post doctoral research fellow means

What is a Postdoc?

Most people outside of academia know what a PhD is, but a postdoc is more confusing. Are postdocs students? Do they actually earn a degree? Are they called postdoctoral researchers or fellows or scholars or associates or assistants? Let’s clear up some of that confusion.

So, What is a Postdoc?

In many fields, a postdoc is the de facto next step on the academic career path after earning a PhD (hence the name.) A postdoc is a temporary position that allows a PhD to continue their training as a researcher and gain skills and experience that will prepare them for their academic career. Most postdoc positions are at a university or in industry, but there some postdocs positions at nonprofits and in government. While the vast majority of postdocs work in STEM fields, these types of positions are becoming more common in social sciences and the humanities.  

What Does a Postdoc Do?

A postdoc is primarily a researcher who works under the supervision of a mentor as part of a larger research group. As such, they conduct research, either on a pre-specified project or one of their own design and publish that research. At the same time, a postdoc is meant to prepare young researchers to become principal investigators or junior faculty members, so they also take on senior responsibilities like mentoring, grant writing, and teaching.

How Long Are Postdoc Positions?

There is no set length for a postdoc. It will depend on a number of factors such as the university, country of research, PI, or funding. That being said, most positions are two to three years and some can be extended. It is common to do more than one postdoc before applying for faculty positions. Some countries do limit the total number of years a person can work as a postdoc. For example, in Canada and Sweden, it is only possible to be a postdoc for five years total, while there is no limit on postdoc years in the US.

How Are Postdocs Funded?

Postdoc positions can be funded in several ways. Some postdocs are salaried employees of a university, institution, or company. Other times they are paid a stipend from a grant, fellowship, or scholarship. In some countries, the name of the position indicates the funding source. In the UK for example, a postdoctoral assistant works on a project developed for and funded by a grant awarded to the PI, while a postdoctoral fellow is awarded their own fellowship giving them a larger say in the scope of their project.

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• Defining Postdoc Fellows and Associates

Postdocs are appointed with the title postdoctoral fellow or postdoctoral associate depending on the type and source of funding. MIT Policies and Procedures provides detailed descriptions and requirements for  postdoctoral associate  and  postdoctoral fellow  appointments.

Postdoctoral Associate

The MIT title of postdoctoral associate applies to those who are paid a salary by MIT. Their salary is usually charged to a grant or contract secured by their faculty mentor, and the postdoc's research must be related to the aims of the grant or contract. All postdocs whose appointments are charged to MIT funds (e.g., internal orders, gifts) should also be appointed as postdoctoral associates.   

Postdoctoral associates are eligible for  MIT employee benefits  as described by MIT's Benefits Office. In addition to their salary, the funding sources are charged for a portion of the postdoc’s benefits through the application of an  employee benefit rate .

Postdoctoral Fellow

The MIT title of postdoctoral fellow applies to scholars who receive financial support in the form of a fellowship or stipend from an outside sponsor or agency. The stipend may be paid directly to the fellow or distributed through MIT on behalf of the sponsor. Typically, fellows are responsible for applying for a fellowship award. Fellowships allow postdocs to determine their research activities. The fellow appointment is not appropriate for postdoc appointments charged to MIT funds (e.g., internal orders, gifts).  

Because of their funding source and appointment type, postdoctoral fellows are not considered employees of MIT, which impacts  eligibility for various benefits and programs .

Departments who are interested in establishing a postdoctoral fellowship program at MIT funded by either a sponsored award or gift should review the  criteria established by the Vice President for Research and the Provost  [Touchstone required].

• Faculty Postdoctoral Advisory Committee (FPAC)
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• Establishing an Internal Fellowship

What is a postdoc?

Understanding the difference between academic, industry, government, and non-profit positions

A postdoc (or "post-doc," "postdoctoral," or "postdoctoral research") fellowship is a training-focused position available to people who have earned a doctorate. Postdoc positions usually act as a stepping-stone between the student experience and the full-time professional experience. For the postdoc appointee, a postdoc position offers in-depth training. For the postdoc institution or organization, a postdoc is a dedicated researcher, with specialized knowledge but flexible to explore other topics, often with lower a financial cost than a permanent employee.

