Are you prepared to be a teacher? Do you need more training? Can you get funding? Are you ready to teach?
These are some of the myriad questions that pop into my mind as I finish my postdoc.
My current PI suggests that I should pursue another postdoc position because I’m not yet ready for an independent career, but the PI who interviewed me for the new postdoc position says that I’m more than ready to apply for a faculty position. Who should I listen to? Who is right about my career? I feel unready. But when will I feel ready?
Postdocs come to a crossroads in their academic careers and are faced with a difficult decision: take another postdoc position or take the plunge and apply for a faculty position. This decision is not just about deciding the next step in your career; it is about charting your course in academia and shaping the impact you want to have on the academic community.
On the other hand, a postdoc has the appeal of allowing you to continue your research in a supportive environment without having to make big decisions, apply for grants, or manage people. You can potentially dig deeper into your research subject, collaborate with experts in your field, learn new and cool techniques, and publish more papers. A postdoc can also allow you to improve your qualifications and sharpen your skills, making you more competitive as a candidate for future faculty positions. And the familiarity and security of a postdoc can be reassuring, especially given the uncertainty of a new faculty position.
On the other hand, applying for a faculty position would mean a major shift in my academic career. It would mean taking on new responsibilities, such as teaching and mentoring students and navigating the complexities of academia as an independent researcher. People in academia tell me this would make me a “grown-up scientist with a real job.” This prospect is exciting, but it also comes with its own challenges and uncertainties. Would I be able to secure research funding? Would I be able to effectively balance the demands of research, teaching, and administrative work? These questions loom large as I think about this path.
Oh, wait a minute. What about a job in industry? Is it too late already? This option is always open and very attractive. Industry is attractive if you want to use your skills and expertise in a more applied environment. You can work on real-world problems and develop applied solutions in collaboration with industry partners. Industry jobs often offer higher salaries and better benefits than academic jobs.
But an industry role will require you to acquire new skills and adapt to a different work culture. Your work environment may not offer the same level of intellectual freedom, interest in publishing, or opportunities for academic recognition. How much do you value these aspects of your job?
Factors such as the current job market, visa deadline issues, and job availability in my field further complicate my final decision. Academia is constantly changing, and competition for faculty positions can be fierce. Industry jobs can also be highly competitive. This adds pressure to the decision-making process as I weigh the risks and benefits of each option.
Ultimately, my decision must be driven by a combination of practical factors and personal ambition. I need to consider not only what drives my career, but also what resonates with my values and long-term goals. For me, the desire to leave a lasting impact on my field and educate future scholars are goals that transcend any particular role.
With this in mind, I decided to take up a new postdoctoral position to slightly change my research focus and acquire new skills, with the hope that this will refresh my project idea, make it more relevant to both science and society, and improve my chances of obtaining funding as a faculty member.
