There are many things to consider when you are searching for a postdoc position. The guide below of 10 frequently asked questions was compiled to help you navigate this process.
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1. When do I start the process of searching for a postdoc position?
There are really two separate processes when you are thinking about the next step in your career:
Career Exploration Process: It’s never too early to begin thinking about your career goals, learning about different career options, evaluating your skills and gaining the experiences you need to reach your goals, and working to cultivate and expand your network. During the career exploration process, you may realize that you don’t need postdoc training to reach your career goals. The career exploration process is a continuous process and tools like Individual Development Plans (IDPs) can help you to set and revisit your goals and evaluate your progress. Here are some resources to help you craft an IDP:
- myIDP (science, engineering, technology and math)
- ImaginePhD (social sciences and humanities)
- ChemIDP (chemical sciences)
- UW-Madison IDP (all fields)
Job Search Process: After evaluating your career goals, if you determine that you do need postdoct training to move forward in your desired career path, the job search process begins when you prepare your application documents (typically updating your CV, preparing a tailored cover letter, and gathering contact information for three references) and start actively looking for and applying for positions. Although this process can vary, most individuals seeking postdoc training start this process around a year before they expect to defend their thesis, graduate, and start their position, but this may be longer or shorter depending on your individual circumstances.
2. Where do I find postdoc positions?
When searching for potential postdoc positions, it’s important to understand that there are two main ways to find opportunities:
Some postdoc positions are posted online:
- On the Postdoc Opportunities Board on this website!
- Institution job boards (via Human Resources)
- Postdoc office website job boards
- Individual faculty webpages
- Discipline-specific listservs
- Professional society websites and career centers (e.g., National Postdoctoral Association, HNET, Chronicle of Higher Education, HigherEdJobs)
- Social media (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook)
- Research job boards (e.g., jobRxiv or PhD Insiders)
MANY MORE postdoc positions come from a direct connection with a potential faculty mentor:
- Whose publications are you reading?
- Who have you met at seminars or conferences?
- What institutions or departments interest you the most?
- Who is in your network (who do your faculty mentors or other colleagues in your current research group or department know)?
- Who is participating in postdoc recruitment events?
- Could you use informational interviews (short, informal conversations) to learn about departments and institutions, expand your network, and find new connections with potential mentors? The UC Berkeley Career Center has created a guide all about informational interviewing.
3. How do I apply for postdoc positions?
There are two ways to apply for a postdoc position:
Responding to a job positing: If there is an actual job posting, you can apply to the position by reading the post and following the posting instructions. Some positions want you to apply via an online job site, others instruct you to send your job materials directly to the hiring faculty member or other institutional contact.
- Be sure to pay attention to any requirements that mention previous postdoc experience or years past graduation date, as different institutions have different eligibility requirements for postdoc appointments.
- Also pay attention to any stated citizenship requirements. If a job posting states that you must be a US citizen or permanent resident to be eligible for the position, it is likely that the position is an institutional training grant position (see number 4 below).
Reaching out directly to a potential mentor: If you plan to “apply” by reaching out directly to a potential mentor, an email to the faculty member serves as your “application”. You can reach out with a short email message that includes:
- A brief introduction of yourself (1-2 sentences)
- How you are connected or who recommended them (if applicable)
- Why you are interested in their group and how your research or scholarship interests fit into their group
- Your timeline for starting a postdoc position and ask if they would be willing to meet to discuss potential positions in their group
- Your attached CV
- Optionally, a representative publication or two
You can send one follow-up message if you don’t hear back. Waiting about two weeks after your first message is appropriate.
NOTE: Depending on the institution, you may still be required to apply through a formal job posting, even if you have already been offered a position by the faculty mentor. The faculty mentor will be able to advise you on next steps the process.
4. What are postdoc positions on Institutional Training Grants?
- Institutional Training Grants are grants that are awarded to institutions by federal, state, and/or private foundation entities to provide a coordinated training program and stipend/salary support to selected researchers. Postdocs appointed to a Training Grant are selected by the institution to be part of the training program and are mentored by a faculty mentor who is part of the training program.
- Training grants are most commonly awarded by federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other programs within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The National Science Foundation (NSF) also has training grant programs.
- NIH “T32” training grant programs are the most common type of institutional training grants that postdocs are likely to encounter, but NIH also offers “T15”, “K12”, and “TL1” training grant positions for postdocs.
- When you are searching for postdoc positions, it’s important to keep in mind that:
- Only US citizens and permanent residents (green card holders) are eligible for many federal training grant positions.
