Postdoctoral OpportunitiesCEMPH Symposium

June 20, 2011

Jeffrey BeckerChancellor’s Professor and Head

Microbiology DepartmentUniversity of Tennessee

• Start at least one year before graduating• Biggest resource - networking

Go to meetings, talk with PIs whose research you like

Approach seminar speakers Ask your colleagues/advisors

• Closely examine the literature• Email potential mentors

Finding a Postdoc

TEN Simple Rules for Selecting a Postdoctoral Position

Philip E. Bourne and Iddo FriedbergPLoS Computational Biology

November 2006Vol. 2, Issue 11, e121

RULE 1: Select a Position That Excites You

Science Will Motivate You (not the $$$)

BUT…Funding of Lab is IMPORTANT

RULE 2: Select a Lab That Suits Your Lifestyle

Visit the lab before deciding(Talk to Lab Members!)

Life outside of lab matters

RULE 3: Select a Lab and Project that

Develops New Skills

Increase Marketability by Maximizing Versatility

RULE 4: Develop a Backup Plan

Consider Working on Two Projects:A) High risk, high payoff

B) Guaranteed to produce

RULE 5: Choose a Project with Tangible

Outcomes That Match Your Career Goals

Publications, publications

What happened to previous postdocs in the lab?

RULE 6: Negotiate First Authorship from Start

Don’t BE SHY!

RULE 7: The Time in a Postdoctoral Fellowship

Should Be Finite

Three Years Is Optimal

RULE 8: Evaluate the Growth Path

Can You Take the Project With You?

RULE 9: Strive to Get Your Own Money

Provides Level of IndependenceImportant for Resume

RULE 10: Learn to Recognize Opportunities

Jump on New/Emerging Areas

Additional “Rules”Consider Various Opportunities That

Match Your Goals

• Academia• Industry• Government• USE THE WEB (See Next Slide)

Science magazine – career center and “how-to” tips• http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/

• http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/tools_tips/how_to_series

UC-Berkeley Site

http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/biopostdoc.html

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

http://www.orau.org/ornl/postdocs/ornl-pd-pm/default.aspx

Europe's only web site -postdoctoral job opportunities.

http://www.findapostdoc.com/

Things To Do During Postdoc

• Publish, publish, publish• Network with Faculty/Colleagues

not just your mentor• Participate in Seminars• Join Group Projects• Go to Meetings

even if you have to pay for them• TEACH A COURSE, if you want to become

a professor• DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE EDGE -SEPARATE

YOURSELF FROM YOUR FELLOW POST-DOCS BY UNIQUE ????