Looking for jobs:
Things to ask/look for when interviewing:
- Cold emailed with a good subject line such as Seeking PostDoc Position in ______ (with the blank being something specific about the lab). Make it to the point but unique.
- 2 paragraphs- one about who you are and your experience, second about what you’re looking for
- Meet professors at conferences
- Personalize the email- mention their papers, talks they’ve given/you’ve seen, if your PI knows them- say that as well
- Read potential PI’s web pages, papers, current grants
- NIH reporter- resource for looking at grants and money of PI’s
- Can either stay similar to topic from your PhD or completely change
Things to ask/look for when interviewing:
- Showcase what you’ve done, your enthusiasm
- Speak to everyone you can in the lab to find out about the culture
- What techniques can you do, what will you bring to the lab
- If you want to try out new techniques, etc then make sure the lab is willing to train you, has time to do so
- Don’t be afraid to tell them that you’ll make a decision around this time after interviewing with other labs, and don’t be afraid to ask them to make a decision if you have other offers on the table
- Ask about ability to go to conferences, benefits, insurance- what else is included besides salary
- Lab culture- are there specific times you need to be in lab or are they flexible?
- Questions you may be asked during the interview- how you see yourself fitting in the lab, what you want to work on, skill set that you bring to the lab