in academia by helping them make more informed decisions about their career path, ultimately enhancing the scientific workforce.

Supporting information

S1 file. responses of 994 postdoctoral researchers to a single, open-ended survey question: “what advice would you give to someone thinking about an academic research career”..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.s001

S1 Table. Full list of codes derived from the survey responses.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.s002

S2 Table. Original codes divided into 6 categories under the major theme, Life in Academia.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.s003

S3 Table. Original codes divided into 14 categories under the major theme, Strategies for Success.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250662.s004

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Mary E. Charlson, Dr. Avelino Amado and Dr. Leslie Krushel for helpful comments.

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After Your PhD: Postdoctoral Advice for International Students

Dr. Trishnee Bhurosy is originally from Mauritius, but completed her PhD in Health Behavior at Indiana University-Bloomington. After earning her doctorate as an international student, she needed to find sponsored work to stay in the U.S.

Now, she is a postdoctoral fellow at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. She is also a WES Ambassador, and she would like to share her story with you!

Below, Dr. Bhurosy shares advice for other international students who are facing the intimidating transition from a doctoral program to postdoctoral life.

Transitions are hard, especially in academia.

For example, I recently completed my PhD in Health Behavior and started a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. It has been a whirlwind. My postdoctoral life began almost immediately after my dissertation defense.

Now, I realize how important it could be for other graduate students to learn from my experience.

Planning for Life After Your PhD

First, you need to think about what you want your life to look like after your PhD. This can be the hardest part of the process, especially when you are still in the midst of your graduate program.

It is known that academic jobs are scarce in the United States. Finding job security in academia is more difficult than ever before. Therefore, I was shocked to encounter several graduate students who did not have any idea how to apply for a job after obtaining their PhDs—let alone tenure-track teaching positions!

What I have learned is that preparation is key. If you are in the “dissertating” phase of your PhD, it is important to start applying for jobs. Your search should begin approximately one year before you expect to complete your program.

Connect with your advisor, alumni who successfully secured jobs, local career centers, and colleagues. Get as much feedback as you can on job application materials, including cover letters, résumés, research statements, teaching statements, and diversity statements. Additionally, seek advice on the dos and don’ts in your field.

You can also conduct independent research—just as you would if you were trying to succeed with a project at school. For example, one book that helped me to frame myself as a researcher and teacher was Dr. Karen Kelsky’s “The Professor Is In.” Additionally, the Center for Teaching at my school helped me prepare my written statements.

While I don’t know much about going directly to work in an industry setting, I did receive important advice while attending a career workshop. There, they told me to network with employees at the specific company where I wanted to work. This could be excellent advice for you, as well. Networking is an essential part of obtaining recommendations and securing interviews in the U.S.

Related Reading How to Ask for Recommendation Letters

Navigating the Job Market

During my first year exploring the job market, I had difficult choices to make.

For instance, I was offered a tenure-track position at a teaching-focused institution, but I decided not to go for it. That’s because I was in the process of sorting out student visa issues. Plus, I needed more research experience.

It’s also important to know what you want. That way, you will feel confident about accepting the right opportunity when you come across it. Instead of taking the first offer that came my way, I completed several on-campus interviews—and that process was eye-opening.

Here are a few of the items from my personal checklist:

• As an international scholar, I specifically sought out a workplace that valued diversity.
• Additionally, my future employer must be willing to sponsor a work permit.
• I was seeking reasonable teaching loads, along with grant-writing resources and support.

As a bonus, I looked for locations that offered good opportunities to hike and be outdoors. Having lived in one of the nation’s most beautiful college towns—Bloomington, Indiana—I was biased!

It is important to emphasize the fact that I started my job search early. This gave me enough time to go on a lot of interviews and find the right fit.

Interviewing as an International Student

Rejections are common when applying for jobs. I got many of those!

However, I took the chance to ask search committee chairs why I was not their candidate of choice. That is something you can do! It’s true that some chose not to reply to me. Others remained evasive. But some search committee chairs did reply to me with constructive feedback.

The most helpful advice I got was: “Get your PhD in hand, and have at least some months of postdoctoral experience.”

I took that advice seriously. I decided to apply for postdoctoral positions in the spring, after I defended my dissertation. One common drawback—which you might also face—is that some positions are only open to permanent residents or citizens. You will have to sort through open positions to find the ones for which you qualify.

