![]() ![]() I want to feel sure that I will be able to contribute to and support the person in their career. If a candidate contacts me to do a postdoctorate with their own funding I look for compatibility with my own specialisation or expertise. ( Elizabeth Simmonds, careers adviser for postdocs in physical sciences and technology, Cambridge University) Be cautious about firing off out-of-the-blue emails The institution itself might also have some idea of local funding you could apply for. If someone approaches a group looking for a postdoc the response they might get is: “We’re interested in you but we don’t have any funding – if you can find some then you can come here.” If this is the case, most universities subscribe to Research Professional, a big database of funding opportunities. ( Janet Metcalfe, chair and head of Vitae) Finding funding Go to conferences and see if you can visit the lab or group. ![]() ![]() Identify the areas – or research topics – that you are interested in, as well as the academics in that field. You might not find a formal postdoc position, but there might be an opportunity for collaborative work. It’s very effective in terms of maximising your chances. There’s a lot of research in the job market about the effectiveness of being known to people before applying to interviews – not just in academia but generally. ( Clare Jones, senior careers adviser for research staff and postgraduate research students, University of Nottingham) Start building your networks early But you need to talk to your supervisor and other academic colleagues – otherwise they won’t know what you want to do, and they won’t be able to help. I don’t know if it’s because they’re concerned that their supervisor might not think they’re good enough, or because they think they will put them off it. When I talk to students individually I sometimes find they are a little reticent about asking their supervisor’s advice on becoming an academic. ![]()
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