Finding Success as a Postdoc
The content below will guide you in exploring how to transition into a postdoc position and how to set yourself up for success as you build professional relationships. Not only can expectations differ between a postdoc and a mentor, but the communities that you interact with might also be different than your previous experiences. This content will help you successfully parachute into a postdoc position and hit the ground running.
Module Introduction
Module Introduction
The learning objectives for the following content are:
- Develop an awareness of how multiple identities impact personal and professional interactions and acknowledge a variety of common misconceptions for the roles of postdocs.
- Explore your community of practice, articulate your role in this community, and consider how to successfully transition into the community through building cultural capital.
- Identify and prioritize the expectations for your postdoctoral training, align your expectations to those of your mentor, and reflect on how these expectations might evolve over time.
Glossary
Identity and Role as a Postdoc
To begin, you will reflect on what elements of your professional and personal identities are important to your current position.
Awareness of Multiple Identities
Identity Grid Activity
Listen to our colleagues reflect on the differences between the roles of graduate students and postdocs from their perspective. Then our colleagues share how their own transition from graduate student to postdoc was and what parts were particularly difficult. Next, you’ll reflect on the roles that you held as a graduate student and how those compare to your roles as a postdoc.
Postdocs and Career Professionals Reflecting on Roles
Postdocs and Career Professionals Reflecting on Graduate School to Postdoc Transition
Roles Grid Activity
Adapting to a New Community of Practice
Reflecting on your Research Environments
Reflection Prompts
- How did you learn to act in research settings?
- Which environments have shaped you, particularly as a scientist? (e.g. undergrad, grad school, postdoc, etc.) Which ones have been the most important or have had the most impact?
- Were any of the environments particularly welcoming? Were any of the environments not inviting?
Defining a Community of Practice
Defining Cultural Capital
Awareness of Community of Practice Activity
- Instructions for the Community of Practice Activity
- Self-Reflection Prompt: Within your own project, describe how you interact with each group member and your goals for those relationships. How can you ensure that your ways of working align with the existing community? How can you as a postdoc shape the group dynamic?
Becoming an Active Member of a Community of Practice
Identifying, Aligning, and Evolving Expectations
Aligning Expectations with your Mentor
The table below provides sample self-reflection questions, as well as sample questions that you can ask your PI and/or members of the research group. This table is adapted from Proactive Postdoc Mentoring (Hokanson and Goldberg, 2018). Before you begin the next section, read through the table and begin to reflect on which expectations you prioritize and how those expectations align with those of your PI and/or research group.
Identifying your Goals and Expectations
The following self-reflection prompts will help you identify the goals and expectations you have for your current position.
- What are your expectations and aspirations as a postdoc?
- How long do you anticipate being in this postdoc position?
- Does the length of time on your current appointment differ from how long you expect to be a postdoc?
- What are your goals for your postdoc?
- What are your expectations of your mentor?
- What are your mentor’s expectations of the mentoring relationship?
- What do you think are your mentor’s expectations of you?
- How do these things align with your expectations and goals? How are they different? If you aren’t sure, how will you find out?
Mapping your Goals
Mapping your Goals Activity
