New answers tagged postdocs
1
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Given Post doc interview at IIT Bombay 4 months back but have yet not received any letter. What to do apart from talking to supervisor?
You should ask someone responsible for this position, maybe a faculty member in the interview or maybe the administration on whether there are any updates they can share with you concerning the ...
2
votes
A potential postdoc PI contacted my Ph.D. advisor without asking me for the contact info. Is this common?
It is 50% of a red flag.
Some PhD students have advisors who behave badly or unreasonably. Others might have all kinds of other reasons for not wanting their advisors to be approached like this. For ...
12
votes
A potential postdoc PI contacted my Ph.D. advisor without asking me for the contact info. Is this common?
In my experience this is not uncommon. (Although I guess the uncommon element is that you were not asked for a list of (potential) references when you applied, or did not give your advisor as a ...
33
votes
Accepted
A potential postdoc PI contacted my Ph.D. advisor without asking me for the contact info. Is this common?
No, it's not a red flag at all, you are overthinking it.
While on the face of it the situation looks a bit like back-channel reference solicitation, which if frowned upon, I think this situation is ...
8
votes
Accepted
Cover letter and research interest
To build upon Buff's good answer, show, do not tell.
For example, you might write:
My doctoral project on [4-dimensional underwater basketweaving], aligns with Professor X's interests in [multi-...
4
votes
Cover letter and research interest
Your statement seems a bit too strong, since you don't have confirmation that the professor agrees. I would recommend softening it. "perfectly aligned" is a value judgement.
If you write it ...
23
votes
Accepted
Is it worth telling a PhD about his manuscript typos and mathematical mistakes once already published?
Personally, I wouldn't contact any of the authors about typos and grammar.
In most cases (talking from an engineering background), unless those mistakes impact the readability or how easy it is to ...
3
votes
Is it worth telling a PhD about his manuscript typos and mathematical mistakes once already published?
Since the person has graduated: No, it's not worth contacting them. The author is likely aware of their work's strengths and weaknesses. My thesis, f.ex., is one I wouldn't direct anyone to read. It's ...
1
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Is it worth telling a PhD about his manuscript typos and mathematical mistakes once already published?
While it is fine to contact the author about such things, I'd suggest it is improper to write to their supervisor or others about it.
Punctuation and language usage errors are less serious than are ...
5
votes
My name was published on abstract but my name was not published on the final manuscript?
If it was the journal that made an error then they can correct it, and you can ask. But that seems very unlikely. It is more likely that the PI that submitted the paper made a change in the text of ...
1
vote
Accepted
My name was published on abstract but my name was not published on the final manuscript?
Assume it's a mistake and ask the editor what happened.
If it's not a mistake ... then, well, cross that bridge when you get there.
-1
votes
Reserve list for a postdoc position
The notification that you are first on the reserve list for the postdoc position means that you were not their preferred choice, but that they would be very happy to hire you if their preferred choice ...
2
votes
Reserve list for a postdoc position
This depends on how many offers were made and the time given for a reply. If it is several offers then you might hear something in less than a couple of weeks if one of the offers is declined early. ...
4
votes
Can Postdocs in Germany Have Second Job?
I have a few more insights, not because I am a post-doc, but because I was in the unsuspecting need to have a second job while I was starting an academic position, therefore working 50% / 50%.
I ...
2
votes
"Password" on Job Application as a Part of the Address
It sounds like they have a system where they have a code for each open position and to make it easier for them people who apply should refer to that number so the applications can be easily sorted ...
20
votes
Can Postdocs in Germany Have Second Job?
Sursula already well covered the legal aspects, so just some comments on the 'is it welcomed?' part of the question. I would say the general answer in Germany is mostly no.
First a single postdoc ...
24
votes
Can Postdocs in Germany Have Second Job?
You are not allowed to work more than 48h per week and not more than 10h/day in Germany. With most full positions being around 40h/week, that leaves you about 8h/week for a side job. You have to ...
2
votes
How do I support my advisor on his most busy weeks?
The things that go for me in those super busy times are things like organising the lab journal club, remembering to make it to weekly lab lunch, making sure there is coffee, tea and milk in the lab ...
4
votes
How do I support my advisor on his most busy weeks?
You could try to put your last bullet point of helping the PhD students into a slightly more formal and regular setting. Pick a time when your advisor has a little more time and suggest to be some ...
2
votes
Why some universities prefer to hire people with only one postdoc?
Disclaimer: I am not in the Maths field but in Biology
I have never seen evidence that “number of postdocs” is a criteria for hiring committees.
Instead, they care most about your productivity (= ...
18
votes
How do I support my advisor on his most busy weeks?
I would just directly ask him if he needs your help and let him know when you’re in a phase of your postdoc with more “free time”. But really I would trust him to tell you if he needs you to do ...
9
votes
Accepted
Would it be ok to mention in the post-doctoral application that my co-author is also applying for one of the two positions?
It would be OK, but there is no reason to do it. It will be obvious to anyone evaluating your application(s) with a glance at your CV.
Since such things are evaluated by individuals it is impossible ...
0
votes
Extending the PhD Project into Post-Doc
Not quite an answer, but an anecdote that might be helpful. Mathematician Bob Solovay once told me he thought the most important piece of research in your career was the first one after your ...
2
votes
Extending the PhD Project into Post-Doc
Couple of things here (even though I am from a different field, so customs may vary):
What are your long-term goals? Do you plan to stay in academia for the long run (or hope/want to)? In this case, ...
1
vote
Considerations for applying to postdoc positions and contacting faculty
As someone who regularly hires postdocs, I can say that if someone has reached out to me and expressed interest in my work. I am much more likely to look carefully at their application.
We are flooded ...
1
vote
Accepted
Appropriate Timing for Follow-Up After Positive Initial Response from Prospective Postdoc Advisor (Math)
Three weeks is fine. Ask if there are any updates and ask if they would like any additional information from you. Re-express your interest.
The timing seems quite good to me.
1
vote
Can I deviate from my fellowship proposal?
US-based research administrator here. What you are referring to is called "change in scope". This applies to any type of research agreement. When you want to change the scope, it can ...
2
votes
Can I deviate from my fellowship proposal?
As stated in the comments, it depends of the funding institution (and of the (researchers of the) institution which received you, if distinct from the former), but in my experience, nobody is checking ...
7
votes
Accepted
Considerations for applying to postdoc positions and contacting faculty
I doubt that every university asking this question has the same intent. Some will want to judge your interest in a specific faculty member or sub-field and others just want to know how flexible you ...
1
vote
Is it mandatory to give four references in post-doctoral positions?
I would advise you to reach out directly to the head of the group. Write a short but informative email with your view on the subject, if the position comes from the grant, maybe a sentence or two why ...
7
votes
Is it mandatory to give four references in post-doctoral positions?
How would postdoctoral candidates manage such situations?
What I have seen, in mathematics specifically, is candidates using Interfolio as a dossier service to manage their letters. As a writer, I ...
18
votes
Is it mandatory to give four references in post-doctoral positions?
Don't do this. There is no significant difference between having to upload a letter 20 times and having to upload a letter 15 times.
You would in fact be doing your references a disservice: they spent ...
9
votes
Accepted
Is it mandatory to give four references in post-doctoral positions?
I would guess that you reduce your chances slightly if you do this. Some, not all, might wonder why you didn't submit the "expected" number. It might even be an unconscious bias.
Let your ...
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