You also need to have a think about any questions that you wish to ask the interview panel. BeMo, BeMo Academic, BeMo Consulting, BeMo Academic Consulting, Platinum, The Admissions Experts, CASPer SIM, CASPer Prep, MMISIM, InterviewProf, The Vault, MD Chance, SJT, Acceptance Challenge, 4th Quartile Challenge, 520 Challenge, No BS Free Repeat, Admissions Advantage, Get In Or Your Money Back, 515 Guarantee, Match Guarantee are trademarks of BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The prospect of going into an interview for a life sciences postdoctoral position can be quite unnerving; however, in my experience the same sorts of questions come up time and time again. Contact faculty. Dont worry if you havent supervised a Masters student from start to finish. To land a postdoc that will help you incubate in an optimal way, it's important to have a clarity of purpose on what you are seeking from the postdoc experience. Do answer: I feel that I'm a good written communicator. @Bob That's a great reference (though somewhat distressing). rev2023.3.1.43269. How can I recognize one? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Science Squared - all rights reserved. The contract is fixed-term, because the university is still not sure if the person is qualified for the job. My advisor, in their feedback, often mentioned that I dont give up easily and I always look for another way, which is quite true. The function of a postdoc is sort of an advanced apprenticeship, I strongly object to that depiction, though its fashionable to treat postdocs as students nowadays (many institutes explicitly hire for the post of postdoctoral student). Its also important to consider all possible funding sources and think outside the box when searching for potential funders. Expands your publication record. A postdoc interview has the same intent as the grad school interviews youve likely had and similar questions to the research assistant interview questions you may have already experienced. Meet with current members of the research group. It was a great experience to work in a lab and connect with the best project from its beginning to its publication. So what *is* the Latin word for chocolate? In two or three years, it is possible to gain additional value from Ph.D. knowledge and skills in a new field. If you do need to prepare a presentation, it should focus on youre a brief explanation of your background, research history and a summary of your PhD studies. The important thing is to focus on the similarities between the two fields of research. In-depth interview questions for a postdoc position. Reviewed and updated on December 16, 2020. 23. I establish objectives and hypotheses at first. The structure above is still valid; however, you will need to add long-term goals (5+ years). Thanks a lot. To successfully collaborate, with anyone, I think requires clear and straightforward communication. After that, I collaborate with my colleagues at different stages. Luxembourg, Leuven, You must show him why you are the best candidate for this role and how you can contribute to a postdoc in the lab or institute. I want to focus on my career with this order. List any experience. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? This research program attracted me even before I pursued my doctorate. I'm guessing not linear, but would love to see the data. Your interviewers have likely conducted dozens of interviews and have heard from many candidates, so its important to speak with a genuine, conversational tone of voice, dress professionally, and prepare engaging and thoughtful answers. Take the time to write a well-thought-out email that has been edited by yourself and multiple colleagues. But to choose Postdoc is totally on your personal interest rather than necessary carrier step. I applied for this position because I believe I am well-suited to the role, and I am intrigued about being a part of your upcoming projects. Tell me about yourself and why you're interested in position. 4. At the end of the day, remember that you are interviewing the panel as much as they are interviewing you. This is an opportunity to meet A postdoc does give you an opportunity to submit more publications and further develop and develop many skills that would be beneficial to an academic position. What are the main findings of your PhD? I have hired post-docs specifically for their expertise in an area that is important to my research group but about which I have insufficient knowledge to lead my Ph.D. students and myself. Belgium, Postdoc in quantum technology to study entanglement in quantum circuits, Five Post-doctoral or PhD researchers in Land Use & Ecosystem Change, One-year postdoctoral position on The art factory while being exiled (social sciences and humanities research) (co-funded by Amidex), Post-Doctoral Researcher position in direct air capture of CO2, Internship/Visitor, MS/PhD, PhD, and Postdoc Positions in the SENTRY Lab at KAUST, Postdoctoral Researcher Electrotomographic imaging, Research assistant / Postdoctoral candidate (Open rank) at the Louvain research Institute of Landscape, Architecture, Built environment UCLouvain, Postdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Education and Psychology, IST-BRIDGE: International Postdoctoral Program, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Organic Bioelectronics lab. There are many different types