Full Description
A practical guide to thriving as a postdoc and preparing for what comes next.
Postdoctoral scholars are among the most productive researchers on campus, yet the postdoc role often comes with uncertainty, isolation, and uneven support. In Postdoc, Victoria Hallinan and Alark Joshi address the unspoken expectations that shape postdoctoral life and offer concrete strategies for turning a temporary position into a purposeful career stage.
Hallinan and Joshi provide detailed guidance on setting goals, clarifying mentor expectations, developing a research agenda, pursuing grants, publishing strategically, and collaborating effectively. They confront difficult but common challenges head-on, including authorship disputes, compensation concerns, lab culture conflicts, burnout, and misconduct. Dedicated chapters walk readers through academic job searches—from preparing application materials to negotiating an offer—as well as industry and alternative academic careers, with practical advice on translating scholarly experience into new professional contexts. The book also looks beyond the postdoc itself, offering guidance for the first year as a faculty member and a comprehensive chapter for international scholars navigating visas, employment systems, taxes, housing, and cultural expectations in the United States. Interviews with postdocs, faculty, administrators, and industry professionals throughout provide lived perspectives and actionable insight.
This essential guide also addresses the often-overlooked work of building community, networking, conducting informational interviews, joining professional associations, and cultivating relationships across departments. Postdoc equips scholars to advocate for themselves and move confidently toward their next role—inside or beyond the academy.
Contents
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1. Being Productive in Your New Research Environment
1.1 Assessing Your Skills and Setting Goals
1.2 Establishing Clear Expectations
1.3 Effective Communication with Your Mentor
1.4 Time Management and Tracking Your Activities
1.5 Balancing Research and Teaching Duties
1.6 Handling Faculty Mentor-Postdoc Dynamics
1.7 Checklist
1.8 Interview with Chris Smith, Virginia Tech
1.9 Interview with Ghulam Jilani Quadri, University of Oklahoma
Chapter 2. Finding Your Community at Your New Institution
2.1 The Importance of Networking
2.2 Informational Interviews
2.3 Building Relationships with Colleagues
2.4 Joining Professional Associations
2.5 Engaging with Undergraduate and Graduate Students
2.6 Balancing and Maintaining Professional Connections
2.7 Checklist
2.8 Interview with Cintia Sagawa, PreScouter Inc.
2.9 Interview with Carolina Nobre, University of Toronto
Chapter 3. Teaching Development, Research Grants, and Publications
3.1 Leveraging Teaching Opportunities
3.2 Pursuing Research Grants and Funding
3.3 Developing Your Research Agenda
3.4 Publications
3.5 Collaboration
3.6 Managing Research Projects Effectively
3.7 Checklist
3.8 Interview with Artur Pericles Lima Monteiro, Yale University
3.9 Interview with Karena Nguyen, Georgia Tech University
Chapter 4. Navigating Difficult Situations as a Postdoc
4.1 Preparing for a Difficult Conversation
4.2 Challenging Situations with Mentors/Advisors
4.3 Addressing Authorship and Credit Issues
4.4 Challenges with Mentoring Others
4.5 Bullying, Discrimination, or Other Forms of Misconduct
4.6 Lab/Department Culture Mismatch
4.7 Coping with Burnout and Stress
4.8 Challenging Situations with Lab Managers or Other Senior Personnel
4.9 Checklist
4.10 Interview with Karen Peterson, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
4.11 Interview with Sabrina Woods, Consultant
Chapter 5. Applying for Academic Jobs
5.1 Types of Universities
5.2 Considerations for Teaching/Teaching-Track Faculty Positions
5.3 Typical Job Search Timeline
5.4 Getting Your Application Materials Ready
5.5 Strategies for Your Job Search
5.6 Acing the Video Interview
5.7 Preparing for In-Person Interviews
5.8 Negotiating Your First Job Offer
5.9 Checklist
5.10 Interview with Lace Padilla, Northeastern University
5.11 Interview with Katie Kroeper, Sacred Heart University
5.12 Interview with Amit Shesh, Northeastern University
Chapter 6. Applying for Industry Jobs and Diverse Roles in Academia
6.1 Strategies for Your Job Search
6.2 Translating Your Experience into an Industry Job Application
6.3 Preparing for Interviews
6.4 Negotiating Your First Job Offer
6.5 Adjusting to a New Kind of Role
6.6 Starting Your New Role
6.7 Checklist
6.8 Interview with Jacob Gonzales, Yale University
6.9 Interview with Danielle Raad, Stanford University
6.10 Interview with Teresa Ramirez Montagut, Regeneron
6.11 Interview with Blessing Enekwe, University of Maryland
Chapter 7. Surviving and Thriving in Your First Year as a New Faculty Member
7.1 Transitioning from Postdoc to Faculty
7.2 Managing Your Mentor Team
7.3 Attending the New Faculty Orientation
7.4 Managing Your Teaching Responsibilities
7.5 Managing Your Service Expectations
7.6 Managing Your Research, Writing, and Publishing
7.7 Mentoring
7.8 Balancing Teaching, Research, and Service
7.9 Checklist
7.10 Interview with Lindsay Wright, Yale University
7.11 Interview with Mehmet Emre, University of San Francisco
Chapter 8. Navigating the System as an International Postdoc
8.1 Familiarizing Yourself with the Available Resources
8.2 Applying for Your Visa and Navigating Immigration Issues
8.3 Understanding Your Employment Benefits
8.4 Taxes
8.5 Driving and Housing
8.6 Cultural Norms in American Higher Education
8.7 Building a Support Network for International Scholars
8.8 Checklist
8.9 Interview with Paola Cepeda, Washington University in St. Louis
8.10 Interview with Sudheesh Allikka Parambil, Yale University
Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Acknowledgments
Appendix
A.1 Questions to Ask When Interviewing for a Postdoc Position
A.2 Cover Letter Guidance and Sample CVs
A.3 Interview Preparation Checklist
A.4 Resources and Additional Reading
Notes
References
Index
