1. Types of Postdocs “What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?”
Laura K. Nisenbaum, Ph.D.
Lilly Research Laboratories
Women in Physiology
Workshop – EB 2004

2. Goals for Postdoc
“The postdoctoral years are a time to match one’s educational background, training, and interests with the changing world of employment and to acquire the skills necessary to enter that world”
- Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers, 2003

3. Goals for Postdoc Research experience Manuscript preparation
Presentations at professional meetings
Professional and ethical training
Networking
Goals not necessarily applicable to all types of postdocs
Teaching experience
Grant writing experience
An understanding of the drug-development process
Leadership/management experience
Experience with a budget

4. Factors to Consider for All Types of Postdocs
Advisor/Mentor
MOST IMPORTANT! Interview the mentor as he/she interviews you. This HAS to be a good fit, or it’s going to be a long two+ years.

5. Factors to Consider for All Types of Postdocs
Advisor/Mentor
Environment
Individual lab, department, institute
Things to consider:
Number of postdocs
Commitment to postdocs
Are the postdocs happy?
Could you see these postdocs, or other scientists in the environment, as potential life-long professional colleagues?
Where have the post-docs gone to after the post-doc?

6. Factors to Consider for All Types of Postdocs
Advisor/Mentor
Environment
Resources
Scientific (supplies, equipment, expertise)
Individual lab, departmental, institute-wide
Professional Training
Departmental or institutional programs specific to or available to postdocs

7. Postdoctoral Options Academia Research Institute Industry
Other internships
fellowships in the government (e.g. scientific advisor to a Senator/ political committee; see for examples)
internship at a museum such as the Smithsonian

8. Postdoctoral Options - Academia
University (Fine Arts) vs Medical School
Teaching opportunities (responsibilities) more common in a Fine Arts environment; important for obtaining a job at a four year college
Funding Sources –
Implications for research, salary and benefits
Research associates (paid from PI’s grant)
Less project flexibility
Standard benefits from lab or institution (e.g. medical, vacation, etc.)
Fellowship or individual grant
More project flexibility
Fewer employee benefits
Opportunities unique(?) to academia
Teaching
Mentoring
Grant writing

9. Postdoctoral Options – Research Institute
Type of Institution
Government (e.g. NIH)
Private (e.g. Cold Spring Harbor, Whitehead Institute)
Salary, benefits, terms
Salary tends to be somewhat higher
Standard employee benefits
2-3 year terms
Potential benefits
Large research facilities with extensive collaborative network
Opportunities not(?) available
Teaching
Grant writing

10. Postdoctoral Options – Industry
Types of Institution
Big Pharma
Biotech
Salary, benefits, terms
Salaries/benefits tend to be better (although recent changes have decreased this disparity)
Terms usually 2-3 years
Opportunities unique(?) to industry
Exposure to industrial culture, experience, and the drug-development process
Opportunities for teamwork and collaboration
Exposure to a broad range of scientific colleagues (regularly meet with medicinal chemists, toxicologists, etc)
Future position in the company (varies considerably)

11. Postdoctoral Options – Industry (con’t)
Potential drawbacks
Mergers/layoffs (of you or your mentor)
Health of company will fluctuate, and your opportunities (i.e. number of meetings you can attend, equipment you can buy) will fluctuate as well
Restrictions on publication (should be explicitly discussed)
Opportunities not(?) available
Teaching, but experience in leadership/training others can be gained
Grant writing, but you can get experience in writing other types of documents such as IND documents

12. Postdoctoral Options – Which is Right For You?
Scientific goals (basic vs applied)
Personality
individual vs team-oriented
internal vs external motivation
Additional constraints
Work/life balance
Family obligations
Dual Career
Geography

13. Can I Change Directions?
Yes, but…
If you want to change directions, RESEARCH and ASK QUESTIONS
Approach the problem of “what do I want to be when I grow up?” in the same way you approach scientific questions. Put your analytical skills/training to work!
Potential use of 2nd postdoc
Publish! Publish! Publish!
Network!

14. “The Golden Years”
"When I went from grad student to postdoc, I got a 20 percent increase--from 80 hours a week to 96."
The Scientist 12[23]:2, Nov. 23, 1998