PostDoc Discussion Forum

Many thanks for your suggestions. I asked my supervisor a few days ago, but he looked impatient. He couldn't understand why I need a first-authored paper. I insisted I need to get a postdoc position right after my PhD, so a 1st authored paper is important. He then asked me to work harder and do more experiments so that there may be more results for a paper. But he doubted if I could write a paper in a timely manner, because I've never written a paper before. I don't think this conversation is successful. Everything is still in uncertainty, and he seemed very impatient.

Congrats sciencegirl3456! This is encouraging, but it also scares me because you mentioned the fact that you have been competing with lots of postdocs all the time! That means I will also need to compete with postdocs and stand out! But they have more lab experience, their experimental skills are better than mine, and they have more papers....All of these are daunting!
I'll try and improve my presentation skills and hopefully that will help me impress the search committee.

Thanks :)

I just having my corrections post viva to complete. I started applying in September when I handed in. I applied for 14 postdocs got 5 interviews but my PhD was in something super niche. If you are thinking to start in January start applying around about Sep/Oct.

Congrats. How far are you from completing your PhD? I have been thinking about when the best time to start applying for postdocs will be (also in science). I probably wouldn't be able to start a position until next Jan.

Congratulations Sciencegirl!

pm133, didn't mean to offend. I've seen load of your posts where you offer good advice. I did, however, notice some bias in a few - to paraphrase your opinion "Oh yeah, I know loads of dumb people who've got into those top 'RG' universities, they were nothing special. The whole prestigious university thing is bullshit. Just my opinion of course!" In my view that's not particularly helpful. Just my view of course ;-)

Thank you for providing more context. How about asking your supervisor how you can get a first authored paper? It sounds as though he runs the lab and has a strategy about papers and projects. If he realises you aren't happy to take no as an answer, he may start to include your interests in that strategy. I think this would need a conversation where he saw that you were serious and not about to easily back down. But also I don't think it would help to say you want to use the existing results that he already has plans for. You could see what he says when you state your position about needing an opportunity to publish some first author papers during your PhD. I'd say papers plural, as then you're more likely to get at least one paper out of a negotiation.

Alongside this, I would look for other opportunities. I was in quite a fix during my. PhD and managed to start a collaboration with a researcher whose work I had admired for years. I simply approached them at a conference and told them which paper I really loved. They then said, oh I didn't get a chance to see your poster, could you email it me after the conference? That set up the communication between us. Then I saw funding being offered for short trips to work with a researcher abroad, and I asked them if they'd be interested in hosting me. They said yes. My supervisors agreed. And basically quite a few good things came out of this, including a paper. I think this is quite a unique case, but it's something you could try.

Aside from this, finishing the PhD is something in itself and it isn't the end of the world if you don't publish a paper from it. As I mentioned in my first reply, it might take longer to secure a postdoc because of the competition. And you might need to settle for an RA job where you can publish first.