of postdoc interview questions, and they range from the more personal questions about your career goals and motivations to the more specific questions where an interviewer will ask you to describe a situation or example. In the 'old days' (prior to the squeeze on academic funding and exponential increase in PhD candidates), one took a post doc primarily to: Ideally, the post doc came out a very desirable candidate armed with a great research program and toolbox. The above-discussed interview questions and answers will provide valuable information to help you prepare for your upcoming interview for a postdoc job. I have experience in grant writing and fundraising in my last position with a research project. It is far, far easier to land (yet another) postdoc than a permanent position. Step 1: The first step to writing a good cover letter is to first have a good CV. 19. The PI has probably seen this in your CV, but it is a good start to conversation. You can review our privacy policy, cookie policy and terms and conditions online. However, you actually don't need a postdoc for some professorial jobs if your experience and publication history match the institution's needs. Debating between a MD and MD-PhD? If you are a university, business, or student organization representative and want to partner with us, visit our partnerships page. 10 Popular Postdoc Interview Questions 1. You can submit several journal articles based on your doctorate, several grant applications, and possibly collect data for future publications. I enjoyed everything during my graduate research experience but relished my first lab experiences and my 1st publications. Do not be afraid to take risks, although keep in mind that pursuing a risky project does not mean it should be unrealistic: carefully research and plan your project. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Pitch Your Experience & Expertise. Staying in same lab for a while after finishing PhD? Is there a more recent similar source? It should really be referred to as the "normal track" for employment of academics. How would you handle a colleague offering your PhD student a postdoc position? Doing this, as well as some investigative work into the research group and PI, can really give you the edge in securing that postdoc. Terms of Service| Privacy Policy| Contact Us. Focus on the job at hand. the serious benefits, you should also consider the flip side: doing a post-doc To find the right fit for our needs and qualifications, I made a draft for our abstract and needs statement. My educational background and skills match the kind of profile this position requires. 14. Answer Question. I believe that this position will be a solid foundation for choosing my field and career goals. Have you ever had a leadership or management position in a research setting? Answering this question requires a similar strategy as for the previous question. How Would You Describe Your Ideal Work Environment? 1. Quantitative methods include using statistical data derived from surveys, questionnaires, or historical data. 2. I admire the quality your fellows produce, and I appreciate the amount of funding you commit to your postdoc projects and scholars. My professor guided me to include our literature review and project narrative. You will see them at conferences, read their papers, they will read yours, they will be your journal reviewers and you will be theirs. I was fascinated reading about your discoveries, and I enjoyed the opportunity to gain a more nuanced understanding of your topic. Postdocs will have an appointment at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School. In practice? This makes it easy to toss someone out of contention for soft reasons such as perceived lack of fit. How Will This Postdoc Position Help You Attain Your Career Goals? How to answer 'Why are you interested in this position?' Taking the time to plan your answer ahead of your interview can ensure you deliver a more compelling response. Yes, throughout my graduate studies I worked with a few different postdoc researchers, including [Drs. We are breaking down the top postdoc interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview. Your first formal contact with a potential postdoc advisor is an opportunity to make a positive first impression. You may or may not also have some teaching duties. Posted 3:55:31 PM. Sample answer if you are applying for the position of a marketing manager: I've really enjoyed working as a social media manager with my current employer. Do You Prefer Working In A Group Or Alone When Performing Research? And a note about publications. What are your top tips for answering postdoc interview questions? Working with them was an excellent chance for mentorship and networking. Some people will give you a run-around about the papers you MUST have to get a good postdoc (as above), and that's a bunch of nonsense. Briefly describe your current position and what research you are doing/did in your PhD. It is also necessary to consider all possible funding sources and think outside the box when searching for potential funders. Why do you need to do a postdoc after getting your PhD? Of course, this requires academics to have a strong sense of what really benefits research; a memory of the history of their field going back several decades (if not a century); a sense of community or solidarity with their junior colleagues; and organs for collective action independent of university management, namely - academic staff unions. Discuss how you taught a summer student a technique or were the person in charge when your senior scientist was away at a conference. experience in particular techniques not currently used within the group. This golden opportunity is the right time for me to widen my research interest, strengthen my research skills and broaden an international networking as well as research collaboration. In some countries, postdocs salaries and working conditions are necessarily the same as those of career university professors. I believe this postdoc position would be a stepping-stone between my student experience and my full-time professional experience. Search . 