In article <30673F6CFE at bio.tamu.edu>,
Julia Frugoli <JFRUGOLI at BIO.TAMU.EDU> wrote:
>>To: womenbio at net.bio.net>>From: apallas at ARSERRC.Gov (APALLAS)
>>Subject: Re: postdocs
>>Date: 13 Aug 1997 12:03:29 -0700
>>>>I don't have my Ph.D. yet, so I haven't seen that whole postdoc ball
>>game, but
>>here's my opinion...
>>>>I consider postdocs resume boosters. You take this 'pay-cut' kind of
>>job, put it on your resume, and when you apply for a 'real' job with
>>'real' pay it helps your resume to stand out from other newly graduated
>>Ph.D. 'postdocless' appliers.
<snip>
>>Alicia
>>OK, I'll bite. What kind of job would you be applying for in which all
>the other 2-300 applicants DIDN'T have at least 4 years of postdoctoral
>experience?
Almost any non-science job. Or any job for which there is not an
vast oversupply of applicants who have already invested 10+ years of
education in a career.
>It wouldn't be large scale academia, or small scale (perhaps community
>college? but then we're talking less than $30,000 for your "dream'
>job). And it certainly wouldn't be industry-you are expected to have
>done a lengthy postdoc for most industry positions too. Just what kind
>of job would have postdoc-less appliers?
I've heard that computer science has only recently begun to institute
postdocs in response to a glut of academic PhD applicants (even though
there are industrial jobs aplenty). What is the historical precedent
for postdocs? Why is a postdoc (or more) now de rigueur?
My own opinion is that it is a response to a glut of PhDs all wanting
their own labs. It initially started as a "holding pool" but has now
become a custom that is reinforced by the oversupply of PhDs. PhDs get
to queue up for a lab of their own, the PI gets cheap skilled labor, and
both benefit (although the postdoc suffers financially and "wastes" a few
years). Does anyone really think that if there were thousands of
unfilled faculty or industrial positions that postdocs would still be
required? The function of a PhD is to provide one with the ability to do
independent research. What is the function of the postdoc, other than a
way to weed out PhDs who should not have gotten the degree in the first
place?
I know that postdocs can provide people with valuable skills, contacts,
etc. My point is that postdocs have become so expected that people never
even question why they are necessary.
>Julia Frugoli
>Dartmouth College
David Shivak
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Check out the web site Careers In (and Out) of Science @
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