The most common type of postdoc position is a research-focused position at an academic institution, but postdocs also exist in industry, government, non-profit, and other non-academic organizations. Most postdocs are focused on research, but there are also opportunities in specialized areas such as technology transfer and policy at all types of organizations.

Academic postdocs

Academic postdocs tend to be focused on research and the academic experience. A postdoc typically has a higher degree of freedom in determining the direction of their research than a Ph.D. student. Postdocs are often expected to secure grants (as lead principal investigators or collaborators) and teach courses in addition to completing research objectives and publishing results.

Some research groups may offer high-performing Ph.D. students the opportunity to stay at the same institution, even within the same research group. Treat any offer like this carefully! It is an honor to be recognized as such a benefit to the research group, but will you be able to get the training you need if you stay in the same location? Also be aware that many future employers prefer candidates who have taken risks by moving to a new area (mentally, if not physically) and have broadened their area of expertise.

Industry postdocs

Industry postdocs can vary significantly between organizations. Most have a focus on teamwork, while valuing independent thought and development. A postdoc may be viewed as a "stepping stone" position, somewhere between an entry-level position and a higher-value research position... or it could be a distinguished staff scientist position with an opportunity for higher pay. For many organizations, while the postdoc position is a one to two year contract, it can serve as a pathway to a permanent position within the organization. Many industry postdocs offer easier access to state-of-the-art facilities, whereas many academic postdocs only provide access to these facilities through collaborations with other organizations.

Government postdocs

Government postdocs have some similarities with academic and industry postdocs. Like academic positions, there is often an expectation to publish a high number of manuscripts; however, the salary offered may be higher than that of an academic postdoc. There may be fewer opportunities to write external grants, which could be a detriment to any future applications to an academic (especially tenure-track) position. Depending on the organization, there may be fewer opportunities to teach compared to an academic postdoc. Like industry postdocs, government postdocs can act as a stepping stone to a permanent position within the organization and can provide access to state-of-the-art federal facilities.

Non-profit postdocs

Non-profit postdocs can offer a less traditional option with similar benefits to academic postdocs. The focus of a non-profit postdoc can cover any topic, from food scarcity to sports management. There is likely a strong focus on grant writing and collaborative efforts, although possibly fewer opportunities to teach.

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Postdoctoral fellowships and research explained

Written by Michael Feder

Reviewed by Hinrich Eylers , PhD, PE, MBA, Vice Provost for Academic Operations and Doctoral Studies.

A postdoctoral fellowship, or “ postdoc ,” is a period of training and research that some students pursue after completing a PhD or doctorate. It can provide many benefits, including the opportunity to further improve research skills while building your network.

The program you choose will depend on your skills and your professional field. Many popular fields offer research associations and fellowships, including neuroscience, biology, chemistry, business, healthcare, humanities and political science.

What does postdoctoral mean?

Postdoctoral fellowships provide doctoral graduates with the opportunity to pursue further research opportunities in their fields. Students participate in a fellowship to improve their skills and knowledge during research and to potentially assist in their transition to a tenure-track academic position. Some students also participate in programs as they work their way into the professional world.

The length of a postdoctoral program can vary, depending on your institution and field of study. Many positions typically last one to two years, though some last up to five years. Your specific research project and available funding can also affect the length of a fellowship.

Do postdocs get paid?

Postdocs are generally paid positions, though the payment amount varies widely. Factors like your experience, program, funding and project length can all affect how much you’re paid for your research efforts.

Dependent on their program, some  recipients are granted  a benefits package in exchange for their work. These packages often include paid time off, health insurance and a retirement savings plan. Some benefits packages also offer housing allowances and reimbursement for travel-related expenses.

Although prestigious, these  positions often pay less than a professional one  in the same field.

Who is eligible for postdoc positions?

