Choose A Postdoc PI That Wants To Do This

Let’s talk about why mentoring is so critical.

[@Triplepatton]

That's a very useful video, as the other ones of your series. Thank you for taking that time! I should have watched it way before choosing my postdocs, as clearly that's the missing part of my experience in academia (being mentored). I believe it's also the problem of international postdocs and cultural differences: being from latine Europe, and having done a PhD in the UK where I could feel (and appreciate !) that mentoring thing, it has totally disappeared during my continental postdocs. The concept of the mentor is clearly not something here, unless your PI has himself spent a good amount of time in the UK/US.

[@debajyotikabiraj4241]

Thank you for your advice. I did the same mistake in my PhD and now I'm really struggling. The most ironic is that my supervisor is not aware of my work and he is not even ready to listen anything. Now somehow I completed my work and started writing the thesis and hoping for better work in the future.

[@gradschooladvice9537]

Best of luck on your future endeavors. You will find more success on your next stage I’m sure.

[@VC_333]

Thank you so much for your videos. I feel very lucky and fortunate that my post-doc advisor matches all of these criteria .

[@VC_333]

Unfortunately my PhD advisor treated me like a post-doc. They constantly reminded me they were paying me, and using me to just get their work done; I was their first student and the workhorse of the lab. Fortunately, my post-doc advisor is an actual mentor. As referenced in one of your previous videos, my PhD advisor didn't think it was possible for me to learn science without gaslighting and scolding so harshly without any appreciation - demolishing my confidence.

[@onuandrew2460]

Excellent video. Thank you very much.

[@Chloe-zc4fq]

Thank you so much for your videos. I got the post doc offer I wanted and I definitely would not have been as well prepared for the interview had I not watched your post doc application videos. They were extremely helpful

[@gradschooladvice9537]

Many congrats!

[@Chloe-zc4fq]

Thank you!

[@lthoughchris]

Thank you for your informative video. I wonder how can we know whether the PI is willing to mentor us when we are applying for the post doc position? I think you never know whether they are ideal PIs before you started to work in their groups.

[@HassanHayatch]

Thanks for the video. My question is: how do we know that this PI does care. usually, we read the profile and lab website, and to ask such types of questions to other labmates is highly risky. Kindly give some tips.

[@gradschooladvice9537]

Usually you will be able to tell in interactions with them and with their postdocs. Look to see how engaged they are with you vs just wanting to talk about their research. How do the postdocs think about their PI. Ask them or the PI what their mentor style is.

[@HassanHayatch]

@@gradschooladvice9537 Thanks

[@ir.agusnugroho]

Thanks for your advice I found it is a useful tip! I am now working on my post-doc application, to ensure that the PI is willing to mentor me, should I ask in a decent way to him over email communication, or how to do that? hope you can reply my comment and question.

[@meymand1]

Hi. Thanks for your good advices. I have a question that is it kindly possible for you to get corrected my cover letter and email to apply for my postdoc position?

[@monazzashahab5767]

How long before graduating did you start the search for postdoc positions?

[@Soyclaris]

I have a question related to applying to a postdoctoral position that is not exactly aligned with my graduate research. My dissertation is pretty specific and I’d like to pivot and apply to a postdoctoral position that is somewhat related. Basically, I did the research that my PI was working on. So now that I’m applying for post-docs I’m nervous that my research will not be appealing to future post-doc positions. How do I present my work and make it relevant at my interview.

[@gradschooladvice9537]

Can you give some specifics on what your research was on (topics, techniques) and what you would be interested in doing for the Postdoc?

[@Soyclaris]

@@gradschooladvice9537 Thanks for your reply. So my dissertation is on maternal prepregancy BMI and biological lactation outcomes-milk volume, achievement of lactogenesis as measured by milk biomarkers (sodium, potassium, and na:k milk ratio at postpartum day 7) and mothers achievement of 500mL of milk volume by day 14 postpartum. I'd like to pivot in one of 2 ways: 1. Public health specifically looking at maternal obesity and breastfeeding outcomes and infant health outcomes (development, visits to ED or visits to dr) or 2. Studying pathways and mechanisms that have demonstrated to negatively affect the development of the mammary gland in obese animal models and possibly this obesity/inflammation may also play a role in mammary gland differentiation in obese women.

[@experimentalearthquakeengi3307]

I got a postdoc position at zhejiang University in China. Should i go for this opportunity or wait for response from universities US and UK?

[@gradschooladvice9537]

No one size fits all answer. Depends on what you think the best position will be.

[@experimentalearthquakeengi3307]

@@gradschooladvice9537 The other postdoc position results are due June-july should I wait(with the possibility that I won't get in)..or persue the china one till then.

[@gradschooladvice9537]

Which do you want?

[@experimentalearthquakeengi3307]

@@gradschooladvice9537 one in UC San Diego that is my dream postdoc. But what about contingency plan.

[@gradschooladvice9537]

You can always accept this position and if you get the SD position kindly tell the professor you are taking a different position.