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How to get a postdoc position abroad
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How to get a postdoc position abroad
Note added 7/25/2010 For visiting scholars, you should also read http://www.sciencenet.cn/m/user_content.aspx?id=347563
after you finished read this article.
My earlier blog about Chinese Ph.ds prompted several inquiries
concerning postdoc possibilities abroad. Here is what I know and
recommend.
For Chinese Ph.ds, getting an opportunity to study abroad is but one
more step to climb the academic ladder. It is very much similar to
getting admission to graduate study in a US university except the
stakes are higher. Here are the considerations in the mind of professors
who may offer you such a position
1.
In admitting a graduate student one has 4-5 years of time to have him/her
produce in return for your investment. It is also relatively easy to judge the quality of the applicants based on the reputation of the school, the
recommender if you happen to know, and a host of standard data such as
class rank, TOFEL & GRE scores etc.
2.
In offering a postdoc position you have only 1 sometimes 2 years to get
your return. The applicants must have already demonstrated ability to
produce high quality research in topics of interest to you and your
research program. A postdoc must be able “to hit the beach running” (to
employ a WWII military invasion terminology.)
3.
Consequently, you need to start your campaign for a postdoc position early and long before your finish your thesis. You must convince your
potential employer of #2 above particularly since scholars in the West are
increasingly becoming aware of the various unfortunate corrupt practices
in Chinese academia. Thus, start a correspondence with the potential
future mentor showing what you can do and have done. Many of the
advices I wrote in connection with getting admission applies here also
(http://www.sciencenet.cn/blog/user_content.aspx?id=9164)
3.
Attend conferences where potential mentors who may hire you as postdoc
are present. An experienced scientist can easily determine your capability,
knowledge base, and your usefulness to him/her via direct exchange of
opinions. If you have chance to give a talk/paper at these conferences, by
all means prepare your presentation well. See my little booklet
entitled “USEFUL INFORMATION FOR SCHOLARS NEW TO THE WORLD OF SCIENCE
-科坛新学者指南”, (Tsinghua University Press RMB丫9.00
4.
The scholarly world is heavily dependent on peer review and opinions.
Over the years everyone develops a small set of colleagues whose opinion
one values and trusts. A recommendation from person in this set to your
potential employers is worth its weight in gold. If your ph.d advisor fits in
this category, it is your good luck and blessing. Otherwise, try to impress
others who can recommend you. Reputation is the ONLY currency in the
scholar’s world. If you want to succeed, you must learn to develop and
guard your reputation at every stage of your career. Unfortunately
currently in China reputation (名) is too closely tied to fortune (利). This
has led to a host of well known abuses. Hopefully this is a transient
phenomenon that will disappear as China fully integrates into the
accepted systems of the World.
5.
Above all, if you want to get a postdoc position abroad based on your
Chinese Ph.d, you must start the process very early and do all the thing I
recommended above. These are things you need to do anyway to advance
your scientific career in any case whether or not you succeed in getting a
postdoc position. Good luck!
https://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-1565-11258.html
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