Postdocs take the plunge into faculty positions and share their experiences with Naturejobs.

Applying for any job can be a daunting and exhausting task, but it’s especially tough for postdocs looking to begin the step up into a tenure-track position. What really stuck Brain Kelch, an assistant professor of biology and molecular pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), was how emotional the process was for him. “It was very confusing,” he says. “There’s this rollercoaster, with meteoric highs and crushing lows. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

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Whilst it’s tough, prospective candidates can do a lot to improve their chances when applying for positions. This could include demonstrating ability and willingness to contribute to the field and the department; publishing results and attracting financial support.

For Samantha Terry, who became a lecturer in radiation biology in September this year at the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in medical imaging at King’s College London (KCL), landing a faculty position is all about being pro-active. “You need to show you can already do the job, before you get the job,” she says. For Terry, this meant doing as much teaching as she could in her postdoc positions, as well as setting up a committee of fellow postdocs to meet and provide support and assistance to each other, and to organize training and networking events. It also meant applying for travel and research grants, and filling her CV with as many accolades and details as she could. “It’s all about getting those boxes ticked,” she adds. Continue reading →