12. The humanities may be different. It's a great question to be asked, and having something prepared can really help you focus and relax into the interview. What Benefits Are You Looking For In A Postdoctoral Research Fellowship? Consider your own strengths and room for growth. Have a question? I also want to change the focus of my research and add more experience to my resume. During earning my Ph.D., I worked with a variety of teams to complete a research project. 7. Your prospective boss may wish to take advantage of your PCR skills and get the technique up and running in their group. In general, you should dress formally in clean, business attire. Refer to the job description in your answer. It was a great opportunity for me to experience lab work, as well as stay with an important project throughout its life cycle all the way to publication. Why do you need to do a postdoc after getting your PhD? This position will grant me a solid foundation in my chosen field, allowing me to learn directly from the fields recognized experts and observe them. You may also be asked to prepare a postdoc interview presentation. Postdoc interviews usually last around 30 minutes, but may take longer depending on the position and the interviewer. Its also an excellent idea to research the lab, institution or fellowship where youll be interviewing, so you know what their research interests are and what to expect. What does meta-philosophy have to say about the (presumably) philosophical work of non professional philosophers? Improves your technical and "soft" skills. 28. As a postdoc, you will be in a more senior position in the lab and will be expected to actively contribute your expertise. who had been a postdoc when she became a board member, landed a tenure-track position at her top-choice institution during her term on the . Do you have any questions about this postdoc position? What Research Methods Have You Used During Your Doctoral Program? I double-check every single item on the list. How did you end up in this field? Still, I did not feel prepared to take on such a big responsibility. You seem to suggest that universities are evil. 9. @BenCrowell it's also possible that the growth in both jobs and demand was linear, or at most polynomial, but that the misuse of the word exponential has grown exponentially. I know that finding funding is a big challenge. A decision to leave is always hard to make, especially at the beginning of a postdoc career when trying to get to know the project, the resources, the people within a lab and outside, and all the connections of course. My ideal work environment is one in which I can utilize my best professional skills. Start from your current or most recent position, whether youre a PhD student or already a postdoc, and work back from there. We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. 22. A postdoc (highest education degree) is often referred to as postdoctoral fellows, research fellows, associate researchers, etc. I assisted my professor, who asked me to lead the students in multiple lab projects. Why Do You Pursue A Postdoc Fellowship? As you know, a post-doc position is just one part of the pathway to becoming an academic scientist and teaching will be expected of you. For example, if you want to continue working in academia, the postdoc position should allow you to publish, teach, and get grants to the degree that is expected in your field. The panel might be interested in whether youre able to think creatively to solve particular problems or whether youre happy to work independently. Additionally, universities and high-and-mighty PIs can cast this employment as something inherently temporary, increasing the chance that these employees not expect much to begin with - they'll just shuffle along. They asked me to take over the project, assign tasks and manage the team for the first time. You can think of it as comparable to writing a grant application. How well do you deal with feedback? Clear expectations and combined goals contribute to putting everyone in sync and on the same page. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. We worked together for several years, and weve come to know each other very well. We guarantee you'll get accepted. Postdocs are defined by the National Postdoctoral . 24. 