Out of four postdoctoral applications that I completed that spring, I got three more interviews. And the first one offered me a position! It ticked all of the boxes on my list, and I accepted.

Related Reading Definition of Mentorship: What Is a Mentor and Do You Need One?

Starting Over After Your PhD

It was tough moving away from the town I loved, where I had done my PhD, to an unknown job in a big city.

However, I believe that this decision will help me in the long-term. At the time of writing this, I have spent about three months in this new position. I can firmly say that I have achieved a lot in a short period. I have already applied for a competitive, state-level grant and completed two research papers.

It is really important for postdocs to achieve tangible goals while they are in this transition period. Someone wise once told me: “Do work that will add a meaningful line to your CV.” I think that is probably one of the best pieces of advice that I have received throughout this process, and it has really stayed with me!

At this stage, unlike when you are still in school, there is not really someone to tell you what to do anymore. Hence, it is crucial that postdocs take proactive steps early in their career to be productive.

Transitioning to Postdoctoral Life

As important as it is to hit the ground running as a postdoc, it is equally important to make sure that you are surrounded by a good system of support and do things that give you a real mental break.

The activities that keep me sane are playing tennis regularly, hiking on weekends, knitting, and playing with my cat. Work-life balance can be an abstract concept in academia, but it is possible to achieve. I know it can be hard, but you must know when to stop working. Keep your goals in check, and make time for the things and people you love.

It is also important to keep a healthy perspective. I half-jokingly remind myself that if my academic career does not work, I will open a Mauritian food truck—just because I love cooking!

I truly hope that my advice will be helpful to any international students who find themselves in my shoes. There is life after your PhD. If I can successfully transition to a postdoctoral fellowship, you can, too.

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What is academic degree after PhD? [duplicate]

Does your country have any academic degrees after the PhD? If yes, what is it called and how graduating this degree?

Additionally, what is a Post-Doc? Is it a degree or something else? I have seen some people refer to a post-doc in their CV as they would a degree. Is this acceptable?

• international

• I'm closing your main question as it's a duplicate of a previous one. As for your question concerning what is a postdoc, you can have a look at: academia.stackexchange.com/q/2173/102 –  user102 Commented Mar 5, 2013 at 22:51

3 Answers 3

In general, a PhD is the highest degree you can get. A postdoc is simply a research position that is not permanent, i.e. no fixed contract or tenure. There are some exceptions, for example in the German system where you can get your Habilitation, which is a degree after you get your PhD. But in most systems there is nothing beyond a PhD in terms of degrees.

• Thanks for your answer. In our home country we have it. In Mongolia is so called Doctor of Science (ScD). PhD and ScD is very different degree by our rule. –  Uranchimeg Commented Mar 5, 2013 at 21:45

Many countries have higher degrees than the PhD.

In the UK , there's

• Litt.D Doctor of Letters / Literature
• DSc Doctor of Science
• LL.d Doctor of Laws
• D.D. Doctor of Divinity

Each of these typically requires the submission of a body of work - a research portfolio - together with a critique of the work. Or they may be awarded as honorary degrees; see the links above for the requirements for the degrees from the University of East Anglia (Litt.D, DSc, LL.d), and the University of Oxford (D.D.), accordingly.

A post-doc is just an academic research job that's typically done after attaining a PhD. It's not a degree in its own right

• Thanks for answer. It was interesting to read about different Doctor degrees in different country. –  Uranchimeg Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 20:09

As @Paul Hiemstra pointed out, the highest degree level is a Doctorate (Dr) however, with this in mind, there are different academic titles that you can gain if you work at a University or high-educational institute. Here are a few:

Senior Lecturer (Usually appointed to a academic with a level of experience, this is usually how many years they have been at a University).

Master Lecturer (This is usually a rank about a Senior Lecturer)

Reader (This is someone who usually has a vast amount of knowledge and a strong academic background who is employed by the University not so much to lecturer, but, to carry out research for the university).

Professor ( I believe this title is different in the US but this title is given to an academic who has an outstanding background in research and has published books, received a lot of funding for the particular University.) A Professorship is not something that can be studied for, it is something that is achieved and you are selected for by a special panel.

