By Zarna Pala, Ph.D.
After a successful Ph.D. defense and signing up for a postdoctoral position, you feel that you’re in for the long haul. Despite the passion and a stellar academic track record, you might not want to climb up the academic ladder and become a principal investigator (PI), or you might still want to continue and have your own lab. Postdoctoral training is designed to refine and expand upon skills in the areas of research techniques, analytical and critical thinking, and creative problem solving. In the words of Drs. Sharon Milgram and Lori Conlan, “Research skills alone will not take you far. In the twenty-first century, successful scientists will need strong communication skills; they must be able to teach, in the lab and perhaps in the classroom; they must collaborate effectively, often working in large multinational research groups; and they must function well both as leaders and managers.” I am in the fifth year of my postdoctoral training and will be soon transitioning to a higher education administration position. As I get ready to move on from my postdoc, I have put together tips that I learned from my own experiences.
- Adapt quickly and explore your options
Transitioning to a new postdoc position in a new place, with a new PI and peers, can be tough, but remember: change is inevitable and the sooner you adapt the better for your training experience. Talk to people from your lab to help you better understand the working environment of the lab. Once you have adapted, start exploring your career options. As scientists, we are good at doing research, so do your research on the variety of career options open to you. - Define goals and success
A postdoc position is temporary, and you must identify what your next professional goal is. What is your definition of success? You must acknowledge the fact that you have the primary responsibility for the development of your career. Early on in your training, create a habit of devoting an hour toward your career and professional development on a weekly basis, apart from time spent refining your research skills. - Communicate with your PI often about achieving your set goals
Once you have defined your research and professional goals, communicate it to your PI. Determine your expectations of your PI and work to achieve those goals in partnership with your PI. Create a timeline with specific benchmarks to achieve these goals step by step. Meet your PI regularly not only to discuss research but also to seek their mentorship as you pursue your professional goals. Your PI can (and should!) be your biggest support system and cheerleader. Defining your goals and having a plan will help you become more confident and productive. - Work hard…but intelligently
There is no substitute for hard work. But, along with hard work, you also need to make smart choices. I took many courses and professional development workshops during my time as a postdoc to empower me with practical knowledge that I coupled with the hard work of research. Always be on the lookout for these learning opportunities that align with the goals you’ve set for yourself. Also, look for early successes and side projects which might give you a few publications apart from your main project. - Develop soft/transferrable skills
Apart from the scientific skills, the most important skills you will gain from a postdoctoral training are communication, leadership, networking, and mentoring. As a postdoc, you can work on developing all these skills daily. Communicate your scientific findings with your lab and PI regularly in form of oral talks/presentations. Look for writing opportunities in the lab or outside of the lab to improve your written communication skills. Take lead not only of your project but other lab tasks and be a good citizen of the lab. Network with fellows from different labs and learn from their experience. Mentor postbac and summer students in the lab; this will teach you how to delegate tasks. - Network: Seek multiple mentors
Seek out mentors everywhere. Everyone knows something special that can make all the difference. Tracy Costello, former chair of the board of directors for the National Postdoctoral Association, says, “You don’t want to build your network when you need it. You want it in place before you need it.” Start networking from early on in your postdoc. The best ways to network are career symposia, conferences, professional societies, professional social networking sites, and informational interviews. - Connect with your graduate/postdoc training office
Many institutions have resources that the fellows never exploit simply because they aren’t aware of it. Find out what resources your institute can provide and utilize them to the maximum. For example, get in touch with career counselors from OITE, NIH, or program coordinators from NIAID ORTD and seek their advice to improve your training experience at the NIH. - Gain leadership/mentoring experience
Involve yourself in different professional and/or recreational committees at the FelCom. Working with FelCom not only adds value to your resume but also helps you gain leadership/mentoring experience outside of the lab. - Find your community
It takes a village to succeed. Find your community in the new environment. Grow your community support by finding people you can have a conversation with about your professional goals, immigration woes, emotional turmoil, intellectual thoughts and get substantial feedback when required. - Take care of yourself
Remember to find the balance in your life. Try to maintain a healthy and balanced life: eat timely meals, get enough sleep, find something to do outside of the lab which makes you happy. Take up journaling for self-assessment. Appreciate and celebrate the big & the little achievements in your postdoc journey.
If you’re a postdoc or a graduate student trying to navigate through this journey, remember: You Got This! Regardless of whether your postdoc training is short or long, you want to focus and put a conscious effort every single day on developing transferrable skills that will help you achieve that dream job you have been training for years to obtain.
As my mentor and PI, Dr. Joel Vega-Rodriguez, rightly says, “It’s a marathon and not a sprint race.” Plan it out and always have fun throughout the journey!