Why do people do PostDocs? Isn't a PhD enough?

In this video, I share with you why people do postdocs and why sometimes a PhD isn't enough.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – postdoctoral flavours
2:27 – failure
3:56 – hope
5:26 – desperation
7:14 – going abroad
9:34 – building skills
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▼ ▽ TOOLS

[DriQ-qotp]

I did my PhD (in the early 1980's) for fun and right after completing it I joined the public service (Ontario, Canada) as a technocrat. Over the years I was invited by my university friends to give guest lectures and later became an adjunct professor teaching two master's degree courses. Students enjoyed my class because I was teaching from my work experience rather than by "regurgitating" from textbooks. I have also co-authored university textbooks, research papers and conference presentations together with my doctoral supervisor and friends who were tenure-track professors. I see the PhD more as a journey to enrich my life than as a way of getting a job in or outside the university. Don't waste your time on postdocs because the pasture can be much greener outside academia.

[___Truth___]

Mr.Stapleton you’re a breath of fresh air in this smoggy murky world

[Drganguli]

PhD’s from developing countries can benefit from a postdoc in a developed country. It also facilitates immigration

[sealcxc]

Just read Dr. Peter Friedman's "A PhD is Not Enough!" and this advice is all too timely! Great stuff Andrew!

[cocs]

Speaking from someone who recently transitioned from postdoc to industry, I think the ship has long turned —- most postdocs these days are actually envious of folks who made that leap and escaped academia….not the other way around.

[andyiswonderful]

I really enjoy your channel and your perspective. I got my PhD in chemical engineering in 1986, and did a highly experimental research topic. Some topics that you may want to discuss:
1) In my program, about 50% of the first year students failed the qualifying exams, so had to go elsewhere. Although this was a terrible experience for them, it was early enough in their graduate career that they could recover. However, the worst thing was to pass your exams, then pass the defense of your proposal, but then fail the defense of your dissertation. That is because you would have spent at least 4 years working on something that didn't get you your degree. I knew two students that this happened to, and it was absolutely crushing. One young lady told me she was suicidal. Maybe your comments on what it is like to go so far in your graduate program, but then fail, would be a good video topic.
2) How to pick the right advisor. My advisor was very wonderful, an eminent person in the field, but I did not know that he had lost that "thing" that motivates professors to do their job. My advice would be to hook up with a younger, energetic advisor that recently got tenure. I know that there are many, many individual professors that would fit my model here. But, that would be my general advice.
3) The pure joy of finishing and going through ceremonies. Maybe it sounds simple, but it really was wonderful to wear my doctoral gowns, get photographed, and join the graduating parade through campus. I fondly remember how all of the PhD graduates were assembled in a big mass, regardless of degree. French literature, Physics, Anthropology, Engineering, Sociology, etc, etc, etc, all together. And we chatted about our disparate, yet so similar experiences doing IT. IT being the thing. The project. The dissertation, which we all just called "D". Ha! Then, the trumpets sounded, and we were all off in procession, en masse, through campus and to the stadium for ceremonies. My advice is don't skip ceremonies. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU WILL REMEMBER AND CHERISH IT>. DO IT.

[COLONELLCOOL]

you are so spot on here, it hurts - just finished my PhD and I am offered a postDoc position and everything you say resonates with me...the transition phase from academia to industry is hard though ( I am kind of in it now).

[todddunn]

I was in grad school in the 70s. I was always targeted toward an academic position. However, when I finished my Ph.D. the market for faculty positions was very tight and competitive. Frankly, my publication record wasn't good enough (only five papers) when I finished my Ph.D. for me to even get interviewed for faculty positions. So I did a post doc to take on new research and allow time for me to build up my publication record. My first postdoc was ended after only a year when my PI died suddenly, so I moved on to a second postdoc. After a year and a half there the funding was ending so I took a job at a national lab, but continued writing up my research while working there as a research chemist. After a couple of years there I finally worked my way up to the top of the group of people applying for faculty positions and got several interviews and finally a job. I did my postdocs to stay in the game and bolster my publication record. I never wanted anything but a faculty position. I was fortunate that my postdoc positions allowed me lots of freedom to carry on my own research and to design the research projects I did for the postdocs. The trick as I see it is to choose your postdoc position well.

[McSymbyos]

French dude making a PhD in Denmark here. Your perspective on PIs is frightening (rich old people haha). I have heard a lot about academia's politics (old people obsessed with money or publishing, harassment, exploitation, schoolkids-level feuds between teams) but I've been lucky to always be in labs were the people above me were kind and supportive people. I guess I'm still a PhD student. Anyway, I'll ask my post-doc colleagues about it.

[Alhamzah_F_Abbas]

I believe that PhD is a lifestyle not only in academia or industry. Great content Andy.

[carlttoon]

The idea of a dissertation and its research based on the work of your supervisor is something that is more prevalent in the STEMs. In social sciences, cognitive sciences, and humanities, candidates work on their own research.

[os]

Thanks. I wasn't completely aware of that set of skills...required.

[dr.gama.psychologist]

Thank u. This is a move that I’m contemplating so your video was helpful.

[johnbarryyallagher]

Excellent youtube. I started my PhD later in life after getting research jobs thay allwed me to design and carry out. Howeer after a break through travel fo many years, that exoerience was forgotten by new peers. So tjat why I tried to pgrade to a PhD. That experience and the phD led to a position as contacted Associate Professor, but abroad. So there are other directions not just a linear treadmill

[longnamenocansayy]

i remember my hi school counsellor. she had masters, bachelors and more than one ph. d..

why?

because school only lasts 9 months. that means she had 3 months off every year to take summer school classes.

everytime she finished a few classes, she could add them to her existing courses and get another degree.

and all her degrees were paid for by the school system. and all her classes were easy education classes.

and every time she got a new degree the school paid her accordingly.

so there are ways to make it monetarily in the education field.

but most people don't do it, and college is a waste of time for most people.

[nurkleblurker]

Got it, don't do a post doc. So is it safe to say then that tenure track professorships are reserved for phds from ivy leagues?

[enricoginelli]

Hey Andy! Do your considerations change if you consider that in some fields (mainly humanities, I'm doubtful a psy Ph.D. candidate in EU) there's no real "industry" to look outside for, when in a Ph.D. path, or postdoc path? How much does the risk grow without that plan, or at least the utility of having a higher degree being considered more? I mean the risk of it bringing you nowhere or hurting your career or financial life, lose time. Thanks for your work.

[sylvestermuthoka]

Already applying for studentship in the university am doing masters and this message came the right time....i would wish to get into the industry after my phd....hopefully i'll get

[shadowbird]

Thank you for sharing insightful content 🙏🏿 🌎

[nicfox]

Thanks for another useful video. It would be great if you could do a video explaining grants. For example, what do I need money for to do research if I'm already paid by the uni, say as a postdoc, and don't need to buy anything to do the research because I can do it all on my own without new equipment? Do people apply for money regardless to use it on things like conference travel and accommodation? Is it used for buying books? Is there a nonsensical uni kudos element to grant amounts acquired (possibly linked to league tables) or other factors I'm not aware of? If uni kudos is involved, how does the uni benefit from large grants? Do they take a cut like a kind of agent's fee? Please can you explain grants to someone who has never applied for one but might need to in the future - the what, why, how, when, how long, where, and any politics involved? How is it different (if at all) to a research project proposal? How do you know what money you'll need and what you'll need to spend it on? What if during the project you realise you need more? What if you don't need it all - do you give some back at the end? Who gives grants and where can you see lists of grants available? Why do people give away grants - what's in it for them? So many questions! :)