You can find more about titles here

• Thanks for very detailed answer. I am agree with you that Professor is academic person who have own space in any kind of science research field. –  Uranchimeg Commented Mar 6, 2013 at 20:13
• 2 This doesn't answer the quesstion. It's also restricted to the UK; other countries use different terms and/or use some of these terms in different ways. It also seems to be based on a misunderstanding: you say that a reader is employed "not so much to lecture" but even lecturers spend the majority of their time on research at the older, research-based universities. I've never heard of a "master lecturer". –  David Richerby Commented Jul 2, 2015 at 8:37

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Postdoctoral Researcher Salary: Average Salary of Postdocs Explored

Postdocs maybe one of the more natural paths to take after completing Ph.Ds, but like many jobs, salary matters. What is postdoctoral researcher salary like?

Postdoctoral researcher salary vary significantly depending on the country and sector. In the United States, the average postdoc salary is around $72,798 per year. You may earn around $60,000 a year in Canada, or up to 70,000 Euro annually in Europe.

In this post, we break down the average postdoctoral researcher salary, across places around the world. We also explore factors that determine the salary, and how you can land a postdoc position yourself.

Salary Of Postdoc Researcher Salary Per Year

Postdoctoral researcher salary vary significantly depending on the country and sector. In the United States, the average postdoc salary is around $72,798 per year , but this can vary with:

• experience,
• employer. 

For example, researchers in R&D roles within tech or pharmaceutical sectors might earn more than those in academia.

In higher-cost cities like Boston or San Francisco, the compensation is often higher but adjusted for the local cost of living​, so postdoctoral researcher salary in these areas are higher.

In Europe, postdoctoral researcher salary are also influenced by the country and institution. In Germany, postdocs typically earn between €4,253 and €5,951 per month depending on experience and the type of position.which amounts to an annual salary of around €51,000 to €71,000.​

In Switzerland, postdoctoral researcher salary are among the highest in Europe, with postdocs earning approximately CHF 80,000 to CHF 100,000 per year​.

Canada also offers competitive salaries for postdocs, with the average salary being about CAD 60,658 per year​.

Recent policy changes in Canada are aiming to improve postdoctoral researcher salary, especially in high-demand fields like biomedical and AI research.

What Factors Determine A Postdoctoral Researcher Salary?

When it comes to determining postdoctoral researcher salary, a variety of factors are at play.

Job Title & Field Of Work

The first is the job title and the specific field in which you work. Postdoctoral researcher salary in some fields are higher than others.

Postdocs in R&D roles in pharmaceutical companies often command higher salaries compared to those working in academia.

A postdoc in machine learning at a tech company could see an annual salary well above the national average for a postdoctoral researcher. In fields like AI and biomedical research, the postdoctoral researcher salary tend to be higher.

In machine learning or AI, a graduate with extensive industry experience might bypass the traditional PhD route and still get paid postdoc-level salaries. 

The second factor is the funding source.

Some postdoctoral researcher salary are supported through institutional funds, while others rely on fellowships or grants . The latter can make a big difference in your salary range.

In academia, a postdoctoral position funded by a prestigious fellowship might offer a more competitive salary than a standard postdoc position funded by an internal department budget.

Postdoctoral researcher salary with funding by federal grants or private foundations like the NIH or National Science Foundation typically pay more than roles supported by university funds alone.

Location plays a huge role in determining your salary. Postdoctoral researchers in the United States, especially in high-cost living areas such as Boston (Harvard, MIT), New York, or California, tend to make more annually compared to those in other regions.

However, the cost of living in these locations also significantly eats into that higher salary.

A postdoc in the Midwest might earn less per year, but with a much lower cost of living, the actual quality of life could be comparable to their coastal counterparts.

Your PhD Institution & Connections

Your PhD institution and connections can also influence salary. Graduates from prestigious universities often have more leverage in negotiating pay.

Those with high-impact publications or experience in in-demand fields may find themselves in a better position to secure higher salaries.

Alumni networks and career path mentorship also play a pivotal role, helping you land positions with better pay and benefits.

Overall Budget

The employer or hiring organization sets the salary range based on the overall budget, the field’s demand, and the seniority of the position.

Some companies, particularly in the tech or pharmaceutical sectors, offer generous benefits, stock options, and bonuses, in addition to the base postdoc salary.