PhD graduates in science, technology, engineering and math ( STEM ) fields are most likely to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities. However, graduates of other  research doctoral programs  can also participate in these programs to achieve many of the same benefits.

Eligibility is also determined by previous education and experience .  Most participants will have completed a doctoral degree within the last few years. They also have strong skills in research, communication and teamwork, and demonstrate a desire to continue their education past the doctoral level.

Some opportunities are subject to certain requirements or parameters, such as guidelines or experience in a particular field. For example, you might need to be of a specific nationality, hold a certain degree or have experience with particular research methods to participate in a given postdoc program.

How to apply for a postdoc

The process to apply for these opportunities will depend on your preferences and the institution offering the program. Postdocs are usually funded and posted on job boards, academic websites, through professional societies and at other locations. You’ll need a resumé or CV highlighting your strengths and experience in research, along with details about your career goals.

If your application is selected, you may need to participate in an interview process. Leaders at the institution will ask further questions to determine how you may contribute to their program.

Some institutions and funding sources have different application processes and steps. For example, a program might require that you submit a research proposal or that you have a certain number of already-published articles in your field. The type of research a postdoc program requires will help determine the parameters for application.

Types of postdoctoral research

Doctoral graduates can pursue many types of postdoctoral research fellowship opportunities based on their career interests. The opportunities represent one of several career options for doctoral graduates and give participants the chance to contribute to their field.

Academic postdocs offer research opportunities to doctoral graduates, individuals who typically want to pursue a career in academia. These positions are typically funded and posted by academic institutions and offer recipients the chance to contribute research to a university.

An academic postdoc places participants in close proximity with field analysts and senior researchers — experts who serve as mentors and valuable networking contacts. They work on independent or group projects, contributing to research eventually published under the institution’s name.

An industry postdoc is a research opportunity for aspiring business professionals who want to work in the private sector. These programs are often offered by private research firms, including companies and institutions that might be affiliated with a university’s fellowship.

Postdoctoral research fellowships in the private sector provide graduates with the chance to perform research on behalf of an independent firm. For example, students might participate in an industry program that focuses on pharmaceutical science, energy, cloud computing, biotechnology or aerospace engineering.

In other cases, students might pursue an agency postdoc — a research opportunity typically offered by a government agency. A state or the federal government or a government-funded project fund and offer these programs.

In some cases, this allows students to work directly for a large government organization like the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . In other cases, independent branches of government sponsor smaller programs.

Agencies can lead to careers working for the government or for a public or private research firm; they can also create careers in academia due to their wide scope.

Pros and cons of postdoc positions

For some participants, the  postdoc path  is rewarding and career changing. For others,  a fellowship might create problems  for their work-life balance or financial situation. It’s important to consider the positive and negative aspects of a potential fellowship before accepting to make the best decision for the next stage of your career.

Reasons to participate in a postdoctoral fellowship

Participation in a postdoc has some advantages. You’ll meet new people, research new topics and deepen key skills.

Here are some more  potential benefits :

• Gaining additional research experience and training
• Working with experienced mentors and building a stronger network
• Developing new skills and strategies for use during your career
• Learning new and emerging strategies and techniques
• Potentially learning how to establish further research funding and other funding opportunities

These and other benefits mean a postdoc can be a great next step for many doctoral graduates passionate about research opportunities in their field.

Things to consider about a postdoc

Postdoc opportunities aren’t for everyone. If you’re looking to immediately join the professional world or you’re not excited by the prospect of ongoing research, a postdoc may not be the best option.

Here are a few other reasons why this path may be one you avoid:

• Programs might end after a few years or funding concludes
• Limited time for family, personal life and other priorities
• Income levels remain below what industry professionals make
• High pressure from funding institutions or agencies to produce results
• Competitive market for available positions
• Little control over your research topic or methodologies

These points are sometimes enough for doctoral graduates to look elsewhere for a job.

Alternatives to postdoctoral fellowships

It’s important to consider all options when making decisions about the next phase of your career. While postdocs can be incredibly beneficial, they are not the only employment option that can meaningfully improve your career.

