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[lowerbound]

publishing on my own will likely offend the PI

I'd take a look at the conditions of employment in your contract. If it's standard postdoc contract boilerplate, there is likely to be something in there about contributing to publications as part of your role. First of all, have you brought any of this up with the PI? A request to work on a publication portfolio is not in any way unreasonable and it shows your interest in the field. If the PI says no, then wave the contract under their noses and see if that gets things moving.

Thanks for the reply RWS.

In a conversation I had with a former postdoc that left early, hu told me about approaching the PI with the same concerns (hu's perceived lack of research and the potential impact on hu's career).  The reply, according to hu, was unreasonable.  Grossly simplified: do what you're told. 

I haven't approached the PI yet, mostly to avoid confrontation where I see little hope of a positive result.  When I do, it will be for process, to be able to say I had the conversation. Perhaps the PI will see the pattern and give it consideration, but I expect it to be dismissed.

There is nothing that speaks to publications in my contract or in the campus postdoc manual.   Not sure I would be comfortable with such an approach anyway.  Pointing it out to the PI would be stating the obvious, hu is no greenhorn and knows what a postdoc is supposed to be; and I would be very reluctant to escalate this beyond the PI this early.

Not that it's separable from publication, but I will keep my requests focused on research.  I would be happy to wait two years for good publications if I could be doing real science in the meantime.

[kiefer]

If it's standard postdoc contract boilerplate, there is likely to be something in there about contributing to publications as part of your role.

Question: is that typical for postdoc contracts, to specify responsibilities (rights?) such as contributing to publications?

I'm interviewing for postdocs, and it never occurred to me that contracts might spell out duties.

What else should I look for?

I'm in the sciences, but an extremely-poor-stepchild branch. My department doesn't even have any postdocs(!) and hardly anyone from my department ever lands one... so if I seem out of the loop, that's why.

[lettuceleaf]

OP, I hope you had a productive talk with the PI in your group.

Could you start out by writing a critical review of a topic in your field and include the PI as a coauthor to get the ball rolling? It might help you to focus your ideas for further research and would engage your boss. You wouldn't be asking for a big investment in research equipment, materials and supplies, etc, but you would need to have a certain number of hours free to do the literature review and writing. Once research time is allotted in your weekly work schedule, then you will have the opportunity you desire (and need, if you are aiming to have a research career) to do great things.

Good luck!