This makes working outside of academia a lucrative option for many postdoctoral researchers looking to maximize their earnings.

Must All Postdoc Have A PhD?

Not all postdoctoral researchers need a PhD, but in most fields, it’s almost mandatory. 

From my experience in academia, a PhD is essential for a postdoc position, especially if you want to get a job as an assistant professor or move into a full-time research role. The PhD provides the foundation for executing independent research and securing funding.

In the pharmaceutical or tech industries, the situation can be different. While many postdocs in R&D roles still hold PhDs, some companies allow candidates with equivalent experience to take on similar roles.

Fellowships often require a PhD for eligibility. Still, some postdoctoral researchers may take on administrative or project associate roles that don’t require a doctoral degree.

These positions can offer lower salaries but still provide valuable research experience. If you are still stuck on whether to pursue a PhD for a postdoc, consider your long-term career path.

Tech companies may offer higher salaries without a PhD, but academic careers nearly always demand it.

How To Get A Postdoc Position?

Getting a postdoc position starts with finding the right job search strategies. You need to identify positions that align with your research interests, whether it’s in academia, industry, or R&D.

Job and researchers’ websites usually advertises available postdoctoral positions, like:

• National Postdoctoral Association, or
• Specific university job sites.

If you’re aiming for high-paying postdoc roles in the pharmaceutical industry or tech, look for positions with job titles in AI, machine learning, or biomedical research.

Networking plays a pivotal role. Connecting with mentors, attending academic conferences, or participating in webinars can lead to valuable insights on upcoming positions.

A postdoc in machine learning might learn about roles at tech companies directly through a former PhD advisor or industry connections.

Universities like Harvard or MIT may have exclusive job boards or connections to top employers.

Your CV and cover letter should emphasize not just your PhD, but also your publications, grants, and any research that aligns with the postdoc’s requirements.

Employers in academia typically look for strong publication records, while those in industry may prioritize specific project experience.

Funding is another important factor. Some postdoc positions are supported by fellowships, while others depend on institutional funds. A fellowship can offer higher salaries and more independence.

Remember that location impacts salary too. Postdocs in the United States, especially in high-cost cities, may earn more per year, but the cost of living should factor into your decision.

With persistence and the right connections, you can land a postdoc that suits your long-term career goals.

What Are The Benefits For Postdoctoral Researchers?

As a postdoctoral researcher, the benefits you receive go beyond your salary. Although postdocs are considered temporary roles, many employers offer comprehensive benefits packages.

In academia, government research labs, and the private sector, these benefits can significantly enhance your overall compensation.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is a common benefit, especially for full-time postdoc positions. In countries like the United States, postdoctoral researchers working at universities or large research institutions often receive:

• dental, and
• vision coverage.

The type and extent of the coverage depend on the employer and the job title, but it is generally aligned with the university or institution’s benefits for other full-time employees.

Pharmaceutical companies and tech firms offering postdoc positions often include top-tier health benefits, making industry roles particularly appealing.

Retirement Benefits

Retirement benefits can also be part of your package. While postdoctoral roles are typically short-term, many institutions still offer retirement savings plans, such as:

• 401(k) matching programs in the U.S.,
• Superannuation programs in Australia, or
• Pension contributions in Europe. 

This adds long-term value to your overall compensation, even if you’re only staying in the position for a few years.

Professional Development 

Professional development opportunities are another key benefit for postdocs. You may get paid to:

• attend conferences,
• present research, and
• access exclusive training. 

These opportunities not only enhance your CV but also offer valuable networking chances. Many postdocs also have the chance to publish as lead authors, boosting their career profile.

Fellowships

Fellowships may come with extra perks.

A prestigious fellowship might offer additional research funds or travel allowances, allowing you to attend international conferences or collaborate with researchers abroad.

Some postdocs also receive relocation assistance, making it easier to move for a new position, whether in academia or industry.

Stock Options and Bonuses

Postdocs working in high-demand fields like IT , AI or biomedical research might even receive stock options or bonuses in private-sector roles.

While this is less common in academia, tech companies and R&D labs often offer these benefits to attract top talent.

Many postdoctoral researcher salaries, especially in these sectors, include performance-based bonuses and access to company shares.