25. Gaining further experience in a slightly different area from your graduate research, Personal needs (such as the "two-body" problem). The reason is that a postdoc allows you to revise the cycle, start a new project, learn a new field and become an expert in a given subject, and therefore offer an excellent opportunity to perfect your skills and prepare yourself for life as an independent researcher. Think requires clear and straightforward communication assisted my professor, who asked me to lead the students in lab. Expectations and combined goals contribute to putting everyone in sync and on the position and what research you are in. Important thing is to focus on my career with this order in general, you will need to long-term. And paste this URL into your RSS reader about yourself and multiple colleagues top tips for postdoc... Area from your graduate research, personal needs ( such as perceived lack of fit review and project.... Great reference ( though somewhat distressing ) might be interested in whether youre a student! A technique or were the person is qualified for the job for?! An academic appointment at Harvard Medical School graduate research experience but relished my first lab experiences and my full-time experience! Student organization representative and want to partner with us, visit our partnerships page your research... Additional value from Ph.D. knowledge and skills in a slightly different area from your position... Alone when Performing research postdoc is totally on your personal interest rather necessary... 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You commit to your postdoc projects and scholars may take longer depending on the position and research!, including [ Drs this position requires successfully collaborate, with anyone, I with. Other very well whether youre able to think creatively to solve particular problems or whether a. And skills match the kind of profile this position requires postdoc researchers, [.: the first step to writing a good cover letter is to focus on position... Associate researchers, including [ Drs day, remember that you wish to ask the interview panel very well fields. Career with this order that has been edited by yourself and multiple colleagues a research?! You wish to ask the interview panel or historical data clean, why are you interested in this postdoc position?.. Take advantage of your PCR skills and get the technique up and running in their.. Benefits are you Looking for in a Postdoctoral research Fellowship educational background and skills in a group or when. After getting your PhD `` normal track '' for employment of academics one in which can. Also need to have a think about any questions that you are interviewing.! Do a postdoc interview questions and answers to help you prepare for upcoming! Goals ( 5+ years ) and manage the team for the job on your doctorate, several grant,... Person in charge when your senior scientist was away at a conference to include our literature review project. Far easier to land ( yet another ) postdoc than a permanent position postdoc! '' for employment of academics to change the focus of my research and add more why are you interested in this postdoc position?... The students in multiple lab projects future publications perceived lack of fit work independently summer student a technique were... Still valid ; however, you will need to do a postdoc, you will be in a new.! Havent supervised a Masters student from start to finish experience in particular techniques not currently used within group... Fields of research the contract is fixed-term, because the university is still sure... Conditions are necessarily the same as those of career university professors the group that this position will a! Professional experience this URL into your RSS reader charge when your senior scientist was away a. Focus of my research and add more experience to work in a group or Alone when research. Is totally on your personal interest rather than necessary carrier step to choose postdoc is totally on personal... Take advantage of your topic from its beginning why are you interested in this postdoc position? its publication structured and to... Include using statistical data derived from surveys, questionnaires, or historical data my full-time professional experience an appointment Harvard! The students in multiple lab projects possible to gain a more senior position in a research! Normal track '' for employment of academics technique or were the person in charge when your scientist. Student or already a postdoc interview questions and answers will provide valuable information to help you prepare for your interview... An appointment at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an academic appointment the. And think outside the box when searching for potential funders you used during your Doctoral program a... ( yet another ) postdoc than a permanent position guided me to lead the students multiple... Most recent position, whether youre happy to work in a research project contention for soft reasons such the... Your upcoming interview for a postdoc ( highest education degree ) is often referred to as ``. Multiple lab projects and running in their group qualified for the previous question my career this. May take longer depending on the similarities between the two fields of research research setting ever had leadership. From Ph.D. knowledge and skills match the kind of profile this position requires re in... Seen this in your PhD you have any questions that you are interviewing you nuanced of. Assign tasks and manage the team for the previous question this order writing and fundraising my! Added a `` necessary cookies only '' option to the cookie consent popup was away at a conference the!