Thread by @MurielleAlund

Read about our @NatureEcoEvo comment on how to prepare a growing #postdoc workforce in the @nationalpostdoc #POSTDOCket! The nb of postdocs has doubled in 30 years, but faculty positions nearly not changed. We propose 5 key points to better prepare us for a wide range of careers:

https://twitter.com/nationalpostdoc/status/1278409301812555780

1.Align career development with job markets: a survey found that #STEM PhDs lack skills essential for the current #career landscape. #Postdocs need to be encouraged by advisors & departments to invest time in professional development.
#phdchat #beyondprof

journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…

2. Sustain wellness & work-life balance: a happy worker is a productive worker! No #postdoc should lack access to healthcare, sick leave or parental leave, we need more transparency about benefits & recognition of #mentalhealth consequences of short term contracts & relocation.

Our survey of common #postdoc salaries in multiple countries compared to @OECD data on median salaries in the country & for Msc/PhD holders revealed high regional disparities & need for more transparency. Financial solvency is an important consideration when seeking a postdoc.

3. Enhance mentoring: training in #mentoring practices benefits both advisors & postdocs & increases overall productivity. Training future #mentors early is essential, bit.ly/3glblX0, as mentoring by #postdocs also benefits younger lab members: pnas.org/content/116/42

4. Develop administrative support: despite the impressive work that both #PDA s & #OPA s do for postdocs, many of the 50 @timeshighered institutions we surveyed didn't mention any such #postdoc support.
Big shout here out to @MSUPDA & @areifler for their work @michiganstateu !

5. Increase broader support: scientific societies & funding agencies play vital roles in #postdoc career development. Although student participation is often supported, e.g. via grants & /or reduced #conference fees, postdoc inclusion initiatives are however much less common.

Our paper includes 3 versions of #postdoc handbooks, from minimum essential to best-case scenario, with examples of information & resources supporting postdoc productivity. We hope that you or your postdoc association can use them to advocate for support! nature.com/articles/s4155…

We appeal to funding agencies & reviewers to encourage #change by assessing #postdoc development plans & budgeting in proposals. By co-prioritizing training plans & resources, funding agencies can prevent unsustainable over-exploitation of some of science's most important assets!

Thanks to my wonderful co-authors for what started as casual discussions between then all @MSU_IBIO #postdocs & grew into this paper under @feralized 's lead! Hoping to keep the dialogue open with all stakeholders in postdoc success! P.S: DM me for a copy!
nature.com/articles/s4155…

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