Postdoctoral Researcher Salary:  Get Paid Properly

Postdoctoral researchers’ salaries vary significantly depending on the country, institution, and field of study. Additional factors such as funding sources, experience, and cost of living influence pay.

Despite the relatively modest salary, postdocs are critical contributors to scientific advancement and academic research, often working long hours to further their expertise and career prospects.

How Much Is Postdoctoral Researcher Salary In The US?

In the United States, the average postdoc salary is around $72,798 per year

Location, job title, funding, your PhD, workload

Not necessarily, but most Postdoc position requires a PhD.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Johns Hopkins welcomes new cohort of Provost's Postdoctoral Fellows

This year's cohort includes scholars pursuing careers in political science, molecular biology, mechanical engineering, and pathology.

By Hub staff report

Johns Hopkins University's Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship (PPF) program has selected four new researchers for its 2024-25 cohort. The program, which was launched in 2015, identifies and supports early-career scholars with diverse life experiences and backgrounds as they pursue faculty positions and research.

"We are thrilled to welcome our newest cohort of Provost's Postdoctoral Fellows," said Roland J. Thorpe Jr. , JHU's associate vice provost for faculty diversity. "They represent the next generation of visionary scholars whose research and leadership will shape the future of academia and beyond. Their work at Johns Hopkins will not only advance their fields but also inspire new pathways for innovation, inclusion, and discovery."

The PPF program prepares participants for future faculty positions while offering them community, networking, and mentorship opportunities. It was one of several programs outlined in the Faculty Diversity Initiative 2.0 in 2022's Second JHU Roadmap on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion , and has since supported eight scholars.

Those interested in applying for next year's cohort can learn more on the JHU Faculty Affairs website . Applicants are welcome from any area of study, though priority will be given to those from STEM disciplines. Applications are open through Oct 11.

This year's fellows are:

Image caption: Angélica Cruz-Lebrón

Angélica Cruz-Lebrón completed her PhD in molecular virology at Case Western Reserve University in 2020. Prior to joining the PPF program in the Pathology department , Cruz-Lebrón held a short postdoctoral position at Case Western before joining the Sfanos lab as a postdoctoral fellow in pathology. Cruz-Lebrón's research focuses on the interplay between steroid metabolism by the gut microbiota and prostate cancer treatment resistance. This fellowship will support one of the first studies examining prostate cancer drug metabolism by the gut microbiota that leads to resistance to prostate cancer treatment. During her free time, Cruz-Lebrón enjoys photography and visiting art museums.

Image caption: Leann Mclaren

Leann Mclaren completed her PhD in political science at Duke University in 2024. Before joining the PPF program in the Political Science department , Mclaren was a doctoral student at Duke, where she received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and completed a dissertation funded by the Russell Sage Foundation, among other organizations. Mclaren's research focuses on Black political behavior in the U.S., social identity, and immigration politics. Mclaren is currently working on a book project that delves into the strategies and perceptions of Black candidates with "invisible identities," such as immigrant identity. This groundbreaking research involves the collection of the first known dataset of Black immigrant politicians elected in the U.S. Her unique approach combines content analysis and survey experiments to analyze the effectiveness of these candidates' identity strategies among Black and white Americans, potentially reshaping future political campaigns. When Mclaren is not working on her academic research, she enjoys crotchet, reading novels, and taking long walks in nature.

Image caption: Eugene Park

Eugene Park completed her MD/PhD in immunology at Washington University in St. Louis in 2020. Prior to joining the PPF program in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics , Park completed her residency in dermatology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and her graduate work in the lab of Wayne Yokoyama at Washington University. Park's research focuses on the mechanisms by which ribosomes regulate inflammasome activation in keratinocytes. Funding from this award will allow for detailed investigation of the molecular mechanisms that govern skin inflammation with potential ramifications on photosensitive skin disorders and skin autoimmunity. In her free time, Park enjoys reading, running, and baking.

Image caption: A. Michael West Jr.