- Most training grants pay postdocs a stipend (e.g., T32, T15)
- Some training grants pay postdocs a salary (e.g., IRACDA K12)
- The source and type of payment you receive as a postdoc (e.g., stipend or salary) will have implications on the type of postdoc appointment you receive. Also, it is important to note that postdocs on stipends may be required to keep track of and withhold funds for their expected tax contributions for annual tax return filings (see FAQ #7 for more information).
5. What can I expect during a postdoc interview?
- The purpose of the interview is two-fold: to determine if your skills and abilities match the needs of the group (will you be able to do the work that your faculty mentor expects, and do you want to work on the potential project?) and to determine if you and the group will be a good fit. During the interview process, you should be prepared to discuss your research or scholarship experiences and goals, career plans and goals, and interest in postdoctoral training in that particular group.
- After connecting with a potential faculty mentor, it’s not uncommon to have a phone interview as the first step in the process. This is typically a shorter conversation to help both you and the mentor determine if this might be a good fit. If there is a potential match, you will then be invited to participate in a full interview.
- Postdoc interviews are typically full-day in-person or virtual events. If you will be attending the interview in-person, any related travel expenses should be paid for by the research group (if a group asks you to cover your own costs to visit them, this is a red flag). Common elements of postdoc interviews include:
- Meeting with the mentor to discuss potential projects
- Touring the lab and facilities
- Meeting with other members of the group
- Presenting a seminar to the group or entire department (don’t forget to ask who the audience will be!)
- Meeting with other faculty members, staff, and trainees
- Socializing with the group (e.g., meals and happy hours with the group)
6. How can I evaluate a potential mentor and research group during the interview?
While it’s important to consider the research or scholarship and reputation of a potential mentor, these mean nothing if you are going to have a miserable experience. Your wellbeing matters and it’s MOST important that you find a mentor and institution that will be a good fit for you and your needs. The research group and institution and the city in which they are located should be a place where you feel comfortable and supported and where you will be able to gain the skills you need to pursue your future career goals (whatever they may be).
The best resource to ask questions about the culture of the group, institution, and city is to talk to current and past members of the group. Here are just a few examples of questions you could ask to determine if a potential group would be a good fit for you:
Questions to ask your potential faculty mentor:
- What is your mentoring style? How often will we meet?
- Is the funding stable? Will I be expected to secure my own funding?
- What are your expectations for postdocs in your group?
- Where have former members taken positions?
- Will I be able or expected to supervise more junior members of the group?
- Do you support my participation in career and professional development training?
- Do you support my participation in teaching opportunities?
Questions to ask about the potential project:
- What will the project be and how much is defined? Is it broad or narrow in scope?
- Will there be an opportunity or expectation to write grants?
- What kinds of new skills and techniques can I learn?
- Will there be opportunities to present my research?
- Will I be able to take some of the project with me (if planning to pursue an academic career path)?
Questions to ask current and former members of the research group:
- What is the work culture?
- How is the work-life balance?
- What is it like living in the city where the institution is located (if that is important to you)?
- How long do postdocs typically stay?
- How available is the faculty mentor, typically?
- Why have past members left and where have they gone after leaving?
- Is the group social (if that is important to you)?
- Do trainees feel supported?
- Are there opportunities to mentor junior members of the group?
Questions to ask about the institution:
- Is there career and professional support for postdocs (e.g., through a Postdoc Association, Postdoc Office, or Career Center)?
- Are there opportunities for career, professional, teaching, and research or scholarship development that will help get me to the next stage in my career?
- Does the institution have the facilities and technical expertise needed (e.g., core facilities) to support the research or scholarship I want to pursue?
- Does the institution value diversity? What kinds of efforts are they making in the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging space?
Questions to ask yourself:
- Does the location fit my needs?
- Do I want to be in a big or small research group?
- Do I want to work with a new investigator or someone more established?
- What kind of mentoring style do I prefer and need to thrive? Do I want a mentor that is more hands-on or hands-off? Do I want to be mentored by a team or an individual?
- Will I work independently on my own project or are the research or scholarship activities more team-based?
- Is the “personality” of the group a match for my needs?
- Is this a place where I will be able to gain the skills and experiences to advance in my career?
- Does the institution have enough programs and initiatives in place that I feel like I would be supported?
For more information, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Intramural Training and Education has created a Guide to Picking a Postdoc and Guide for Evaluating Potential Mentors.
Also consider checking out the Nature Careers Podcast: ‘Is the PI a jerk?’ Key questions to ask when you’re moving lab.
