After three postdoctoral years, a researcher takes stock. He is a co-author on five of the lab's papers, first author on none, has never led a grant application, and his project is a branch of his supervisor's that he can't easily take with him. He has worked hard and the group values him. Then he applies for lectureships and a committee asks the question he cannot answer: “What is your research programme?”
A postdoc exists to turn you from someone who executes other people's projects into an independent researcher. If that transition hasn't happened by the end, the position hasn't done its job, however productive it was.
Types of postdoc
| Type | Funding | Independence | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project-funded postdoc | Supervisor's grant | Low to moderate; you deliver the grant's aims | You want new techniques or a strong group |
| Personal fellowship | Awarded directly to you | High; you set the question | You already have a clear idea of your own |
| Teaching postdoc | Department | Moderate, with a teaching load | You're aiming for teaching-focused institutions |
| Industry or applied institute postdoc | Company or institute | Varies; tied to products | You're considering careers beyond universities |
A personal fellowship carries the most weight on a CV because it proves you can win competitive funding. Many funders offer fellowships for researchers within a few years of their PhD; deadlines are often early and you'll need a host supervisor. Check eligibility on each funder's official site.
Choose the supervisor, not the university name
A good postdoctoral lab has three features: a supervisor who has helped previous postdocs into independent positions, room for you to develop your own direction, and enough financial stability that you're not worrying about your contract every six months. To check:
- Find former postdocs from the lab (group page, LinkedIn) and see where they are now.
- Ask to speak with a current postdoc without the supervisor present.
- Scan recent publications: do postdocs appear as first authors, and ever as corresponding authors?
Questions to ask before accepting
- How long is the contract, how secure is the funding, and what does renewal depend on?
- May I apply for grants as principal or co-investigator?
- When I leave, can I take part of the project, data or materials with me?
- Can I teach or supervise students to gain experience?
- What are the expectations on hours and supporting students in the lab?
- Will you support my applications for independent positions later?
Question 3 is often skipped and matters enormously. Someone who starts a faculty job with no portable project can spend a year or two rebuilding from scratch.
Your first hundred days
- Month 1: learn the group and its procedures, and pin down the main project you've been hired for. Write down three questions of your own in the lab's area.
- Month 2: meet your supervisor and agree in writing: the main project, a side project of your own (around 20 per cent of your time), publication expectations and a plan to apply for a personal fellowship.
- Month 3: draft an individual development plan listing the skills your target role requires that you lack: teaching, supervision, budgeting, grant writing.
Building independence step by step
Independence doesn't mean separating from the group. It means having a line of research that outsiders recognise as yours. Hiring committees look for:
- First- or corresponding-author papers in your own direction.
- Small grants you led: travel funds, pilot grants, personal fellowships.
- Collaborations you initiated with other groups.
- Supervision experience with concrete outcomes.
- Invitations to speak at seminars and symposia.
Raising a side project without sounding disloyal
Many postdocs avoid mentioning their own project for fear the supervisor will think they're unfocused. The effective framing ties it to the lab's interests: “This extends our results to a new model system. If I have pilot data in six months, I'll use it for a personal fellowship, which brings another source of funding into the group.” Agree authorship in advance: who is first author and who is corresponding author on papers from the side project. Confirm it in an email after the meeting to avoid misunderstandings later.
Knowing when to leave
Some signs that a position has stopped serving your career: after two years, no first-author paper is even in the pipeline; your supervisor won't let you apply for your own funding; you mostly provide technical service for others. Moving from postdoc to postdoc without the profile getting stronger is a loop many people get stuck in. The best time to decide is early, while you still have more than a year left on your contract.
Try this: a six-monthly review
| Area | Question |
|---|---|
| Publications | How many first-author papers did I submit or publish this period? |
| Funding | Have I applied for anything as lead applicant? |
| Own direction | Can I describe my five-year research programme in one paragraph? |
| Network | How many people outside the lab know my work? |
| Skills | Which skills in my development plan now have evidence behind them? |
| Market | How many relevant job adverts have I read, and what am I missing? |
This week, write a paragraph of about 150 words describing your research programme for the next five years, as if it opened a faculty job application. If that paragraph describes your supervisor's project rather than yours, book a conversation about your own project this month.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
What is a postdoc?
A postdoc is a temporary research position after a PhD, usually lasting a few years, designed to build experience and publications so you can move into an independent role such as a lecturer or group leader.
How long should a postdoc last?
There is no fixed length, but the aim is to move into an independent position as soon as your profile is strong enough. If several years pass without your profile improving, it is worth reconsidering your path.
How do I choose a postdoc lab?
Look at whether the supervisor's previous postdocs moved into independent roles, whether you can develop your own direction, and whether funding is stable. Talking to current postdocs is the best check.
What is the difference between a postdoctoral fellowship and a project postdoc?
A fellowship is awarded directly to you to pursue your own question, which makes it highly valuable on a CV. A project postdoc is paid from a supervisor's grant to deliver that grant's aims.
How can I show research independence as a postdoc?
Through first- or corresponding-author papers in your own direction, small grants you led, collaborations you initiated, and documented experience supervising students.
