• Question: how long have you been a postdoc for and what is it?

    Asked by tanito96 to Yvette, Michaela on 14 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by dahnyiieee.
    • Photo: Yvette Wilson

      Yvette Wilson answered on 12 Jun 2010:

      I’ve been a postdoc for just 9 months now. postdoc is short for ‘postdoctoral research assistant’ and is normally a temporary (2-5 year) job to work on a specific project that a group leader has been awarded money for a specific research project. This money is usually to employ somebody to do the experiments with the group leader’s guidance. The usual career progression through academic science is to first do a degree, which is very structured and you go to lectures on about 6 specialist subjects for each of 3 years. then you do a PhD, which is when you carry out your own research on a particular subject and are supervised by a more experienced scientist. This takes about 4 years, you write your all your results as a thesis which is assessed by experts in the field. You are then considered a postdoc and you can either start applying for funds and positions to carry out your own research, or gain more experience by working as a postdoc for an experienced group leader, who has obtained money to research a particular subject. Most people like to get more experience by doing postdoc projects. Yeah, it all confuses me too!

    • Photo: Michaela Livingstone

      Michaela Livingstone answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Again, not sure if this was meant for me, but I’m not a post-doc. I’m a PhD Student. A post-doc is short for post-doctorate, meaning after your PhD. It’s a position you take when you become Dr. Whatever. You carry out research and generally you get a three year contract, though they can last longer or shorter.

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