7. What should I consider when evaluating a postdoc offer?
Congratulations on receiving an offer! No matter how excited you are or how certain you are that you will accept, resist the temptation to accept immediately because there are a number of things you should consider when you are evaluating an offer before accepting.
Salary
- Does the institution have a minimum salary required for postdocs? What are the salary norms for postdocs across the institution? Are there automatic salary increases each year?
- What are the salary norms for postdocs in your field?
- You can familiarize yourself with average postdoc salaries in your field and city by using resources such as GlassDoor and by looking up salaries at the institution (salaries at public institutions are posted publicly)
- A good reference for postdoc salaries in the biomedical sciences is the postdoctoral stipend scale associated with the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (see policy notices for the latest stipend levels)
- Cost of living calculators are useful tools that can help you determine if the proposed salary will meet your needs in the location of the appointment. A salary that looks great in one area of the country may not be enough to live on in another area of the country.
Appointment length and opportunities for renewal
- Many institutions have a limit on the length of time you can be appointed as a postdoc. Oftentimes, this limit is 5 years. Some institutions allow for extensions, others do not. Some institutions take into account previous postdoctoral experience in the term limit, others do not.
- Think about the opportunities for appointment renewal. Year-long appointments are common, but this means nothing if your faculty mentor runs out of funding. If you haven’t yet asked about the funding outlook in the group, now is the time to ask that question.
Benefits provided and associated out-of-pocket costs (e.g., health insurance, paid leave, retirements benefits, childcare, etc.)
Visa sponsorship and associated requirements (e.g., is there detailed guidance on navigating visa concerns for international postdocs posted on the institution’s website?)
Type of postdoc appointment
- Some institutions classify postdocs as full employees, as non-employees, as special employees, as faculty, as students, and everything in between. It’s important to understand the type of appointment you will have, and its associated policies and benefits before accepting an offer.
- At many institutions, multiple classifications of postdoc appointments exist, which is typically dependent on your source of funding and whether you will be paid a salary through the institution or will be directly paid a stipend (e.g., from an NIH T32).
- It is important to understand that there are tax implications, such as tax withholding and the documentation you may receive from the institution that outlines income paid to you, which are dependent on whether you will be paid via a salary or a stipend. The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has compiled an Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs guide that outlines some of these issues.
- Understanding how different types of fellowships or grant funding will affect your postdoc classification and associated benefits and taxes is also important to keep in mind if you will be applying for your own funding later on. It is not uncommon for postdocs to have different classification types during their training, and it’s important to understand the implications that might come with receiving your own grant or fellowship funding.
8. How can I learn more about policies, benefits, and professional development at a particular institution?
You can always start by asking your potential faculty mentor, but they are unlikely to know all the details. They may also have varying levels of familiarity of postdoc-specific resources on campus. You should be prepared to search an institution’s website and reach out to other offices if necessary. This site includes links to all participating institutions’ benefits and postdoc office pages to aid you in this process. You can begin your search by looking for:
- Postdoc association and/or postdoc office website
- Postdoc handbook and/or postdoc policies and benefits webpage or guide
- HR (human resources) website
- Benefits website
- International office website
- Diversity website
9. Can I negotiate my offer?
Many prospective postdocs don’t realize it, but unlike graduate appointments, postdoc offers, just like any regular job offer, are typically negotiable. Sometimes postdoc offers are not negotiable (depending on the source of funding and associated restrictions), but it’s not unreasonable to ask. If you have a competing offer, tell your potential mentor so they can offer to match it or beat it.
It is important to note that there is currently a shortage of postdocs in the US and Europe. Many faculty members are looking to hire postdocs for their groups, and there is an abundance of available positions. This means that you have leverage in the negotiation process—you don’t need to accept a low-ball offer or an offer that doesn’t meet your needs.
Reasonable requests for negotiation include:
- Higher salary (within reason – see advice above on assessing salary norms)
- Relocation assistance (many institutions post their relocation policies on their HR webpage, so you can find typical relocation assistance norms from these resources to aid in your negotiations)
- Research or professional development funds ($2-3K)
- Health insurance assistance (if premiums are not subsidized for postdocs)
- If you will be supported by an institutional training grant position or will be applying for your own fellowship funding, be sure to look into the policies outlined by the fellowship and benefits that are provided by the fellowship.
- If you are an international postdoc, there may be restrictions on benefits you are able to receive. It is important to understand health insurance options that are available to you and whether or not these options will meet the requirements of your visa. If you will not receive subsidized health insurance (or will need additional insurance to satisfy visa requirements), you can ask about receiving health insurance assistance as part of your offer.