Some graduates will consider a postdoc before launching a professional career. These jobs might still offer some research responsibilities so candidates can continue learning and building skills before transitioning to better paying professional roles.

Doctoral programs at University of Phoenix

If you’re looking to distinguish yourself in your field and considering a doctorate, University of Phoenix offers five online programs nationwide.

• Doctor of Business Administration : Develop a mindset of change and innovation that breaks the sea of sameness. Our Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) can help you gain a strategic vision and skills to position yourself as a business leader.
• Doctor of Education : This prepares you to use analytical, critical and innovative thinking to improve performance and solve complex problems in education.
• Doctor of Health Administration : If you’re a health professional who is seeking greater responsibility in shaping the future of the health sector, the Doctor of Health Administration can help you get there. You’ll meet the challenges inherent to today’s healthcare landscape, including economic fluctuations, burgeoning patient needs and industry-changing legislation.
• Doctor of Management : This program equips you with critical thinking skills to find creative solutions to complex problems, so you can bring out the best of your leadership skills.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice : This program is designed for working nurses who require a doctorate for advanced practice or nurses who desire their terminal degree. It does not prepare students for professional certification or state licensure as a nurse or as an advanced practice nurse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at University of Phoenix where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Dr. Eylers is the University of Phoenix vice provost for Academic Operations and Doctoral Studies. Prior to joining the University in 2009, Dr. Eylers spent 15 years in environmental engineering consulting, sustainability consulting, teaching and business and technology program management. He was amongst the first to be licensed as a professional environmental engineer in Arizona.

This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.  Read more about our editorial process.

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Psychology in Action

Postdoctoral research: the who, what, where, when, why, and how.

As someone interested in research, you may have previously heard the terms “postdoc” or “postdoctoral research” before. But what do these terms really mean, and what does this involve? See below for detailed answers to some basic questions about postdoctoral research, including tips for how you can go about becoming a postdoc.

Who is a postdoc (a.k.a. A postdoctoral researcher or postdoctoral fellow)? The term “postdoc” is short for postdoctoral, which literally means “after earning your Ph.D.”. So, a postdoc generally refers to someone who has already completed their Ph.D. and is continuing to conduct research. However, a postdoc is not yet a professor or Principal Investigator (PI), so they still have a research mentor whose lab they work in.

What does a postdoc do? A postdoc is mostly focused on conducting research. That is, postdocs typically do not spend much time on teaching or other service requirements at their university. Because they already have a Ph.D., a postdoc is usually capable of working relatively independently and conducting studies/writing up research papers. However, a postdoc may also be focused on learning new research skills in this role. For example, if your primary focus in graduate school has been on working with young children, but you’d really like to be able to collect data with babies in the future, you could focus on infant data collection for your postdoc! New research skills could involve working with new populations (e.g., infants versus children), learning new ways of collecting data (e.g., brain scans versus questionnaires), or learning new statistical techniques. If there’s something new that you want to learn, a postdoc is a great time to try to learn it!

Where can a postdoc conduct their research? Postdocs are generally found at universities around the world where most research is conducted. However, some postdocs also may work in research hospitals or other settings. Postdocs can be found where they have a Principal Investigator mentor who they can work with and a lab setting where they can conduct their research. Many postdocs choose to work at a different institution from where they received their Ph.D. in order to work with someone new and gain new skills/experiences. However, some postdocs may also be able to gain new skills and experiences as a postdoc at the same university where they received their Ph.D.

When can you be a postdoc? Essentially any time after completing your Ph.D. you can work as a postdoc. However, typically postdocs are those who have completed their Ph.D. but have not yet received a job as a professor or other more permanent research position.

