next »

[spinor]

I work as a postdoc in a theoretical area, which means that most of my work is done alone.
Although I was hired by someone, I don't really do anything for them except maybe occasionally provide conversational inspiration, and I don't think I'm that inspiring.  I find this a really confusing situation to be in.

I end up feeling a little bit guilty all the time for getting paid, and try to work harder even though this of course doesn't solve the problem.  How do you make sense of getting paid to do something by someone who isn't benefitting from it?  Also, I enjoy my work so I'd do it if they weren't paying me.  My PhD was a bit like this, but at least then I got paid half as much.

It seems the only thing they're getting from me is my presence.  But then often the one thing I want to do is to travel - for work and not for work.  I can work just as well anywhere, and in some ways I feel miserable here because of a long-distance relationship.  Also, I get a bit lonely at my institute.  I have friends elsewhere who I can talk to about work much more easily.  Going away is usually pretty inspiring.  To what extent do you hold yourself back from spending time away from your institute just because you feel like you should give them something? 

I have to confess, I have held back from applying for funding to travel, because I didn't want to draw attention to my going away so much.  Really - my "boss" (?) doesn't seem to pay much attention to what I do anyway, though he occasionally shows flourishes of enthusiasm.

 

[dr_strangelove]

How are you funded? Are you paid by an institute or academic department, or from someone's external grant? It's not clear to me why you think the people who are paying you aren't benefitting from your work. Presumably their name will be attached to your work, either as an institutional affiliation or as co-author. Also, I would assume your work will be included in whatever reports they have to write to justify the funding for your position.

The real issue seems to be that your not making connections with other people at your institution. Maybe you need to do a little networking with other postdocs/researchers?

[spinor]

Thanks for your reply.   I'm paid by someone's external grant.  They seem to have a lot of grants, so I don't think they miss the money that much.  It's just an odd situation to be in anyway - this isn't like the work my parents did for example. 

I think postdoctoral work is a lot different to most jobs, since even though my employer (or benefactor?) might benefit slightly, I still benefit a lot more.   I'm used to compensation for time spent on someone else's goals, whereas this is financial support for my own.

You're right that I haven't been making connections with people around me very well.  It's hard because I find it hard to understand what they say.  But we had a meeting recently (the first this year!) and I volunteered to give a talk.  So I'm feeling a little bit more positive about things here.


 

[svenc]

I have no insights into your general sense of unease at the situation, but with specific regards to your wanderlust: Have you asked your supervisor how he feels about you working remotely for part of the time?  If he doesn't mind and if you're being productive, then there's little reason to feel guilty about doing your work elsewhere at times.

[bhavani]

My own situation was somewhat similar in that I was granted a lot of liberties and was basically able to "work" as I pleased. This was really a new experience for me and I, too, found it a bit confusing at first. My boss and the other committee members were incredibly nice to me all the time; it was as if in a dream.

I took full advantage of all the opportunities that were given to me. I traveled a lot, spent time away from school (except for the classes that I taught), tried to meet as many people as possible, and explored other institutions in the vicinity. The program even had a budget for me to invite other scholars for lunch and such. I'd say make the most of your post-doc. Life will never get this sweet again. I will be forever grateful for having had such a great and intellectually/emotionally advanced environment to work in.

[mozman]

Are you daft?

USE THIS!  Your PI is doing you an enormous favor.  Don't feel guilty.

You are being paid off a grant.  I assume that whatever you are doing fits generally within the broad context of the project.  If your PI is satisfied, you should be too.

Ask for travel money. go to conferences. use the time to make yourself competitive for the next step.  Above all, ENJOY THIS.  It will never be this good again - responsibilities will get in the way.

mm

[polly_mer]

Let me second the "Are you daft?" comment.

As a fellow theoretician, let me point out that what you are supposed to be doing as a postdoc is making contacts, bouncing ideas off of other people, and getting your work solidly started so that your PI gets the benefit of being known as sending yet another promising scholar out into the world.

You're right that you can work anywhere.  Take advantage of that fact.  Go ahead and travel as much as you can, but do make the majority of it work-related by presenting at conferences in great places and visiting collaborators and colleagues.  Most theoretical groups highly prize time spent visiting other groups to get more ideas and sell your group's ideas.  If you can swing it, pitch a month long trip overseas to your PI to visit one or two of the best groups in the world.  Seriously.  Many PI's would be thrilled to send someone to spread the word, hit a few conferences, and bring back good ideas.

[shrek]

What does the PI expect of you?

[quoog]

I know I'm replying a little late, but I do have a few comments. In math and math-related things it's pretty common for postdocs to be left to their own devices. If there are people in your area, then the expectation is you'll interact professionally with them but even then it's pretty loose and on a voluntary basis. As the earlier posters said, often a good idea is for you to take the initiative and develop professionally by going to conferences, contacting other researchers, and so on. And sometimes people actually can "go it alone". If they produce good stuff that way, so much the better for them. No need to feel like you're wasting other people's money; your job is to produce good research, pure and simple.

Incidentally I was once in a postdoc where they actually complained I didn't go to enough talks and so on. This was a bad sign. The more they treat you like a grad student, the less seriously they take you. That postdoc ended out pretty badly and I ended out never getting recommendation letters or anything from them.

[ucprof]

I'm surprised no one else has posted this question -  so which agency and which program officer are you funded by and how do I apply for such a grant?  It's rather difficult to get funding these days for postdocs in theory without some general directive for the research.  If you are concerned then you need to have a chat with your mentor
and add to the list general career advice questions. 

[dliao]

In 2009, spinor wrote:
I work as a postdoc in a theoretical area, which means that most of my work is done alone.  Although I was hired by someone, I don't really do anything for them except maybe occasionally provide conversational inspiration, and I don't think I'm that inspiring.  I find this a really confusing situation to be in.

I end up feeling a little bit guilty all the time for getting paid, and try to work harder even though this of course doesn't solve the problem. 

• If you and your supervisor(s) have different areas of knowledge, it can be easier for them to pay you for interactions every now and then, than for them to learn everything you know.  Advisors are really busy people.  They might appreciate the fact that you inspire them using only occasional conversations. 
• I used to think that "fair" earnings came from working as hard as it would be for a farmer without technology to provide for his or herself.  I think many people use this heuristic, but I think it's insane.  We have fossil fuels, contraception, and information technology.  There is no physical law that says that we must, even in an average sense, work "hard" to prosper.  It's socially helpful to find ways to do work with ease.  Sharing these techniques makes life easier for everyone.