If you are feeling unsure about the negotiation process, there are resources available for you. If you are currently at an institution with a career center, you can explore making an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your offer and negotiation strategies. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers the online Work Smart & Start Smart: Salary Negotiation program with webinars and an online course.
10. What does a postdoc’s mentor expect from a new postdoc?
This is a great question to discuss with your potential faculty mentor during the interview process, but in general, postdoc mentors will be looking for someone who can:
- Think independently and contribute new ideas when you are developing your project
- Manage your project and your time to drive the project forward
- Learn new skills and techniques quickly
- Supervise and mentor junior members of the group
Since you will have completed graduate training, your mentor will expect that you have foundational research or scholarly experience and won’t need to start over from scratch. It’s expected that you will be able to hit the ground running at a faster pace than at the beginning of your graduate studies. With that being said, there are expected adjustment periods in any new position, especially if you are changing your field of study or will be using research techniques or skills that are unfamiliar to you.
- This video from The Jackson Laboratory shares some things faculty mentors look for in a postdoc
As you’re getting started, the National Postdoctoral Association has developed 6 core competencies to assist postdoctoral scholars in seeking out relevant training experiences. New postdocs should already have developed a foundation in each of these competencies during graduate training, and faculty mentors will likely expect new postdocs to focus on aspects of developing your skills in these areas, which include:
- Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge
- Research skill development
- Communication skills
- Professionalism
- Leadership and management skills
- Responsible conduct of research
Bonus Question! How do I make the most of my postdoc position once I get started?
As you are getting started, here are just a few of the things you can do to make sure you’re on track to reach your training and career goals:
Familiarize yourself with resources:
- Does your new institution have a postdoc association and/or a postdoc office, a career center, a teaching center, and/or resources and centers for women and minority scholars?
- What events and trainings are offered through different offices in your institution that can help you develop your skills?
- Does your institution have institutional memberships you can use, for example membership in the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)?
- What opportunities exist in your field’s professional societies?
- What opportunities exist in your local community?
Make a plan:
- The National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has developed A Postdoc’s Guide to the Postdoc Timeline to help you develop your plan as you reach different stages of your postdoc training.
- Align your expectations with your faculty mentor’s and commit to regular meetings and evaluations where you can discuss your goals, progress, and expectations. You can also talk to your faculty mentor about using a mentoring compact. For example, see the Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
- Create and use an Individual Development Plan (IDP) to help you set and keep track of your career goals:
- myIDP (STEM)
- ImaginePhD (social sciences and humanities)
- ChemIDP (chemical sciences)
- UW-IDP (all fields)
- If you are planning to move on to a faculty career, the Academic Career Readiness Assessment developed by UC San Francisco is a self-assessment tool to help you explore and apply for faculty positions at different types of institutions.
Develop your network:
- Create and maintain a LinkedIn profile if you haven’t already
- Get involved in your Postdoc Association
- Get involved in other groups on campus or in your community to help develop your leadership skills
- Think about forming secondary mentoring relationships. The UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research has created Resources for Selecting Mentors and Assessing Fit and the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity has created a mentoring map to help you create meaningful mentoring relationships.
- Use informational interviews to help you explore different career options. Berkeley Career Engagement has created a guide all about informational interviewing.
Remember, unlike a graduate program, you have a lot of flexibility and control in your career as a postdoc. If you find that your postdoc position is a bad fit, or you find that you are ready to move on to the next step in your career, you can leave your current postdoc position at any time. It’s up to you to take charge of your own career.
Resources
- UW-Madison Guide to Individual Development Plans
- myIDP (STEM)
- ImaginePhD (social sciences and humanities)
- ChemIDP (chemical sciences)
- UW-IDP (all fields)
- Informational Interviewing by Berkeley Career Engagement
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Intramural Training and Education Guide to Picking a Postdoc
- NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education Guide for Evaluating Potential Mentors
- Nature Careers Podcast: ‘Is the PI a jerk?’ Key questions to ask when you’re moving lab
- Stipend Scale associated with the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Overview of Tax Issues for Postdocs
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) Work Smart & Start Smart: Salary Negotiation program
- The Jackson Laboratory: Things Faculty Look for in a Postdoc
- NPA Core Competencies
- NPA A Postdoc’s Guide to the Postdoc Timeline
- UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research: Resources for Aligning Expectations
- Mentoring Compact Examples, compiled by UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Compact Between Postdoctoral Appointees and Their Mentors
- UC San Francisco Academic Career Readiness Assessment
- UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research: Resources for Selecting a Mentor and Assessing Fit
- National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Mentoring Map
This resource was created by Dr. Valerie Miller, Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, University of Illinois Chicago.