Why be a postdoc? A postdoc is usually seen as a steppingstone position between completing your Ph.D. and receiving a more permanent position in academia (e.g., as a professor at a university). Working as a postdoc can be a valuable way to expand your research experience in order to become more competitive on the academic job market. As postdocs tend to spend most of their time on research, your postdoc years can help you to efficiently spend your time completing studies and writing up studies for publication so that your application for professor positions is even stronger than before. Often, postdocs also spend this time learning new skills that they believe would be helpful for setting up and running their own research lab in the future, while also hopefully making them more competitive on the job market. Another valuable aspect of being a postdoc is that it can give you an opportunity to work with new people and (potentially) work at a new location to give a broader sense of how different universities and labs work. This can be helpful for people who are on the fence about whether or not they want to stay in academia to decide if it is right for them. It can also be helpful for those who are certain that they do want to stay in academia to learn how other places operate so that they can determine what sort of university they would like to work at or how they would like to run their own lab. Overall, working as a postdoc can be a valuable experience for learning more about academia, gaining skills, and becoming competitive for professor positions.

How does one become a postdoc? Although a potentially beneficial experience, it is often not clear how to become a postdoc in the first place. To be a postdoc necessitates that you have your Ph.D., and that you have a way of being paid for your new work as a postdoctoral researcher. This funding can come in a couple of different forms. In general, there are two main avenues to receiving postdoc funding, which are detailed below:

Applying for Funding: Reach out to potential postdoc advisors/mentors proactively and ask if you can apply for postdoc funding together. If you know that you are interested in working with someone specific, this can be a great option. In short, you can reach out to someone who you know does exciting work in your area that you would love to work with (your potential postdoc mentor) and explain your research experience as well as your goals for experiences you would like to gain in a postdoc. If the potential mentor believes it is a good fit, you can discuss the possibility of applying for funding together. Both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have funding options for postdocs. For psychological research, the NSF SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowship can be a good option to apply for as well as the NIH F32 Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award. However, it is important to note that these applications are 1) very time consuming and 2) will require a clear plan for the research that you are hoping to complete in your postdoc as well as how it will help you to achieve your career goals. For these reasons if you are interested in applying for funding, you should start reaching out to a potential postdoc mentor early! I would personally recommend reaching out approximately 18 months prior to when you would like to start your postdoc. This should give you an adequate amount of time to discuss with your potential advisor the idea of working together, to develop a research plan, to complete the lengthy application, and to potentially resubmit the application if needed. It is worth noting that these applications are quite competitive, but just applying can be a valuable experience and also help you to get a sense for your potential mentor’s working style! Additionally, if you happen to receive your own funding, you are being paid directly by your funding source to conduct your postdoc research (i.e., you are not paid through your mentor’s funding), so this tends to free up postdocs to spend their time as they see fit. This might include wrapping up old projects from graduate school as well as working on new projects from their postdoc.

Applying Directly for the Postdoc Job: Apply for postdoctoral positions that principal investigators (PIs) post themselves. Sometimes professors/PIs have their own funding and are looking to hire a postdoc to work on research in their lab. Postdocs can be great for PIs to hire because they already have a Ph.D. and can be very successful at completing and writing up research relatively independently. PIs looking to hire postdocs often post applications for these jobs in winter or spring (although applications can pop up at any time of the year). In these cases, seek out postdoctoral positions that involve research within your area of expertise and skill set. These job calls are often posted on listservs (try finding email listservs for organizations relevant to your research area). You can also look on the Psychology Jobs Wiki page ( http://psychjobsearch.wikidot.com/ ) under the “postdocs” section near the bottom to see any jobs that are posted there. In this situation you do need to apply for the specific job, but do not need to complete a long funding application as with the previous option. If the PI selects you for the job, you will receive your funding directly from the PI. This means that the PI may ask you to work on particular projects or spend your time in a certain way. With this type of postdoc, it is worth having a conversation up front with the PI about how they will expect you to spend your time and make sure that the way your time will be spent is a good fit for you.

Hopefully, these details help to clarify what postdocs are and how you can go about becoming one if it would be beneficial for you! Overall, thinking about skills and experiences that you want to gain after you receive your Ph.D. will be most important for determining if you want a postdoc, and if so for finding the postdoc position that is right for you.

Thumbnail photo credit: @giamboscaro on Unsplash