nibot ([personal profile] nibot) wrote2012-07-25 02:52 pm
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postdocs

Here's something to tape to the wall to remind myself what I'm supposed to be doing:

Postdocs are scientists who have completed their PhD research and who continue to develop their scientific skills by working for a few years at a university or other research institution. Postdoctoral research positions give these scientists the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and to gain more research experience, without taking on any teaching responsibilities. At the same time, postdocs are often the primary source of manpower—and womanpower—to advance research projects.In experimental particle physics, postdocs hired by universities commonly work at national laboratories, where most of the large-scale particle experiments take place. There the postdocs work at the forefront of particle physics research, leading groups that focus on data analysis or on detector- and hardware-related tasks.Theorists use their postdoc years to begin new collaborations and to learn about new areas of research. Experimentalists usually spend their postdoc years working on experiments different from their PhD research.During their time as postdocs, scientists have the chance to develop leadership skills and to become good science communicators, describing their work to colleagues and presenting results at conferences. Quite often, postdocs also supervise and mentor students. All these skills are necessary to reach the next level of a scientific career, such as a faculty position at a university.Eva Halkiadakis, Rutgers University

source: http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/cms/?pid=1000416
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[identity profile] gstef.livejournal.com 2012-07-25 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
why? what are you doing?

I find that essay useless.

[identity profile] rebeccmeister.livejournal.com 2012-07-25 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for sharing that! The reminder is, indeed, useful.

I'm visiting with a collaborator on the research grant that is funding my postdoc position. It's an especially good visit because this collaborator is asking me all of those career/postdoc questions that I need to be thinking about, but haven't been actively discussing at my home institution.

[identity profile] rudybang.livejournal.com 2012-07-26 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Surprisingly, that is exactly what I have been doing. And for my next trick I will be traveling, mentoring students, and building new collaborations (but I am not a theorist). ;)

I will try to keep the cynicism at bay, though some nights I feel as though I am staring into that abyss and so close to jumping in.
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