A. Michael West Jr. completed his PhD in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in May 2024 under Professor Neville Hogan. His research focused on improving control algorithms for robots used in rehabilitation and dexterous manipulation. He investigated human upper-limb motor control and perception during complex manipulation tasks, introducing novel analytical techniques and experimental paradigms that provided new insights to the field. West aspires to establish his own research laboratory focused on using insights from human motor control and perception to develop innovative rehabilitation and assistance technologies, such as prosthetics, exoskeletons, and therapeutic robots. He is thrilled to join the Haptics and Medical Robotics Laboratory under Jeremy Brown . His project will enhance the understanding of haptic feedback during manipulation tasks, which will then be used to improve robotic rehabilitation technologies. West's passion for this field was sparked by his experiences as a college athlete. Recovering from various sports injuries fueled his dedication to developing technologies for injury recovery and motor impairment rehabilitation.

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Tagged fellowships , postdoctoral fellows

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Nevzlin Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship for the Academic Years 2025/27

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Theme for 2025-2027:

The Lives and Geographies of Jews Under Communist Rule and After

The Leonid Nevzlin Research Center invites applications for one post-doctoral fellowship (Nevzlin Fellowship) for the 2025-2027 academic years (from October 2025 to September 2027) to promote research on the theme of  “The Lives and Geographies of Jews Under Communist Rule and After.”

We welcome the applications of scholars from across a variety of disciplines, with the aim of widening current perspectives on this theme and engendering fruitful research and scholarly discussion. We encourage applicants to explore the Nevzlin Center's website to review the research projects that have been or are currently the focus of the Center's interests: https://nevzlincenter.huji.ac.il/projects .  We invite applicants to propose various topics including (though not limited to): 

• Jews within state/governmental and party administrations
• Jews as ‘objects’ of the regimes’ policies 
• Jewish subjectivity (Jewish life, self-perceptions, and self-documentation under Communist or post-Communist regimes) 
• Literary and other genres of productivity in the arts
• Jewish migration out of Eastern and East Central Europe from the second half of the 20th century and other transnational perspectives on Jews under Communism or afterwards.

The Nevzlin Fellow will be expected to carry out her/his research at the Leonid Nevzlin Center at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem from October 2025 through September 2027 (two academic years, subject to review and renewal after the first year). Extension of the fellowship for a third year may be possible under certain circumstances, but this would require an application and approval by the Center’s academic committee.  During this period, the fellow is expected to conduct her/his research primarily in Israel and present her/his work in guest lectures, Center workshops and conferences, and by preparing 2-3 peer-reviewed articles for scholarly publications. The Nevzlin Fellow should excel in research abilities and academic initiative and is expected to be actively involved in the Center’s activities. Knowledge of at least one East European language is required. 

Preference will be given to candidates who completed their PhD no earlier than October 2020. Candidates who have not yet received their doctoral degree may apply provided they produce an official letter of approval of their dissertation no later than August 1, 2025. 

We welcome applicants from all countries and nationalities. 

The Nevzlin Fellow will be granted a monthly stipend of NIS 10,000 and an annual research budget of NIS 7,000. An international fellowship recipient must arrange for full health insurance coverage for her/his entire stay in Israel.

Applicants must submit:

• An application form
• A letter including a statement of intent, a description of applicant’s expertise and training in her/his research field and academic initiative
• Research proposal (up to 5 pages), including research description, work plan for two years, names of one or more Israeli scholars with whom the candidate intends to interact during the postdoctoral research period and a list of archival or other collections in Israel that the candidate intends to use
• Two tentative proposals for workshops, conferences, or other academic/public programs that the candidate would like to organize during the postdoc period (each suggestion should be up to one-page long)
• Curriculum vitae, including list of publications
• One published writing sample, max. 35 pages
• Two letters of recommendation, submitted by the recommender directly to the Nevzlin Center
• Official M.A. or Doctoral Diploma or letter of confirmation

All material must be written in English by the candidate (not prepared through the use of AI technology) and should be submitted through the HUJI Scholarships System at the link:  http://hss.huji.ac.il/ . 

Please register as a new external candidate, sign in with your new password, and then find and select our grant under:  Select faculty > Humanities; select scholarship or award > Nevzlin Post-Doctoral Research Scholarship. 

Applications must be submitted by  December 15, 2024 . 

The winning application (as well as the other short-listed applications) will be announced by the end of January 2025.

For further inquiries: [email protected]  

Masha (Maria) Kitaichyk | Coordinator The  Leonid Nevzlin Research Center for Russian and East European Jewry

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 

Tel.  +972-2-5881959  [email protected]